Chapter 220\u00a0<\/p>\n
The people in the back were all from lesser\u2013known companies\u00a0<\/p>\n
that didn\u2019t stand a chance in this bidding war. So when they saw\u00a0<\/p>\n
the two of them sitting there, everyone looked surprised.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRicki, have you never sat in the last row before?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not true.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine turned to him, confused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve sat in the last row before?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Your company is so huge now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick chuckled and met her gaze. \u201cSilly girl, where do you\u00a0<\/p>\n
think all my years of hard work went?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, right. Your company used to be less than a tenth of its\u00a0<\/p>\n
current size.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After saying that, Madeleine looked at him with admiration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re so amazing, Ricki. When will my company be like\u00a0<\/p>\n
yours?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 220\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick patted Madeleine\u2019s hand and gave her a reassuring\u00a0<\/p>\n
look. \u201cI believe in you. There\u2019s plenty of time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
While they were talking, the host had already announced the\u00a0<\/p>\n
start of the bidding. Edward, sitting in the front row, glanced\u00a0<\/p>\n
back at the two of them smugly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was determined to win this auction. He had received inside\u00a0<\/p>\n
information and already knew that Roderick and his team had\u00a0<\/p>\n
paid a huge price to secure the project.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But how could he let those two get what they wanted? He had\u00a0<\/p>\n
used various connections and collateral to secure a massive\u00a0<\/p>\n
bank loan, preparing to crush Roderick and his team at this\u00a0<\/p>\n
auction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRoderick, you\u2019re going to take a hard fall this time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edward thought smugly as the host announced the Carroll\u00a0<\/p>\n
Group\u2019s bid.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Carroll Group, five billion dollars!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As soon as the bid was announced, the crowd erupted in an\u00a0<\/p>\n
uproar. This was a full three times higher than the market\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
estimated price.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 220\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edward turned to look at Roderick, his face a mask of a victor\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
smile and the look of someone enjoying the show.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But to his surprise, both Roderick and Madeleine had playful smiles on their faces, not the panic he had expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine even gave him a mischievous wave and pointed at\u00a0<\/p>\n
the host, signaling for him to focus on the bidding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Livingston Group, bid\u2026 one dollar?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The host\u2019s voice was filled with confusion, and the crowd was\u00a0<\/p>\n
dead silent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edward looked as if he\u2019d been struck by lightning. His neck stiff, he slowly turned his head, staring at the host in disbelief.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOne dollar\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The host even rubbed his eyes and looked at the bid sheet\u00a0<\/p>\n
again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edward froze in his seat, suddenly feeling a chill run through\u00a0<\/p>\n
him, his limbs stiff.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He\u2019d been played\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 220\u00a0<\/p>\n
The whole act of weakness, the Livingston Group\u2019s financial\u00a0<\/p>\n
crisis, the inside information.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was all fucking fake!\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCongratulations, Mr. Carroll, on your successful bid.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The host announced the final result of the bidding, and\u00a0<\/p>\n
everyone stood up to congratulate him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Carroll, you truly are in a league of your own. We can\u2019t even\u00a0<\/p>\n
compare.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, yeah, when are you treating us, Mr. Carroll? So you can\u00a0<\/p>\n
call on us if you need any help with the project.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI really didn\u2019t expect that in such a bad economy, Mr. Carroll\u00a0<\/p>\n
could still come up with five billion dollars for a bid.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edward looked absolutely terrible, his fists clenched so tight he\u00a0<\/p>\n
could barely breathe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the event ended, Edward strode over to Roderick and\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine, blocking their way.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing too many people around, Edward couldn\u2019t bring himself\u00a0<\/p>\n
to make a scene, so he kept his voice low.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 220\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to talk to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick raised an eyebrow and chuckled. \u201cIf you have\u00a0<\/p>\n
something to say, Mr. Carroll, just say it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNot here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edward gritted his teeth, trying hard to control his anger.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine was still in her seat, leaning against Roderick with a\u00a0<\/p>\n
look of annoyance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHoney, does he want us to go somewhere else to talk? But I\u00a0<\/p>\n
don\u2019t feel like moving.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay, then we won\u2019t move.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The couple\u2019s public displays of affection had reached a point\u00a0<\/p>\n
where they were oblivious to the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edward\u2019s anger was about to explode.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They were clearly doing this on purpose just to piss him off!\u00a0<\/p>\n
Someone passing by greeted Edward, curious to hear what he\u00a0<\/p>\n
wanted to say to Roderick and Madeleine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edward was in a foul mood and turned to glare at him furiously.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 220\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you looking at!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The person was startled and quickly apologized in a panic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, sorry, Mr. Carroll, I\u2019ll leave right now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone around could see Edward was angry, and the\u00a0<\/p>\n
onlookers quickly dispersed. Once most of them were gone,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edward suppressed his rage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did this on purpose?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick looked blank, as if he had no idea what he was talking\u00a0<\/p>\n
about. \u201cOn purpose?\u00a0<\/p>\n
What are you talking about, Mr. Carroll?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been spreading all this news, hinting you\u2019d bid high for\u00a0<\/p>\n
this project, and then you bid one dollar. Are you trying to play\u00a0<\/p>\n
me for a fool?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 221\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 221\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
Night Carved Paths Into Silence by Zyrel Ash ` 220 Chapter 220\u00a0 The people in the back were all from […]<\/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":[85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-heart-surgeons-last-patient-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29517","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=29517"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29517\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29517"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29517"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}