Chapter 210: Grandpa Lockwood Knows Nathaniel Sloan?

Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Grandpa Lockwood Knows Nathaniel Sloan?

"The bidding has reached ten billion," Luke White replied. "The Lancaster family is clinging on tenaciously. They have enough liquidity, but they might not pour everything into this project just for Theodore."

Nathaniel Sloan nodded expressionlessly. "It’s not enough. Keep going. Drag the Sloan family into this too."

Luke expressed his concern. "With such a massive sum... Chairman Sloan is a cautious man. I’m afraid he won’t rashly raise the bid."

Resting his chin on one hand, Nathaniel flashed a half-smile. "Chairman Sloan is cautious, but Ms. Jennings is not. It doesn’t matter. Keep driving the price up. The auction is the day after tomorrow, and the Sloan family wouldn’t dare let Theodore lose at this critical juncture."

Luke nodded, understanding this was also a psychological battle. "Please rest assured, sir. I’ll have someone drop a hint to Laura Jennings."

The corners of Nathaniel’s lips curled up slightly. Ten billion was hardly enough to drag the Lancaster Group to death, but it was plenty to cause them some trouble. If he was going to set a trap, he might as well make it a big one.

Over the following days, the land’s estimated value climbed higher and higher. At first, a few other parties intended to bid, but seeing Nathaniel and Theodore locked in a stalemate, they gradually backed out.

By the day before the auction, the price had been driven up to a staggering thirteen billion.

And now, Nathaniel had leaked word that he would raise the bid again.

At the Sloan’s villa.

Ethan Sloan furrowed his brows tightly. "At this price, it’s really unnecessary, Theodore..."

"Oh my! That won’t do!" Laura Jennings hurried forward. She had long heard the rumors that the future value of this land would far exceed the current price. They had to win the bid!

"Ethan," Laura urged hastily, "the future profits from this land could easily double. Buying it won’t be a loss! Besides..."

Her eyes darted around as she plotted. "Ethan, Theodore is the biological son of you and Miranda! Sooner or later, the Sloan family will be handed over to him. But you know how scheming Nathaniel is. He’s managed to draw in quite a few people to support him in the shadows.

"If we can secure this land and hand it over to Theodore, it would fulfill my greatest wish!

"Back then, it was you and I who wronged Theodore. It’s time we made it up to him!" Laura finished with a practiced, hypocritical smile.

After her speech, Old Mr. Lancaster cast her an approving look.

"Mrs. Sloan is right. Theodore will inevitably return to the Sloan family. We absolutely cannot yield this land."

Ethan finally nodded. "Then we’ll continue to raise the bid."

Two days later.

An auction hosted by the mysterious Mr. Lynch was about to begin.

The attendees were all incredibly wealthy or highly influential. The auction items were rare and exorbitantly priced: a priceless Ancient Jade, a century-old piano that still sounded as perfect as the day it was made, and most notably—the plot of land in Sorhaven slated for development, valued at tens of billions.

"Mr. Lynch is just a businessman, yet he can host an auction of this caliber? Who exactly is he?" someone whispered.

Their companion lowered their voice. "I’m not sure, but even the Lancaster Group and the Sloan Group want to curry favor with him. He must be someone extraordinary."

"Look, the Sloan family has arrived."

The group turned to look, their faces flashing with surprise and suspicion.

Family Head Ethan Sloan had actually arrived with Theodore, while Nathaniel was nowhere to be seen among their ranks!

Theodore and Ethan appearing together undoubtedly sent a clear signal: Theodore was his son, and he was destined to be the next Family Head of the Sloan family!

Spotting Nathaniel from a distance, Theodore chuckled softly and greeted him, "Nathaniel."

Nathaniel completely ignored him. "Is everything ready?"

The person standing beside Nathaniel wasn’t Luke White, but rather the manager in charge of the auction. He bowed his head and kept his voice low. "Everything is ready... Mr. Lynch."

Meanwhile, outside the auction hall.

Estelle Lockwood and Enzo Kendrick had just arrived.

Enzo had heard the auction would feature many rare treasures and came specifically to broaden his horizons. "By the way," he said casually, "you mentioned a couple of days ago that Grandpa Lockwood’s diary brought up Mr. Lynch. It said this charity auction was founded by Mr. Lynch many years ago, and that you are one of its charity members."

Estelle raised an eyebrow. "Grandpa Lockwood’s diary? He knew Mr. Lynch... Nathaniel?"

Since Mr. Lynch was actually Nathaniel, the person her grandfather mentioned in his diary had to be Nathaniel too.

Enzo shook his head. "I honestly don’t know about that, but Grandpa Lockwood said he and Mr. Lynch were friends."

Estelle was speechless.

She seriously pondered the age gap between her grandfather and Nathaniel, her eyes filled with a mix of surprise and uncertainty.

It was one thing that she had never heard her grandfather mention Mr. Lynch, but how on earth did he even know Nathaniel? How old was Nathaniel back then? How could he have become her grandfather’s cross-generational friend at such a young age?

Enzo then recounted what he had read.

"Grandpa Lockwood noted that he had once donated to the charity auction, and those funds were allocated to build a Hope Primary School in a mountainous region. Later, during a mudslide, your grandfather sensed something was wrong beforehand. Despite facing immense pressure, he insisted on evacuating the villagers, saving a total of three thousand lives.

"Because of this, Mr. Lynch made an exception and invited your grandfather to become an Angel Member of the charity organization."

Estelle pursed her lips slightly as she looked at the piece of paper in her hand.

She had no idea her grandfather had done all this. To her, he had always been just an ordinary old man; he had never once brought up his great deeds.

Enzo seemed to have a good grasp of the situation. "You can enter as a charity member. But based on what Grandpa Lockwood wrote, he should have left you a token of some sort."

Estelle shook her head. "I never knew about any token. I only just found out about the charity membership."

"Noelle, you’re the best for bringing me to such a high-end auction!"

Just then, a sycophantic female voice rang out from behind. Estelle narrowed her eyes and turned around.

Who else could it be but Noelle Lockwood and Suzi Lowell?

Noelle hadn’t appeared in public for a long time. The moment she showed up, she instantly drew everyone’s attention. The crowd looked back and forth between Noelle and Estelle, who was standing not too far away, thoroughly confused by the situation.

Logically speaking, since the Lockwood family had already acknowledged their true daughter, Estelle, they should have sent the fake daughter away.

Yet here was Noelle, accompanied by Austin Lockwood and Rose Lowell, walking into the venue surrounded by people like stars orbiting the moon.

Noelle spoke with utmost gentleness. "Suzi, you’re my sister. Even though we aren’t bound by blood... sigh, I’m still your older sister. It’s only right that I bring you along."

Suzi announced loudly, "Noelle, in my heart, you are my true cousin! As for certain other people, I absolutely refuse to acknowledge them!"

Only then did Noelle seem to finally notice Estelle. Feigning surprise, she said, "Estelle, you’re here too? I remember... today’s entrance invitations had to be personally distributed by Mr. Lynch. Do you have an invitation from him?"

Her question was deeply suggestive, implying in every way possible that Estelle didn’t have an invitation and had merely sneaked in.

Enzo looked them up and down, completely unapologetic. "Oh, if it isn’t Chairman Lockwood and Mrs. Lockwood. How interesting. You bring your adopted daughter to the auction without so much as a word to your biological daughter, and now you have the nerve to ask if our Estelle has an invitation.

"Instead of interrogating Estelle, you’d be better off asking yourselves. You’re the ones without invitations."

Would Nathaniel really send the Lockwood family an invitation?

The crowd turned their gaze toward them. Rose’s eyes darted away evasively. So what if they didn’t have an invitation? Noelle was so successful...

The more Rose thought about it, the angrier she became. Why on earth did her daughter have to be this damned wretch, Estelle?!

Austin, on the other hand, smiled and replied, "Mr. Kendrick, Estelle, it’s true that we don’t have invitations. We were only able to get in by riding on Noelle’s coattails.

"Oh, right, you probably don’t know this yet. Noelle is actually an Angel Member of this charity auction."