Chapter 176

Aria Bennett nearly laughed out loud at Celine Valmont's haughty demeanor.

"Not selling," she refused bluntly.

This raw jade had the strongest energy fluctuation in the entire auction floor—it would undoubtedly yield top-grade imperial jade.

Double the price? Even ten times wouldn't be enough.

Celine's arrogance was a carbon copy of her shameless mother.

"Are you disrespecting me?" Celine's face darkened instantly.

She lowered her voice threateningly, "I'm the heir to Whitmore Group. My grandfather knows the Sterling family patriarch."

"One word from me, and Prism Entertainment will blacklist you."

In her eyes, Aria was just a minor celebrity.

This defiance irritated her. Any other sensible star would've handed over the jade obediently—no questions asked.

"Go ahead and try," Aria sneered. "Let's see if you can pull it off."

Did she think threats would work?

The Valmont and Whitmore families were cut from the same disgusting cloth.

"You—!" Celine hadn't expected such defiance.

Gritting her teeth, she spat, "We'll see about that!"

But she couldn't bear to give up the stone. "Name your price. How much?"

"Not for any price," Aria said coldly.

"Some things are priceless. This jade is mine." She even raised an eyebrow in challenge.

Celine trembled with rage. "How dare you!"

"Indeed, I dare. What will you do about it?" Aria deliberately provoked her.

A crowd had gathered by now.

Aria raised her voice mockingly, "The Valmont and Whitmore families have no standards—bullying others into selling what you fancy."

"With business practices like yours, bankruptcy is inevitable!"

Her words resonated with many. Everyone despised such entitled behavior.

Lucien Valmont, standing nearby, frowned. "Miss Bennett, that's uncalled for."

"What? Threatening me too?" Aria shot him a sidelong glance.

Lucien scowled. "A young lady should mind her manners."

"Takes one to know one," Aria scoffed. "The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree. Look at your children's behavior—speaks volumes about the parents."

She wouldn't spare any courtesy for the Valmont family.

"You—!"

Just as Lucien was about to explode, he felt an icy gaze upon him.

"Watch your tone, Mr. Valmont. Reckless words bring consequences."

Lucien looked up to see an elegant young man staring at him coldly.

His heart skipped a beat—it was him!

At last year's elite gala, he'd witnessed this man surrounded by admirers beside the Cross Holdings CEO.

Inquiries revealed he was the youngest Cross son, the family's most doted-upon heir.

"Mr. Cross! What an honor to see you here," Lucien immediately fawned.

Damian Cross replied indifferently, "Am I not allowed?"

"Of course! Your presence honors us all." Lucien wiped his brow.

Aria rolled her eyes at his whiplash-inducing attitude change.

Nolan Reed approached with a mocking smile. "Your bootlicking skills have improved, Lucien."

Lucien noticed Nolan and forced a laugh. "You flatter me, Mr. Reed."

What rotten luck—running into both of them today.

"Aria isn't selling. Drop it," Nolan stated flatly.

Damian twirled a pen between his fingers. "Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Valmont?"

For once, the two rivals stood united against an outsider.

Who did the Valmont family think they were, bullying Aria?

"A misunderstanding! My daughter merely inquired," Lucien backpedaled. "Since Miss Bennett prefers to keep it, we wouldn't dream of insisting."

Aria delivered the final blow: "You couldn't insist even if you tried."

Lucien's expression darkened further, but he swallowed his pride.

The message was clear—these two heirs held Aria in high regard.

Once they lost interest, he'd make this little star pay.

"Mr. Cross, Mr. Reed, we'll take our leave."

Lucien maintained his smile until turning away, then his face twisted with fury.

Once out of earshot, Celine whispered, "Father, who is that Mr. Cross?"

For her father to grovel like that—he must be formidable.

Lucien grimly explained Damian's background.

"He's beyond our reach. While he protects that Aria, don't act rashly," he warned.

Celine's eyes gleamed with calculation. So the actor had powerful backing after all.

Schemes began forming in her mind.