Claimed by the Crown Heir novel Chapter 30

As Nolan spoke, his gaze drifted casually over the main hall below, and his eyebrows shot up.

"Ace, look down at the bottom left."

Alistair followed his line of sight.

She was wearing a champagne satin strapless gown, the fabric cascading like liquid clouds. It hugged her frame perfectly, outlining the delicate, graceful slope of her shoulders and neck, tapering at her waist before the skirt pooled elegantly on the floor. Every step she took seemed to shimmer with a soft, radiant light, her serene expression making her look impeccably graceful and refined.

Alistair narrowed his eyes, a deep, unfathomable darkness settling in his gaze.

Down in the hall, Vanessa felt a sudden prickle of awareness. She instinctively looked up toward the second floor.

But all she saw was a row of frosted glass windows catching the faint ambient light, obscuring everything behind them.

The house lights suddenly dimmed, leaving only a single, brilliant spotlight fixed precisely on the center stage.

The entire hall fell dead silent as the auctioneer strode up to the podium. The auction officially began.

Lot after lot was hammered down, until it was finally time for tonight's main event.

Her eyes locked onto the center stage.

"*The Jealous Petals* is an ink wash on paper scroll created by the grandmaster in 1520. The artwork depicts a noblewoman in flowing, wide-sleeved robes with a towering headdress, striking a pose of elegant freedom... The starting bid is four hundred thousand dollars."

As soon as the auctioneer finished, a tidal wave of competing bids swept through the room.

"VIP Box Number Five, seven hundred thousand dollars!"

Vanessa hurriedly raised her paddle.

"Eight hundred and fifty thousand!"

Up in the VIP box, Alistair raised an eyebrow.

"Looks like your little savior is also gunning for the grandmaster's painting," Nolan noted with clear amusement.

"Nine hundred thousand!"

The bidding war down below raged on.

Noticing Alistair wasn't making a move, Nolan raised an eyebrow. "Grandpa Howard specifically told you to win this painting, no matter the cost, even if you have to write a blank check."

Seraphina was even more thrilled, clutching her arm. "Oh my god, I can't take this stress. I have to go to the bathroom. Wait here, I'll be right back!"

"..."

None of the remaining lots caught her eye, so Vanessa had no intention of sticking around.

"I'm going to sort out the paperwork. I'll wait for you in the car."

"Okay."

Vanessa swiftly handled the transaction, arranging for the auction house to package and deliver the painting to the Grant estate, before retreating to her car to wait.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a familiar figure walking out the main entrance of the auction house. The man trailing behind him wore a cynical smirk and a black motorcycle jacket. His posture was commanding, an innate sense of luxury woven into his sharp movements—the unmistakable aura of a deeply wealthy aristocrat.

Even though her car had heavily tinted privacy windows, completely obscuring the interior, Vanessa's heart leaped into her throat. Her fingers curled instinctively as she shrank back into her seat.

She watched the two men get into a car. The engine purred to life, and the vehicle slowly glided past hers.

She didn't know if it was just her imagination, but in the split second the car passed by, the man in the passenger seat turned his head and shot a deep, piercing look precisely in her direction.