CHAPTER 78: BIDDING AND REALIZATION

The charity gala was in full swing, the grand ballroom adorned with shimmering lights and elegantly dressed guests. Stanley, dressed in a tailored tuxedo, had already made several successful bids on exclusive items, earning him a round of applause from the captivated crowd. Despite his triumphs, a flicker of worry lingered in his eyes as he scanned the room for Lauretta. When he finally spotted her, unharmed and making her way towards him, relief washed over him like a gentle wave. Stanley's voice was filled with genuine concern as he asked, "If you hadn't returned when you did, I would have sent someone to look for you. How did everything go?" Lauretta's face lit up with a radiant smile as she approached her brother. The emotional storm that had raged within her had subsided the moment she laid eyes on Stanley. She realized that dwelling on the past and using old wounds to torment herself was a futile endeavor that only invited more trouble. With a hint of mischief in her eyes, Lau