The following morning, a doorbell rang inside the house of Williamson family.It was holiday so Eloise had no class and just inside the house with her mother.Her father is also busy with their companies that are barely surviving after being attacked by two families from upper class.
Sarah Williamson from the kitchen opened the door and was frozen on her spot when she saw several police in front of her door.
"Good day. We are from the Philippine National Police. I am Police Lieutenant Colonel Leo Racal and this is Police Major James Ajero. We have a warrant for your arrest in connection with an attempted murder.Please cooperate and come with us peacefully."
Sarah felt a cold bucket of water poured above her while staring at the police.She began to panic and her body began to tremble.She doesn't want to be imprisoned!She was an actress!The madam of the Williamson family!She can't be imprisoned!Besides, these people don't have evidence, right?
"I-I am not going!You guys don't have evidence!", she said in panic and was about to run away but the police swiftly pressed her onto the wall and cuffed her hands.
Eloise watching a few meters away from her mother was stunned.She knows her mother said she would take revenge for her.But seeing her mother being caught by the police, she doesn't know how to react.Right now she was scared.
'Is it not just about killing Lia?They even send the highest rank and second highest rank assigned in a police station!Is Lia's unknown man really that powerful?'
Sarah began to scream and angrily struggled but it was no use.She was taken out of their house.She felt despair.She did everything discreetly.She was sure those thugs wouldn't speak the truth!How did the police know?How?
Eloise looked at her mother being taken away.She couldn't help but to feel anxious and immediately called her father.She can't have her mother be imprisoned because of her.
Eloise followed the police car with her car.She met her father at the front of police station with a distressed face.
"Where's your mother?Why is your mother being taken by them?"
"She's inside.", Eloise answered.Eloise wanted to continue talking with an anxious face but Mr. Williamson hurriedly entered the police station.He came in with a distressed face.He's been trying to make his companies survive after the recent attacks of two upper class families.Luckily, they didn't completely destroy his companies and just let him off after his daughter apologized and told the truth to the public but then he heard his wife being taken away by the police!His wife just added to his problems soon after the attacks of two upper class families.He doesn't know anything about why his wife's been taken.
Lia woke up at 10AM and got out of her room.She saw Xavier cooking at the kitchen alone.
"Where are the others?", she asked and went near him.He is cooking a Filipino style dish called paksiw na salmon or a salmon fish belly stewed in vinegar.It's so fragrant!
"I noticed you liked this dish.So I bought a lot of salmon belly.There's still some stocks at the refrigerator.", she heard Xavier casually said.
Lia felt touched.She never thought he would noticed it.
"Your brother and Alaric are still sleeping.He came back so late at night.You probably didn't hear the news since you're still asleep but early in the morning, Sarah was taken by the police.It's all thanks to your brother, Alaric and the people guarding the restaurant."
Lia felt relieved that Sarah Williamson has finally been taken to the police.Aunt Selene and Yanyan will be safe.Although not really completely safe since Eloise is walking freely.Eloise killed her three times.She doesn't know how the future goes from now on.She felt happy.She and Xavier survived the night.
"I think this is already okay.", Xavier said after looking at the fish.
Lia prepared the table utensils.Xavier also made two cups of milk.Lia waited for him to sit opposite to hers and they finally began to eat.
Xavier again passed a lot of fish to her plate and she felt helpless.
"Why are you doing this.These are too many.", she asked.
"Don't worry about the others.They can cook for themselves.There's still a lot for them.You're so thin.You have to be healthy.I don't want you to die."
Lia was speechless.
"I didn't die from being sick.I was killed."
"Just be obedient.", he said firmly and took a gulp of milk from his glass of milk.
"Xue.Do you want to go with me?"
"Where?", she asked in curiosity.
In front of Xavier, Alaric and Naftali inside the house, she doesn't wear her dull eyes anymore.She already feels comfortable towards them.She could also see her brother feel pain whenever he looked at her dull eyes.She just wore dull eyes whenever they're in public.
"Two hours from now, there will be an auction event at the Chronarium museum.The auction event was held annually.Alaric managed to get three tickets.Alaric is still asleep.Last night, he said he won't go and would just sleep.Naftali also really isn't interested in such events so the other ticket is for you.All of us wanted you to try going to an auction.Do you wanna go?"
Lia didn't really wanna go but he said all of them wanted her to try.She knows this annual auction event.The invited people are mostly from upper class and middle upper class.
Looking at Xavier, she could only nod.
"Are you interested in arts?", she couldn't help but to ask.
Xavier nodded with a smile.Which was very rare.He was really handsome when he smiled.
"I am an artist.", he answered.
Lia was shocked.This dangerous man in front of her is an artist?
"After eating, prepare yourself.We will go to the museum."
After eating, Lia cleaned herself and wore a black long sleeve top and skirt .She also wore black stockings to hide her bruises.On the way inside the car, her phone rang.Lia answered the phone call without looking at the caller.
"Aren't you being too ungrateful, Lia?!How dare you let your brother sue our mother for attempted murder!!That filthy maid and her son is safe and sound!!You not only destroyed my mother's career but you sent her to the police station?!You also destroyed my reputation! Isn't that enough for you?!Our family raised you, you b*tch!!You don't even care about our family at all!!"
Lia's face went ugly and immediately ended the call.Her phone rang again but Lia ended it and blocked Eloise.She didn't change her number so Eloise can still call her.
"Are you okay?", Xavier asked Lia worriedly.He heard Eloise just now.Her voice is too annoyingly loud.
"I'm okay.", Lia lied.She was still feeling upset.
She didn't think she was being ungrateful at all.She already died four times under that family.She never experienced familial love from that family.They also didn't support her education financially.She had suffered for years.Sarah Williamson physically abused her and even took Aunt Selene and Yanyan's life.
Lia sighed and tried to calm down.She doesn't really want to affect Xavier's excited mood.
When they arrived at the auction.
"Tell me when you find something you want.I'll buy it for you.", Xavier whispered with his deep voice beside Lia.
Lia felt her ears tickled and felt enchanted to his voice.
"I'm okay.", she said.
She likes art but not to the point of collecting them.
"Just tell me in case, okay?", he insisted.
Lia just nodded.
When the auction began, Lia was speechless whenever she heard people raised their number and bid with a huge amouth of money.
She couldn't find something she was interested in and Xavier also couldn't and was silent all this time.
It was not until a realistic full portrait painting of a child was taken in front of the stage.Lia stared at the beautiful child wearing a fluffy blue gown.She felt like the child is too familiar.Lia felt Xavier's hand capturing hers all of a sudden.She looked at his hand.He made their hands intertwined.His hand gripped hers in tense.Lia looked at Xavier.He's looking at the painting intently as if he badly want that painting.
Lia looked at the painting.She was curious.Why would he be interested in a child's painting?
"This is the realistic full portrait of the famous lost royal princess of Country N, Princess Xue Aafreen Morelli made by the famous western realist painter Jasper Dust."
Lia was stunned after hearing what the auctioneer had just said.She stared at the painting.That was her?
The people around gasped.
"Princess Xue!!!Jasper Dust!!!The famous painter!!!", a man gasped.
"I know that painting!!Everyone is fighting for it!! How did it end up here?!", another man reacted.
Mrs. Richardson who's also at the auction event stared at the painting in excitement.
"Son, look at that painting!It's Lia!So adorable!!Lia will surely love it!", she said to her silent son staring at the beside her.
The auctioneer smiled at the people.
"You all should know her.She was lost due to an internal conflict of Country N.What makes painting this valuable was Jasper Dust created this painting live at the 4th birthday of her royal highness in just 4 hours before she disappeared at her cruise ship birthday party."
Eiser who's also at the auction staring at the painting in stun was disturbed by the excited voice of his mother.
"Son!We have to get that and give it to Lia!", she said to her son beside her in determination.
Eiser felt worried.
"But mom, that painting is a full portrait of Lia.That must be so expensive."
He indeed wants to have that painting and give it to Lia but that portrait must be so expensive.
Mrs. Castelli looked around the people in worry before whispering to her son.
"She's a princess of Country N!It's totally worth it!It doesn't matter how expensive the painting is!Once you marry Lia, the money you will spend in this painting is just a dust!"
Mrs. Castelli fixed her sitting position and cleared her throat after whispering to her son.No matter how much expensive that painting is, they have to get it for her son to give it to Lia.If her son manages to capture Lia's heart again, their wealth would become immeasurable.Their family status will rise and their connections will become wider.Marrying her son to Lia would be beneficial.
"We're starting the bidding at 500 million pesos or 8 million USD.", the auctioneer announced.
Lia hearing the price of her painting became speechless.It's so expensive!!
The people started to bid.
"505 million!"
"508 million!"
"514 million!"
"520 million!"
Xavier didn't raise his hand and just let the people fighting for the painting until only two people remained fighting.
"700 million!"
"710 million!"
Lia glanced at the two bidders fighting.Her eyes went wide and she saw it was Eiser and Henry.The two are unexpectedly here and fighting over her portrait.She felt upset and felt that the two are being crazy.Why are the two of them so determined to fight for her portrait?She knows Henry have feelings for her after what he had said at the cafeteria while fighting with Eiser but Eiser.Her eyes moved to Eiser and looked at him even more upset.
'He's really determined to chase after my background.'
The people around looked at the bidder in shock and curiosity because the amount is getting higher and a lot already think that the painting is not worth it.
"Who is that?", an old woman asked who can't see clearly the bidder from afar asked.
"That's the Castelli family and Richardson family fighting.", a woman replied.
Eiser cursed inside his heart and clenched his teeth.He glared at Henry sitting at the far left side below their chair.Henry is really determined to fight with him!!
"744 million!", Eiser fought back.
Henry looked at Eiser.He can see Eiser glaring at him.He smirked.
"745 million!"
Eiser began to sweat.
"750 million!!!!", Eiser fought back.
The price is too high!He doesn't think this painting is worth it anymore.
"1 billion!", Henry voiced out.
"Son.Let's stop.", Mrs. Castelli worriedly said and Eiser angrily dropped his hand holding a number.He felt frustrated.That painting should be his!Lia should be his!He can't accept the fact that Henry, his friend would really fight with him for Lia.Henry is really serious about Lia and he couldn't accept it.Lia is in the first place.
Henry sighed in relief.He felt happy.The painting will finally be his.He really likes the painting.He also felt extremely excited to give it to Lia.
"Is there any advance on the current bid of 1 billion?", the auctioneer asked and scanned the room to see if anyone wants to bid higher.
Everyone thought no one else would fight for the painting anymore but a voice of a man dropped a shocking amount was heard.
"5 billion!"
Xavier's voice was seductively deep like a music to their ears making everyone looked at him in surprised.They also forgot the shockingly huge price he dropped.
Lia looked at Xavier in horror.The amount is just too astronomical.
Silence filled the room and everyone felt shocked when they realized the price Xavier just dropped.
"F-Five billion?", Mrs. Castelli voice trembled.
"Five billion equivalent to eighty eight million USD!", a man cried in a low voice behind Mrs. Castelli.
Mrs. Castelli was shocked and looked at the man far sitting below them in curiosity.The price he dropped is so huge just for a painting.She can't see the face of the man but she knew he was young.For spending 5 billion so lavishly and ostentatiously for a painting, she would call the man simply a 'nouveau riche'.Who is this nouveau riche?
"G-Going once?", the auctioneer asked to give bidders a chance to advance but no one answered.
"Going twice?"
"Sold out!!"