Chapter 5: Protecting

Adam was stunned, blinking several times, unable to believe that Jaylan would protect her. It took him a while to react.

His expression unchanged, he spoke with endless coldness, "Apologize to her."

At this moment, if Adam and Aubree couldn't see that Jaylan was standing up for Amaya, they would be fools.

She lowered her head, unwillingly.

"Mr. Hancock, don't be too harsh. After all, I am a member of the Shaw family." Adam's chest heaved violently a few times as he spat out a breath of anger, gritting his teeth. Although the Shaw family in Atheria couldn't compare to the Hancock family, it was still a prominent family. He thought that no matter what, Jaylan would at least give respect to the Shaw family, not going so far as to make an enemy over a woman.

Jaylan clearly lost his patience, lifting his eyelids to glance at him. How could the Shaw family produce such a thing?

"Do you think I'm negotiating with you?"

"The Shaw family? Your grandfather is still in charge. What are you? Or do you think your inheritance rights are already secure?" Jaylan sneered. The intricacies within the Shaw family might be unknown to others, but Jaylan knew them inside out.

Adam, not being the eldest grandson of the Shaw family yet vying for inheritance rights, had started his own business after graduating from university. On the surface, it was self-reliance, but in reality, it was to showcase his abilities to the old man and change the inheritance rules.

In just a few words, Jaylan left Adam and Aubree with no room to maneuver.

Adam finally understood the seriousness of the situation. Jaylan's iron-fisted methods were well-known in the business world. If he weren't ruthless enough, he wouldn't have reached his current position.

Forcing a smile, Adam said, "Mr. Hancock, you’re right. It was my fault for speaking out of turn. I sincerely apologize to your fiancée. I'm sorry."

After speaking, he pulled Aubree to bow to Amaya, showing utmost sincerity.

Amaya found it laughable to see the two people who had just been arrogantly insulting her now groveling like sycophants.

"Get out."

Jaylan's lips parted as he coldly uttered a single word.

"Jaylan, thank you." She was genuinely grateful.

This was the second time he had helped her, and the second time she had thanked him.

"Troublesome." His tone was indifferent, as if he hadn't just helped her.

"I find that marrying you might not be so bad after all." Amaya smiled at him.

Just not bad?

Jaylan looked at the ungrateful woman before him. Didn't she know how many people were vying for the position of Mrs. Hancock? At least those troublesome people wouldn't dare to deliberately make things difficult for her anymore, yet she only thought it was not bad.

"You have terrible taste in men." Thinking of Adam being her ex-boyfriend, Jaylan couldn't help but comment.

"You say I have terrible taste in men. Are you implying that you're terrible too, dear fiancé?" Amaya retorted directly. She wasn't a pushover.

Just then, the dance music started playing. Before tonight's charity gala officially began, there would be an opening dance.

Amaya looked at Jaylan's clean and slender hand extended towards her. At this moment, he was every bit a gentleman.

But she stood frozen, her mind in chaos. He hadn't mentioned dancing before. If she had known earlier, she might have found an excuse to decline this gala.

Surrounded by attendees of the gala and with Jaylan's status on display, all eyes were on them.

Everyone was curious about what kind of performance such an outstanding man's companion would deliver.

Suppressing her discomfort and fear, she slowly extended her hand.

She suddenly remembered those days long ago and couldn't help but shiver.

If possible, she hoped never to think of them again in this lifetime.

Jaylan grasped her hand and pulled her closer, placing his other hand on her waist. Leaning slightly towards her ear, he said, "Put your hand up here and follow my lead."

Obediently placing her hand on his shoulder, she softly responded, "I won't let you down."

He had helped her twice; this time, even if she couldn't help him much, she wouldn't let him lose face.

She wanted everyone present to know that the woman beside the outstanding Jaylan was equally exceptional.

As the music began, they started their dance.

She was elegant, beautiful, and confident.

Jaylan's eyes flashed with surprise at her first step.

Her dance moves amazed everyone present; they were breathtakingly beautiful.

She executed many difficult moves with effortless grace.

When the dance ended, thunderous applause filled the room as everyone cheered for their perfect performance.

"Unexpectedly impressive, Amaya." Jaylan hadn't expected that this seemingly down-and-out little doctor could perform such a high-standard international dance. There seemed to be many things about her that he didn't know—interesting.

His deep voice sounded in her ear, his breath warm against her skin, making Amaya blush despite herself. Trying to maintain composure, she replied, "I told you I wouldn't let you down."

With the opening dance concluded, the evening's auction began in earnest.

Sitting in the front row, neither of them showed much interest in the auction items. Jaylan didn't particularly want anything; with his status, he could get whatever he wanted without needing to bid—just a flick of his finger and it would be delivered to him.

Amaya found herself dazzled by the array of jewelry and antiques. While she couldn't deny their appeal, she knew her own limitations. Her mother's surgery and medical expenses had been covered by selling herself to Jaylan; how could she possibly have spare money for such luxurious items?

"What's wrong? Do you like it?" Jaylan asked lazily as he noticed the woman beside him staring at a pink diamond necklace on stage.

The sound of his voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Um? No, I was just thinking."

He raised an eyebrow but said nothing more.

The pink diamond necklace on stage began its auction with a starting price of $800,000. Each bid increased by $100,000. It wasn't a particularly special piece of jewelry, so there weren't many bidders—just two or three at first. By the time it reached $1,300,000, only Adam remained.

Winning this necklace was Adam's goal for attending tonight's charity gala.

He had recently been trying to win over a particularly difficult client who was impervious to both soft and hard tactics. After repeated rejections during visits, he finally learned that this client's wife was a jewelry collector who had been seeking this pink diamond necklace. If he could present it during his next visit, the chances of winning the deal would increase greatly.

Just thinking about the profits from this deal made the $1,300,000 he paid seem insignificant.

As he watched the necklace about to fall into his hands, he couldn't suppress a smile.

"Any more bids?" The auctioneer asked.

"$2,000,000."

The room buzzed with astonishment at the new bid.