Chapter 213 More Competent as a Brother-in-Law Than as a Husband

Chapter 213: Chapter 213: More Competent as a Brother-in-Law Than as a Husband

The cool, smooth touch in his palm prompted Julian Sterling to glance downward. The piece of jadeite was massive. Combined with its top-tier translucency and texture, even he could tell its market value was immeasurable.

Sophie Winslow’s gaze also drifted over. There were plenty of good things in the Winslow family’s antique shop. Otherwise, Isaiah Sutton wouldn’t have brought a transfer contract for her mother to press her thumbprint on while she lay unconscious in a hospital bed after a car accident.

It was the Winslow family’s antiques that had carried him through his most critical financial crisis.

Sophie cherished everything in the antique shop. She immediately reached out, taking the Emperor Green Jadeite No-Event Token from Julian’s hand, and carefully placed it back into the display cabinet. The cabinet was old and in disrepair, showing slight signs of wear and tear. She snapped the small padlock on the outside shut again.

In this single row of display cabinets alone lay ten pieces of jadeite. Each was brilliantly exquisite.

Julian watched her extreme, almost reverent carefulness. His gaze shifted slowly from Sophie’s face to the jadeite she had put back. There was no emotional ripple in his dark eyes. His line of sight lingered for two seconds before he casually looked away.

He didn’t bother to "communicate" any further with Sophie about what they had just been discussing. As Sophie straightened up, he turned and walked out.

Through the folding screen, Sophie saw him walk straight over to Stella Sutton. She didn’t know what he said, but Stella’s eyes curved into happy crescents before the two left together.

Sophie, however, couldn’t smile. There was absolutely no room for negotiation with Julian. He was even trying to get even, implying that since she was the one who refused to give Stella face in the first place, he absolutely wouldn’t retrieve the files from Longview to help her.

Sophie lowered her head and took a deep breath.

Isaiah Sutton had just arrived. Seeing Sophie, he immediately walked up and said, "Don’t blame me and Julian. I heard you refused to help. Aren’t you just kicking Stella when she’s down? If you were a bit kinder, none of this would be happening."

He knew Sophie cared deeply about this antique shop. But as far as he was concerned, Sophie had brought this upon herself.

Sophie looked up with a mocking smile. Was she kicking Stella when she was down just because she refused to clean up Stella’s mess? It was as if she owed Stella something.

Not wanting to waste her breath on Isaiah, Sophie turned to head back.

Isaiah followed her, sighing. "Fortunately, Julian is resourceful. He came up with the idea of holding an exhibition at the antique shop and setting up a foundation to restore Stella’s reputation. It also builds hype for the shop. Once it makes a name for itself, it’ll become a hot asset. That’s money making money, and it boosts public goodwill for Stella. Julian really put his heart into this."

Sophie’s chest tightened. She stopped in her tracks and sneered, "It seems you’re very proud of your homewrecker of a stepdaughter."

Isaiah was instantly displeased. "Why is your language getting more and more disgraceful?

"If it weren’t for you refusing to retrieve the files from Longview, I wouldn’t have had to rush through the paperwork for this exhibition. You alone have caused so many people so much trouble and exhaustion. You’re far too unreasonable!"

The antique shop had originally been sold to Julian. However, the paperwork had never been completed; Isaiah had stalled on his end for a long time and hadn’t transferred it to Julian. This time, Stella’s situation had to be resolved using the antique shop as a starting point. Dealing with the paperwork over the past two days had been a massive headache for him, requiring a lot of effort and pulling many strings.

After all, the process by which he had snatched it from Sophie’s mother back then was disgraceful, involving non-compliant and even illegal procedures. This time, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and sort it out.

Sophie had no idea what Isaiah was so dissatisfied with or why a routine procedure was so difficult for him. She didn’t want to pay him any attention.

Isaiah, however, offered another reminder. "Being married to Julian won’t earn you any gratitude, nor will you get any benefits. But if you let Stella take your place, changing your relationship dynamic will make things different.

"Who knows, Julian might treat you much better as Stella’s husband than as yours."

Hearing this made Sophie’s temples throb with a buzzing pain. It sounded like a mockery. If she gave up her position for Stella, would Julian actually show her any kindness? Would he suddenly become decent?

Sophie kept walking without looking back, but dropped a remark that instantly made Isaiah’s face change. "Don’t force your leech theories and experiences onto me. Just because you’re addicted to living off your wife doesn’t mean I am."

Once downstairs.

Ivy Hawthorne came up to greet her. "It’s already started. Is Julian really insisting on doing it this way?"

Sophie gently rubbed her aching brow and exhaled. "He won’t talk to me. Stella’s affairs are always the top priority for Julian."

Even if it meant stepping on her, stepping on the Winslow family, and sucking the Winslow family’s blood.

"Doesn’t this shop have a lot of treasures that are absolutely not for sale? Are any of them included in those fifteen items?" Ivy asked.

Sophie shook her head. "I was told about a few when I was little, but it’s been too long. I’ve forgotten."

"Then what do we do?" Ivy gritted her teeth. "Then we drive up the prices and disrupt the market! I’d like to see who’s willing to bleed money just to compete!"

It was the only way. After all, the people present were businessmen. Who would insist on buying antiques at prices far above market value?

Everyone today just wanted to establish a connection with Julian and Sterling Corp, but that didn’t necessarily mean they were suckers!

Sophie knew this was indeed a viable option. She nodded.

With the antique shop now in Julian’s hands, even if she caused sabotage by inflating bids, Julian couldn’t do anything to her. After all, she was "invited" today. Although she didn’t have a lot of cash flow on hand, it would at least achieve some effect.

The first item brought out was an exquisitely beautiful blue-and-white porcelain vase. It was of premium quality, dating back to the Qing Dynasty.

Many people were interested, and the bids had already risen from the starting price of two million to 2.7 million.

Sophie stared at the vase, trying hard to recall if it fell into the strictly-not-for-sale category. Her memory was blurry. She decided to just use this vase as her starting point.

Catching her look, Ivy immediately raised her paddle. "Three million!"

Numerous gazes instantly converged on them—filled with surprise, shock, confusion, and even ridicule.

To industry insiders, this vase wouldn’t fetch three million even if the sky were falling. In everyone else’s eyes, Sophie looked more like an absolute sucker.

However, her bid also displeased several people who really liked the vase. Indignant, they eventually—though unwillingly—gave up on raising the price any further.

This was exactly the effect Sophie wanted. She fully intended to wreck this event.

Stella frowned and looked over. She hadn’t expected Sophie to jump out like this.

The crucial point was that today’s procedure differed from a formal auction. There was no proof of funds required upon entry. If Sophie pulled this stunt throughout the entire event, there would be very few final transactions. Furthermore, if Sophie suddenly backed out when it came time to foot the bill, there was nothing they could do about it.

Today’s event was launched under the guise of charity, with free-market buying and selling—the emphasis being on "free." Everyone who received an invitation belonged to a class that could afford to play. If they placed a bid, it was expected to be a confirmed transaction.

Yet here was Sophie maliciously driving up the prices. Who else would bid under these circumstances? And Sophie would certainly back out and refuse to pay in the end.

Stella’s face turned cold. Sophie was ruining her good thing!

"Julian, she’s inflating the prices," Stella said, pursing her lips as she gently tugged at Julian’s sleeve.

Julian’s eyes were dark and profound as he cast a slight sidelong glance at Sophie. He directly raised his paddle. "Four million."

Then, he turned his head to look at the grim-faced Sophie. His innately cold tone revealed no emotional fluctuation. "Whatever you bid, I’ll match it. Just consider it my way of contributing the first pot of gold to today’s charity foundation. So, Sophie, care to match me?"