Shadows of Destiny: A Tale of Liberation

Chapter 45

Renee could have just left then and there. After all, in only twenty days, she would be officially divorced

from this guy, and they would forever have nothing to do with each other anymore.

Besides, if he really did die this evening, she would inherit a massive chunk of his fortune as his wife-

she would be unimaginably wealthy then!

But in the end, she realized that she could not be that cruel, and that she could not just turn a blind eye

to this, so she returned to the auction hall.

What else could she do, when that scumbag was the biological father to her two children? If her

children found out in the future that she had just left their father to die without helping him, they would

certainly hate her forever!

The atmosphere in the auction hall had almost reached a fever pitch by the time she returned to her

seat.

“Five million!”

“Six million!”

“Six and a half million!” 1

Celebrities and public figures from all walks of life enthusiastically raised their bidding placards. The

item being auctioned off at the moment was the ring that Renee had just taken off her ring finger a few

minutes ago.

By the time Renee had taken her seat, someone had already made a bid for it at the price of 6.8 million

dollars! “That’s ridiculous!” exclaimed Renee. She remembered how the diamond ring had only cost

around three to four million dollars. This was definitely proof that these rich people had so much money

that they did not know what to do with it!

She was about to reach out for her drink to soothe her shock, but her hand accidentally brushed

against Stefan’s hand. His fingers felt slightly cold, just like his strikingly handsome but cold face-

intimidating and unapproachable. “You definitely stole the show this evening…” Stefan turned to Renee

with cold, piercing eyes and added, “I never knew that my wife is so benevolent and charitable that she

could just take off the wedding ring that she’d been wearing these past four years and donate it without

any hesitation!”

Renee picked up her drink, calmly took a sip, then smilingly responded, “There’s nothing baffling about

it, Mr. Hunt. I was only trying to put the ring to good use, that’s all.”

Stefan’s eyes turned even colder than before. There was a sign of almost insuppressible rage in them.

Renee was sure that if they had not been alone right now, he would have torn her into shreds!

“Mr. Hunt,” she said in a hushed tone, “as someone who was once married to you, I’d like to warn you

not to go on that stage later. Someone is trying to harm you.”

She had looked around the hall earlier but did not notice any suspicious figures that might cause

trouble. Still, Stefan would be under the spotlight, yet the enemy would be hiding in the dark-this place

was simply too dangerous for

him!

Stefan seemed a little more vigilant now. He squinted, studied Renee searchingly, and asked, “What

are you up to now?”

“I’m just warning you out of genuine concern. Just listen to me, and you’ll be fine!”

That was all that Renee could tell him.

1/3

“Twelve million!” (1)

“Twelve and a half million!”

“Thirteen million!”

The bidding was still going on, and the price kept on climbing to outrageous heights. It was fast

approaching fifteen million dollars now. Among the bidders, Liam, Renee’s number one admirer, was

the one whose placard was raised most enthusiastically. Not only was Liam from a rich family, but he

was also his father’s eldest son and favorite child. That was why he could make the bids with no care in

the world about the price. (1)

“Thirteen and a half million!” shouted Liam, raising his placard again.

This time, no one came forward to outbid him anymore, probably because the real monetary value of

the ring was not at all that high. The only thing that made it very valuable was that it used to be the

wedding ring of Stefan’s wife.

“Thirteen and a half million going once!”

“Thirteen and a half million going twice!”

“It’s been called twice now,” the host said, flushed with excitement. “This is your last chance, ladies and

gentlemen! Is no one going to outbid this price?”

“This ring is of great significance,” the host continued. “There’s only one of its kind in the world. Are you

sure you don’t want to outbid the price?”

Silence.

“Okay, then. Thirteen and half million dollars-”

“Fifteen million!” shouted Stefan with an emotionless expression as he raised his placard right before

the host was about to declare it sold.

Boom!

The whole room was astounded.

Even Renee was flabbergasted. She wondered, was this guy… out of his mind?! They would get

divorced soon anyway, so why would he spend fifteen million dollars for their own wedding ring? No

matter how rich H Group was, it was still a ridiculous way to spend money!

“It must be true love!” someone shouted. “This is clearly a sign of true love!”

“No matter what, anything that belongs to your wife should return to her anyway!”

“Mr. Hunt must really love his wife very much! They’re nothing at all like the rumored emotionless

couple! What a touching scene!”

Some audience members were now moved to tears by Stefan’s grand gesture.

But Briar, who was in the second row, clenched her fists and glared at Renee, her eyes burning with

hatred borne of jealousy.

“But Mr. Osborne was very keen on the item earlier. Are you sure you don’t want to outbid the price?”

The whole crowd turned to Liam, but he was only smiling sheepishly. He shrugged and said, “I can’t

afford it. I give up!”

“Fifteen million going once!”

2/3

“Fifteen million going twice!”

“Fifteen million dollars sold!”

Holding the microphone, the host excitedly announced, “Congratulations, Mr. Hunt! The diamond ring

that your wife donated is now yours. Please come onstage and give a short speech!”

Stefan’s face was its usual cool and suave. But internally, he wondered why he felt as if he’d walked

into a trap set by Renee and Liam. Or was he perfectly willing to step into the trap himself?

The spotlight was now aimed at Stefan. He stood up haughtily and buttoned up his suit, preparing to

walk onto the

stage.

“Don’t go up there!” Renee shook her head and tugged at his arm.

If he went up there, he’d quickly become a sitting duck. It would only be a matter of time before those

who wished to harm him would attack him! 1

But Stefan completely ignored her.

Knowing that any attempts to stop him were futile, she could only hold onto his arm and said, “Fine! In

that case, I’ll just go up there with you!” (1)