The auction progressed rapidly but Joanne was not paying attention to it.

She kept looking down and texting Chris.

Brian looked at her frostily, seeing when she would think of him.

"Next, we are auctioning a bangle donated by Mrs. Scott." The auctioneer's voice ended and an image of the bangle appeared on the screen behind him. He started explaining the worth of the jade bangle to the people below the stage.

The auction for the bangle started but Joanne had not received Chris's reply.

She had no choice, she could only call Chris, but could only hear the automated response that his phone was switched off.

Someone had already bid 400,000 for the bangle.

Joanne frowned as she quickly thought. She would not allow the bangle to end up in anyone else's hand today no matter what.

"450,000"

"600,000"

The bids got higher and higher. Joanne felt very anxious. Just then-

"Three million."

A voice rang, not too slow nor fast. The entire place quietened down.

The bangle was smooth and its color was good, but it was not worth the exorbitant price of three million dollars.

Joanne looked at Brian in surprise. Why had he bid for the bangle with such a large amount of money? Was he spending money to help the auction?

"Three million, last chance!" The auctioneer hammered down. "Congratulations, Mr. Lambert, you've successfully bid for this bangle!"

Joanne found that she was heaving a sigh of relief for no reason when she heard that.

The bangle had been bought by Brian. That was better than getting it back from someone else, right?

The last item up for auction was a small antique and was bought at a high price. The charity auction had raised close to ten million dollars. Iris announced that it would be used to help financially needy university students and to support rural education.

The charity auction ended and was followed by a celebratory party.

Joanne followed Brian and secretly picked at him several times, thinking about how to ask him about the bangle.

Brian allowed her to hold his hand but did not raise the matter about him buying the bangle.

Even if she did not know how to ask him for help, she knew how to ask him for the bangle, right?

After walking around, Brian was called away by some people he knew. Joanne saw Steven and Patricia.

Her face suddenly grew cold and she headed for Patricia.

Joanne's mother's bangle had been discovered by Patricia by accident after she entered the Scott Family. She had hidden it away secretly. She knew why Joanne was coming for her and could not help but feel ashamed. She hid behind Steven, seeking him for help secretly.

Steven coldly looked at Joanne who approached them. He said, with an angry expression, "She's your aunt, not your enemy!"

"I finally know why you two got married." Joanne stopped, her face full of sarcasm, "Birds of the same feather flock together. The both of you are shameless, no wonder you ended up together."

Steven's expression changed while Patricia was also angered. "Joanne, it's just a jade bangle. Your mother's been dead for so many years!"

If not for Patricia, would her mother pass away?

Joanne's pale hands were clenched into fists. Iris happened to pass by and sensed the tense atmosphere. She held Joanne's hand and asked, "Joanne, what's the matter?"

Patricia wanted to be friendly to Iris and she smiled and said, "Iris, nothing happened, we were just chatting with Joanne."

Iris glanced at Patricia and said, "Joanne, Mrs. Scott isn't your mother, is she?"

"My mother passed away several years ago."

Iris frowned and then said politely but distantly, "Mrs. Scott, I thank you for your generous donation on behalf of the children of the mountainous areas. However, you had better not call anyone in-law. My son had not married your daughter. Excuse me."

She brought Joanne away.

Patricia stomped here feet angrily, "These people are too much!"

Even though she and Steven had had a wedding and received a marriage certificate and were legal husband and wife, she had not managed to enter the social circle of the wealthy women after so many years. The people in the circle had not treated her as Mrs. Scott, and they secretly called her "The woman Steven has on the side". And all these wives hated mistresses the most.

She had thought that with Iris's relationship with their family, her social life would improve. But it seemed that Iris was not of any hope to her.

Patricia went to look for Mia angrily and told her what had happened.

The innocent look disappeared off Mia's beautiful face and her eyes were filled with hatred. "Joanne managed to avoid a disaster the last time she was surrounded. I have not gotten revenge for that yet. I still remember. That's great, we can get revenge for both what happened last time and this time!"

Patricia was shocked," Mia, what do you want to do? Don't be silly. Joanne has a backing now!"

"Wouldn't everything be fine if I make her backing mine?"

Mia fixed her make up, making her skin even more bouncy. She made a smile at the mirror that no man had ever resisted and then left the bathroom in small steps.

Outside, Joanne was still angry and could not lift her spirits. Iris sighed and told her to stay on the sofa before leaving.

After some time, Brian who was still standing with a few middle-aged men, suddenly appeared beside her. "Stick out your hand."

Joanne turned to look at him gloomily and asked, "What?"

Brian had never liked nonsense and pulled on Joanne's hand. He put on the bangle he had just ordered someone to send over onto Joanne's hand.

Her skin was pale and seemed even more glorious with the green jade on. The jade seemed to be made for her. It circled her wrist and seemed especially calm, as if it had finally found a home after traveling for many years.

It was rare for a young girl to wear an old jade bangle so nicely.

Joanne was not in the mood to admire it. She looked at Brian in shock and asked, "You... you bought this... for me?"

"I don't want anything that belonged to Auntie Susang to end up in someone else's hands." Brian said lightly. "Also, you kept sending messages to Chris just now. Didn't you want to buy the bangle?"

"You saw that?" Joanne was even more surprised. "I thought you wouldn't notice what I was doing beside you."

She was the one who didn't notice anything. She would be able to see him looking at her even if she just turned her head slightly.

Brian's gaze was searing hot as he said, "Joanne, have you forgotten what I said?"

Joanne blinked confusedly, "You, you said many things to me. Which one are you referring to?"

"I already told you that I should be the first person you think of if anything happens in the future, not Chris." Brian said. "I was sitting beside you just now, so why did you call a phone that was switched off?"

That statement, Joanne still remembered it. But... it was a special situation.

"I want money, so I should, of course, look for my brother." She said. "But I'll definitely look for you if I get surrounded by people... Your bodyguards look impressive!"

"..." Brian gritted his teeth and said, "Look for me in the future, even if you just want money!"

Joanne blinked. She did not even want Chris's money, much less Brian's. Furthermore, it would be troublesome to settle their debts in two years when they get divorced.

Brian seemed to know what Joanne was thinking. He narrowed his eyes and said, "You're already Mrs. Lambert. Don't you think Chris would be suspicious if you have to ask him for money even just to buy a jade bangle?"

Joanne only reacted then. That's right. If Chris asked why she didn't get money from Brian, how should she reply? Should she say she couldn't bear to spend her husband's money?

"You're so thoughtful." Joanne nodded sympathetically. "I shall borrow from you if I need to use a lot of money in the future. Rest assured, I will pay you back."

Brian pulled Joanne's hand and played with the clear jade bangle. "You are already wearing a three-million bangle. Your yearly salary is less than 100,000. Will you pay until your next life?"

"You can rest assured. How would I not think of that?" Joanne said calmly. "When I'm no longer Mrs. Lambert, I can ask my brother for money. I only ask him for money once in a while, he would definitely be glad to give it to me. And even if he doesn't, he has a few apartments under my name. I'll just sell one of them and be able to pay you back."

Her mind was fast when it should not be. Brian leaned against her dangerously and asked, "What about interest? How are we going to count that?"

Eh, Joanne had never thought of it before.

She looked at Brian confusedly, "How do you want to count it?"

"Of course-" Brian lowered her head and touched her lips lightly, "Like this."

Joanne had not yet reacted when Brian suddenly kissed her again. Her eyes widened. Brian only brushed her lips lightly like a feather sweeping against her lips.

She blinked and then looked at Brian dazedly.

"There are too many people." Brian smiled and said. "We'd better find somewhere with less people to do things like this."

Joanne regained her wits and touched her lips. "Brian, you're taking advantage of me right now!" Who would ask for interest in this manner? Who would!

Brian smiled and said confidently, "So what?".

Joanne was at a loss for words. Indeed. What could she do if Brian wanted to take advantage of her? She can't even bite him!

They whispered to each other, looked at each other and leaned close to each other. To others, they were intimate and loving. Some people were jealous of the strong relationship between the newlyweds while some were so jealous their eyes burned.

Mia had lived under Joanne's shadow for too long and had never felt pleased about it. As long as she could steal Brian now, no one would dare to look down on her in the future and think that she was not as good as Joanne, right?

She walked up to Joanne and looked at her tearfully and suddenly cried.

"Sister, how could you act like this?"

Her voice was tiny and pitiful but was still overheard by others. The gazes of those in the hall all turned towards them.

Joanne and Mia became the focus of everyone.

This was the effect Mia wanted. She wanted everyone to know that Joanne was not as kind as she seemed!

Today, she was going to ruin Joanne's high and mighty image!

Joanne did not know what Mia intended to do, but she anticipated it.

She wanted to see whether Mia's tricks had improved from the last time they fought.