"Miss Anderson, this way, please." The reception attendant, dressed sharply in a tailcoat suit, gave a slight bow.
Danielle Anderson had just stepped out of the car, casually smoothing the hem of her floor-length water-red evening gown. Following the direction of the attendant, she walked toward the auction hall in her stiletto heels.
The autumn evening breeze carried a faint chill, and even the air seemed tinged with a light frostiness. The attendant shifted slightly to block the breeze coming from her side, his gaze lingering on her refined and strikingly beautiful features for a moment, as though confirming something.
So, the Anderson family's heiress really did return without making a sound.
Eyes turned her way from near and far, but she paid no attention to their stares. Instead, she gave the attendant a faint smile and said, "My brother's tied up with something last minute, so he asked me to come in his place."
The attendant's tone softened even further, showing unusual respect as he replied, "It’s truly an honor to have Miss Anderson attend the Treasure Auction House tonight."The grand lobby was already buzzing as they stepped in, the crystal chandelier casting soft light onto Danielle Anderson's porcelain-white face, adding a touch of glow to her flawless features. More and more people took notice of her, some even pausing mid-step or setting down their glasses of champagne, their stunned gazes fixed on her.
Danielle didn’t spare even a glance, her eyes calm yet carrying a quiet depth. She spoke, her tone poised, “I came in a rush, and my brother didn’t give me the list of the items available for bid. I’d appreciate it if your auction house could provide me with one.”
“Of course, Miss Anderson, we have also prepared some warm ginger tea in your private suite upstairs. Allow me to guide you,” the staff member replied respectfully as he gestured towards the red carpet leading to the elevator.
As the elevator doors slid shut, cutting off the crowd’s curious stares, a single voice drifted in before complete silence settled: “Does Leonard Angelis know that Danielle Anderson is back?”
Danielle’s eyelashes lowered subtly, and the delicate movement masked the flicker of emotions in her gaze. Even the staff member, noticing the change in atmosphere, took a discreet step back, putting some extra space between them.
Inside the private suite, Danielle walked past the elegantly designed bird-and-flower folding screen and took a seat on the plush sofa. Picking up the ginger tea set out for her, she took a small sip. The strong spiciness of the ginger immediately enveloped her senses, intense and biting.
Moments later, the staff returned, holding a folded card in both hands. “The auction will officially start in twenty minutes, Miss Anderson. Your seat is on the third floor, first row, number eight,” he informed her politely.He gestured toward the coffee table in front of her, where her bidding number card was placed.
The attendant quickly left. Danielle’s expression gradually softened as she crossed her legs with poise, flipping through the card listing the auction items. Her fingertip glided over the name “Kashmir Blue Diamond Ring.”
Deep in her mind, System 099 let out a sigh of relief. “Good thing we made it on time.”
Danielle gently rubbed the corner of her eye, chuckling. “I told you not to rush. We’ve got plenty of time. Also... did Leonard show up?”
Although it sounded like a question, 099 could detect the certainty in her tone.
After a quick check, 099 confirmed her words—Leonard Angelis wasn’t here yet.
Danielle replied casually, “Let me know when he arrives.”
099 observed her calm demeanor and couldn’t help but tentatively remark, “Well, you’ve been abroad for three years, but surely… there’s still some feeling left for Leonard, isn’t there?”
Having that emotional connection would certainly help the mission of rescuing the villain go smoother.
Danielle’s hand involuntarily jolted, her fingertip slipping down the list to “Carlos Grand Piano,” the gilded font almost burning her at the touch. There were still feelings left, weren’t there? Before 099 awakened her consciousness, she had been nothing more than a character fated to exit early in this world’s script.
Her life was pre-determined, destined to be the white moonlight of the antagonist, a trigger to push him into darkness before her role came to an end. If not for 099’s arrival, she would still be abroad, completely detached from the ensuing storylines of this world.
No matter how absurd 099’s revelations sounded, everything in her past life was real to her. Every bit of her emotions—none of it felt fabricated.
Danielle Anderson adjusted her mood, choosing not to respond to 099’s question. Instead, her thumb lightly traced over the words “Carlos Piano” engraved on the instrument.
She sat silently for a long moment until 099’s voice abruptly rang out: “Here he comes!”
Startled, she immediately understood—it meant Leonard Angelis had arrived.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, she noted there were only five minutes until the auction began. It was about time to head downstairs.
Still, she wasn’t in a hurry. Pulling a small mirror from her bag, she examined her reflection: still radiant, strikingly beautiful. With delicate fingers, she tapped her vibrant red lips before curling them into a slight, confident smile.