Chapter 7 - All Cards on the Table
The energy in the ballroom shifted instantly to a razor-sharp focus. Hundreds of high-net-worth individuals took their seats, programs in hand.
"We begin bidding for Lot 4 at fifty million dollars," the auctioneer announced, tapping his gavel against the wooden podium.
Immediately, a bid went up from a representative of an international energy conglomerate sitting in the front row. "Fifty-five million!"
"Sixty million!" called out another tech mogul from the left wing.
Julian stepped up beside Elena, taking his place at her side. "We go high early, or do we wait?"
"Wait," Elena said calmly. "The conglomerate is bidding on behalf of an offshore shell company. Look at their legal counsel sitting behind them."
Julian glanced over and spotted a familiar face—Victoria Vance’s former defense attorney.
"They're trying to buy back the patent using Victoria’s remaining hidden foreign capital," Julian realized, his jaw tightening. "They want to keep the tech out of your hands even from behind bars."
"Seventy million dollars!" the foreign conglomerate representative shouted.
The room went quiet. Seventy million was a astronomical sum for a patent that had been locked in legal disputes for a decade. The auctioneer looked around the room, preparing his gavel.
"Seventy million going once..."
Julian raised his paddle calmly. "One hundred million."
A sharp, collective gasp rang across the ballroom. The price had jumped thirty million in a single bid.
The representative from the conglomerate panicked, frantically making a phone call on a encrypted line under the table. After a few tense seconds, he raised his paddle again. "One hundred and ten million!"
"One hundred and twenty," Julian replied immediately, without a second of hesitation.
"Julian, that's almost the entire liquid reserve of Sterling's secondary fund," Elena whispered, touching his arm.
"It doesn't matter," Julian said softly, looking down at her with complete devotion. "I promised you your legacy back. There is no price tag on that."
The conglomerate representative stood up, shouting angrily toward the stage. "One hundred and thirty million dollars!"
The auctioneer was sweating now under the bright lights. "One hundred and thirty million dollars to the gentleman in the front row! Going once... going twice..."
Suddenly, a loud, clear voice echoed from the VIP high table.
"I exercise the Vance Matriarch Proxy Option," Lady Genevieve stood up slowly, relying on her silver cane, her voice piercing the silent hall.
The entire ballroom froze.
"Under corporate charter section nine," Genevieve announced, looking straight at the foreign bidding team, "the primary bloodline heir holds the right of first refusal to reclaim stolen family assets at base valuation—provided the bid is backed by legitimate bloodline lineage."
The auctioneer blinked in confusion. "Lady Genevieve... who are you assigning the proxy to?"
Genevieve looked across the grand hall, her cold eyes softening just a fraction as she met Elena’s gaze.
"I assign all voting rights, family shares, and proxy options of Vance Enterprises to my legal granddaughter," Genevieve declared clearly. "Elena Vance Sterling."
An uproar erupted across the ballroom. The foreign conglomerate’s legal team leapt to their feet in protest, but the auctioneer’s gavel struck the podium with a decisive, loud BANG.
"Proxy option recognized!" the auctioneer announced. "Lot 4 is awarded to Elena Vance Sterling at base valuation!"
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The room burst into applause. Elena stood frozen in disbelief as Julian wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a warm, triumphant embrace. Over his shoulder, Elena looked toward Genevieve, who gave her a single, dignified nod before turning to leave the stage.
The war for her father's truth was finally won.
