All Novel Sweet
Chapter 251
Chapter 251
The day after
Three hours before the charity auction, Jeannie and her makeup artist rushed to the Chadwick family’s quaint cottage, heading straight for the master bedroom.
“Gwendolyn, I’m here,” she called out as she pushed open the door, “Where’s Howard?”
Fresh from the shower, Gwendolyn was towelling off her damp hair as she emerged, “He’s swamped at the office, and he’ll be back later to pick us un.”
Tonight, the entire Chadwick family was expected to make an appearance at the charity auction.
“Talk about a corporate slave,” Jeannie sighed, “Let’s get you dolled up first, yeah?”
“Sure.”
With a moment of hesitation, Gwendolyn asked, “You know about the annual Luxe Legacy Bidding, where everyone’s supposed to bring something to auction off. Do you think this will do?”
She pulled out a jade from her vanity drawer, the one Gemma had given her.
“A jade?” Jeannie, with her broad knowledge of fine things, recognized it as a treasure at first glance.
“Gwendolyn, where did you score such a jade? It’s warm and smooth to the touch, a pure hue. The teardrop shape has a nice weight to it It looked like it was worth at least a million.
Jeannie knew Gwendolyn wasn’t one for lavish accessories, and anything pricey she wore was usually a gift from Howard or Roselind. This piece of jade was new to her eyes.
Gwendolyn’s gaze was clouded with complexity. “It was from Gemma, she said it was mine. It’s no use to me sitting around.”
“She’s got some conscience, at least,” Jeannie remarked, “The Luxe Legacy Bidding is quite the event. Anything valued over ten thousand is good enough to get in the door.”
That’s a relief.”
Gwendolyn felt assured.
Speaking of jade, Jeannie added, “The Lopez family is sure to be at the auction, too.”
Is there some connection?”
“Rumor has it they’re looking for the piece Claude lost years ago, one he wore since he was a kid. The Lopezes are superstitious, thinking if they find it, it’ll help Claude wake up from his coma. So they never miss an auction, big or small,”
Jeannie found it curious but remembered how her own family had clung to every superstition when Howard was in his
She could empathize with their desperation.
For the sake of a loved one, they’d believe anything, no matter how absurd.
Gwendolyn placed the jade carefully in a small wooden box and tucked it into her handbag.
At six o’clock, a knock came on the bedroom door.
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Quentin, with a look that held little respect and merely polite decorum, announced, “Mrs. Chadwick, the car is waiting downstairs.”
“Alright.”
Gwendolyn emerged in full regalia, her dress covered by a chic blazer, hiding the skin of her shoulders.
“Gwendolyn, don’t cover up. Everyone’s going to be dressed to the nines, it’s fashion.” Jeannie exclaimed, snatching the blazer and tossing it back into the bedroom.
Caught off guard and with Quentin urging her along, “Mrs. Chadwick, Mr. Chadwick is waiting for you in the car,” Gwendolyn glanced at him, gathered her skirt, and followed downstairs, speaking up, “Quentin, I heard when you were dealing in the Capital, you were the only one with access to Mr. Chadwick’s room?”
Caught off–guard, Quentin replied quickly, “Yes.”
“I received a video sent by Ms. Hamilton that invaded Howard’s privacy,” Gwendolyn shared, knowing Quentin was Howard’s right-hand man. She wasn’t tearing into him, just giving a nudge.
“I don’t want such things affecting our marriage again,” she said earnestly.
Quentin understood this as a warning and an opportunity from Gwendolyn.
A storm of regret raged inside him, and he replied with respect, “Yes, Mrs. Chadwick.”
He deeply regretted doing a favor for Selina Hamilton out of obligation, as it did him no favors in climbing the corporate ladder So many people coveted the position of executive assistant, a role that was practically a golden ticket to the top.