Chapter\u00a0710\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edward\u00a0passed\u00a0by\u00a0us,\u00a0handing\u00a0Gavin\u00a0a\u00a0paddle\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0number\u00a0on\u00a0it.\u00a0Gavin\u00a0nodded\u00a0his\u00a0thanks\u00a0before Edward went\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0room,\u00a0passing\u00a0paddles\u00a0to\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0gentlemen\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0couple\u00a0of\u00a0women\u00a0who\u00a0had\u00a0powerful\u00a0auras.<\/p>\n
Levi\u00a0and\u00a0Lila\u00a0sat\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0row\u00a0as\u00a0us,\u00a0though\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0seals\u00a0away.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0admired how\u00a0confidently\u00a0Gavin\u00a0sat;\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0planning\u00a0sofnething,\u00a0I\u00a0just\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sure\u00a0what\u00a0it\u00a0was,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sure\u00a0if\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0tell\u00a0me\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0him,\u00a0at\u00a0least\u00a0not\u00a0here.\u00a0He\u00a0wouldn\u2019t.\u00a0I\u00a0glanced\u00a0over\u00a0at\u00a0Levi\u00a0and\u00a0saw\u00a0him\u00a0grinning\u00a0at\u00a0Lila.\u00a0They\u00a0were\u00a0also\u00a0planning\u00a0something.\u00a0I\u00a0just\u00a0hoped\u00a0that\u00a0Gavin\u00a0was\u00a0one\u00a0step\u00a0ahead\u00a0of\u00a0film.\u00a0I<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0can\u00a0feel\u00a0your\u00a0anxiety,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0whispered\u00a0from\u00a0beside\u00a0me..<\/p>\n
\u201cThis\u00a0is\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0lot,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0admit.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0feel\u00a0like\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0belong\u00a0here.\u201d\u00a01<\/p>\n
His\u00a0fingers\u00a0wrapped\u00a0around\u00a0mine\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0gentle\u00a0handhold.\u00a0He\u00a0squeezed\u00a0my\u00a0hand\u00a0gently.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0belong\u00a0by\u00a0my\u00a0side,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0reminded\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cWhere\u00a0I\u00a0am,\u00a0you\u00a0belong.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0felt\u00a0my\u00a0cheeks\u00a0warming\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0sincerity\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0tone\u00a0and\u00a0at\u00a0his\u00a0words.\u00a0Before\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0reply,\u00a0the\u00a0auctioneer\u00a0returned\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0podium\u00a0and\u00a0tapped\u00a0the\u00a0mic\u00a0a\u00a0couple\u00a0of\u00a0times\u00a0to\u00a0test\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0heard\u00a0the\u00a0soft\u00a0humming\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0cameras\u00a0starting\u00a0to\u00a0roll,\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0light\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0dimmed.\u00a0A\u00a0spotlight\u00a0appeared\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0stage,\u00a0highlighting\u00a0Edward\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0stood\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0podium.<\/p>\n
One\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0cameramen\u00a0gave\u00a0Edwards\u00a0a\u00a0thumbs\u00a0up,\u00a0and\u00a0Edwards\u00a0cleared\u00a0his\u00a0throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood\u00a0evening,\u00a0folks.\u00a0We\u00a0are\u00a0about\u00a0to start\u00a0the\u00a0auction.\u00a0Today\u2019s\u00a0auction\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0donation\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0Cancer\u00a0Center.\u00a0Every\u00a0cent\u00a0we\u00a0make\u00a0today\u00a0will\u00a0go\u00a0straight\u00a0to\u00a0their\u00a0donation\u00a0funds,\u00a0so\u00a0we\u00a0appreciate\u00a0you\u00a0all\u00a0for\u00a0being\u00a0here.\u00a0The\u00a0center\u00a0holds\u00a0a\u00a0spot\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0owner\u00a0of\u00a0this\u00a0museum\u2019s\u00a0heart.\u00a0Cassandra\u00a0William\u2019s\u00a0mother\u00a0had\u00a0recently\u00a0passed\u00a0away\u00a0from\u00a0her\u00a0long\u00a0battle\u00a0with\u00a0cancer.\u00a0Let\u00a0us\u00a0all\u00a0hold\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0of\u00a0silence\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0respect.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0room\u00a0fell\u00a0silent;\u00a0not\u00a0even\u00a0a\u00a0hushed\u00a0whisper\u00a0could\u00a0be\u00a0heard.\u00a0A\u00a0woman\u00a0stood\u00a0off\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0side\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0stage,\u00a0her\u00a0head\u00a0bowed\u00a0and\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0red\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0tears\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0cried.\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0gorgeous\u00a0woman\u00a0with\u00a0shimmering\u00a0blonde\u00a0hair\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0silver\u00a0gown.\u00a0Her\u00a0fair\u00a0complexion\u00a0was\u00a0radiant\u00a0under\u00a0the\u00a0crystal chandelier.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0seen\u00a0her\u00a0featured\u00a0in magazines\u00a0before,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0right\u00a0away\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0Cassandra\u00a0Williams,\u00a0a\u00a0famous\u00a0artist.\u00a0This\u00a0was\u00a0her\u00a0museum,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0honored\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0space.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0auctioneer,\u00a0Edward,\u00a0cleared\u00a0his\u00a0throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cVery\u00a0good,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said,\u00a0breaking\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0silence\u00a0that\u00a0nearly\u00a0consumed\u00a0us.\u00a0\u201cNow\u00a0we are\u00a0starting\u00a0off\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0priceless\u00a0artifact\u2026\u00a0a\u00a0pendant\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0rarest\u00a0red\u00a0ruby,\u00a0surrounded\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0rare\u00a0blue\u00a0diamond.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0named\u00a0the\u00a0Fire Cry\u00a0pendant;\u00a0the\u00a0ruby\u00a0presented\u00a0the\u00a0fire,\u00a0and\u00a0the diamonds\u00a0represented\u00a0the\u00a0tears.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0worth\u00a0$100,000\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0market,\u00a0and\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0given\u00a0to\u00a0us\u00a0by\u00a0Madam\u00a0Eliana\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Westwood\u00a0pack,\u00a0passed\u00a0down\u00a0by\u00a0generations.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cassandra\u00a0walked\u00a0out,\u00a0wheeling\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0cart\u00a0that\u00a0held\u00a0the\u00a0pendant\u00a0on\u00a0display\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0to\u00a0see.\u00a0There\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0camera\u00a0zoomed\u00a0in\u00a0on\u00a0it\u00a0as\u00a0well,\u00a0which\u00a0brought\u00a0the\u00a0pendant\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0big\u00a0screen\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0stage\u00a0for\u00a0us\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0a\u00a0closer\u00a0look.<\/p>\n
It\u00a0was\u00a0gorgeous,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0chest\u00a0tightened\u00a0when\u00a0he\u00a0said\u00a0that\u00a0it\u00a0cost\u00a0$100,000.\u00a0If\u00a0this\u00a0is\u00a0what\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0starting\u00a0off\u00a0with,\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0imagine\u00a0what\u00a0the\u00a0rest\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0auction\u00a0was\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0like.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0wondered\u00a0why\u00a0Madam\u00a0Eliana\u00a0would\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0sell\u00a0such\u00a0a\u00a0priceless\u00a0heirloom.\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0learned\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0school;\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0heiress\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Westwood\u00a0pack\u2026\u00a0her\u00a0father\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0rich\u00a0Alpha,\u00a0and\u00a0though\u00a0they\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0as\u00a0rich\u00a0as\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0family,\u00a0or\u00a0as\u00a0powerful,\u00a0they\u00a0have\u00a0made\u00a0a\u00a0name\u00a0for\u00a0themselves.<\/p>\n
Eliana\u00a0had\u00a0taken\u00a0over\u00a0the\u00a0pack\u00a0as\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0female\u00a0Alphas\u00a0after\u00a0her\u00a0father\u2019s\u00a0death\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0years\u00a0ago.\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0surp\u00a0was\u00a0selling\u00a0this\u00a0necklace\u00a0because\u00a0it\u00a0once\u00a0belonged\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0grandmother.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0will\u00a0start\u00a0the\u00a0bid\u00a0off\u00a0at\u00a0$100,000,\u201d\u00a0Edward\u00a0continued.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0few\u00a0paddles\u00a0went\u00a0up,\u00a0including\u00a0Levi\u2019s.\u00a0Lila\u00a0beamed,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0win\u00a0the\u00a0pendant\u00a0for\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
$110,000,\u201d\u00a0Levi\u00a0said,\u00a0a\u00a0smug\u00a0smile\u00a0on\u00a0his\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
hat\u00a0she<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0710\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c$110,000,\u00a0am\u00a0I\u00a0hearing\u00a0$120,000?\u201d\u00a0Edward\u00a0asked\u00a0the\u00a0room.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0few\u00a0paddles\u00a0went up,\u00a0but\u00a0not\u00a0as\u00a0many\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0last\u00a0time.<\/p>\n
$150,000,\u201d\u00a0Levi\u00a0said\u00a0confidently.<\/p>\n
\u201c$150,000\u2026\u00a0am\u00a0I\u00a0hearing\u00a0$160,000?\u201d Edward\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
Only\u00a0one\u00a0other\u00a0paddle\u00a0went\u00a0up.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0glance\u00a0at\u00a0Gavin\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0seeing\u00a0this,\u00a0and\u00a0as\u00a0amazed\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0was,\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0too\u00a0focused\u00a0on\u00a0his\u00a0phone.\u00a0He\u00a0was\u00a0typing\u00a0away,\u00a0texting\u00a0somebody,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0brows\u00a0furrowed\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0sight.\u00a01<\/p>\n
$200,000,\u201d\u00a0Levi\u00a0announced,\u00a0his\u00a0voice\u00a0booming\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0room.\u00a0A\u00a0few\u00a0gasped;\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0double\u00a0the\u00a0asking\u00a0price,\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0fact\u00a0that\u00a0he\u00a0can\u00a0throw\u00a0money\u00a0around\u00a0like\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0jaw\u2013dropping,\u00a0especially\u00a0considering\u00a0this\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0his\u00a0main\u00a0focus.<\/p>\n
\u201c$200,000,\u00a0am\u00a0I\u00a0hearing\u00a0$210,000?\u201d\u00a0Edward\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
There\u00a0was\u00a0silence;\u00a0no\u00a0paddle\u00a0went\u00a0up,\u00a0and\u00a0Levi\u00a0sat\u00a0back\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0seat,\u00a0a\u00a0smile\u00a0on his\u00a0face\u00a0while\u00a0Lila\u00a0beamed\u00a0with\u00a0excitement.<\/p>\n
\u201c$200,000,\u00a0going\u00a0once\u2026\u00a0going\u00a0twice\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Gavin,\u00a0who\u00a0was\u00a0typing\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0phone\u00a0up\u00a0until\u00a0that\u00a0point,\u00a0stood\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0feet,\u00a0his\u00a0paddle\u00a0high\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0air.<\/p>\n
\u201c$500,000.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ruby is a master of holiday romance and slow-burn love stories that warm the heart like a crackling fire. Her novels weave festive magic with lingering glances and tender moments, drawing readers into cozy worlds where love unfolds one snowflake at a time. Off the page, she\u2019s baking cookies and dreaming under twinkling lights.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 710 Chapter\u00a0710\u00a0 Edward\u00a0passed\u00a0by\u00a0us,\u00a0handing\u00a0Gavin\u00a0a\u00a0paddle\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0number\u00a0on\u00a0it.\u00a0Gavin\u00a0nodded\u00a0his\u00a0thanks\u00a0before Edward went\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0room,\u00a0passing\u00a0paddles\u00a0to\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0gentlemen\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0couple\u00a0of\u00a0women\u00a0who\u00a0had\u00a0powerful\u00a0auras. Levi\u00a0and\u00a0Lila\u00a0sat\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0row\u00a0as\u00a0us,\u00a0though\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0seals\u00a0away. I\u00a0admired […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21779"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21779\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}