The Queen's Back

Mona was completely fed up with the constant bidding increases. At this rate, she wasn't sure if she'd be able to win the rare

herb.

Glancing at the man beside her, she finally gave in, her voice barely a whisper, "Brenny!" Then she quickly added, "You better keep your word; otherwise, you're in big trouble."

She wasn't sure if this man could really secure the herb, but if he didn't, she wouldn't lose much-just the cost of calling him "Brenny," which was awkward enough to her. Even though her voice was soft, Brendan heard her clearly. He nodded and gracefully lifted his paddle. "Sixty million dollars."

Sensing something was off, the man in front turned his head back and met Brendan's gaze. Immediately, he avoided eye contact and lowered his bidding paddle. The crowd began to take notice, their gazes filled with surprise.

"Dear, why did you stop? We were just about to win!"

"shut upNôvelDrama.Org owns © this.

"Sixty million dollars, going once!"

Sixty million dollars, going twice!"

"You better keep your word," Mona hissed to Brendan when she noticed the man ahead had stopped bidding.

"If you're doubting me, go ahead and up the bid. I promise I won't counter it. Besides, nobody else here has the nerve," Brendan stated with composure. Since they had only just met, he knew that she wouldn't fully trust him yet.

Ultimately, Mona invested an additional two million dollars to acquire the herb. She could not risk losing it as it concerned her grandfather's health.

"Sixty-two million dollars, going oncel"

"Sixty-two million dollars, going twice!"

Mona sighed in relief as she saw no one else bidding anymore. Tinally have the antidote for my grandfather!

"Sixty-two million dollars, sold! The gavel fell.

"Congratulations, Mrs. Carter, for winning the rare herb at sixty-two million dollars!"

Upon hearing this, Mona's anxiousness dissipated, even as her palms and back remained damp with sweat.

She glanced at the man beside her and offered her sincere gratitude.

Mona didn't know if Brendan had any real power in Horieta, but clearly, the people at this auction were afraid of him. If he hadn't raised his paddle, that man ahead of her would've kept bidding, and the price war might never have ended. Brendan chuckled softly, "This is what you get for calling me 'Brenny. Say it again for me?"

Mona immediately averted.her gaze, auction. "Maybe next time, if we meet again."

focusing on the next item up f

This was the first time she had used someone's nickname. Even in high school, she would address Teddy by his full name. Thus, this newfound sense of closeness seemed odd to her.

"There'll definitely be a next time. Brendan murmured in a low voice.

"What did you say?" Mona asked, catching the faint sound of his voice but unable to make out the words.

"Nothing, just saying we seem to have a strong connection."

"Perhaps

After the auction concluded, Mona went to settle the payment for the herb, but the staff informed her that it has already been paid off. She instantly realized that it must have been Brendan who took care of it. No one would pay such an astronomical sum just for a lousy nickname. Now, she owed him a massive favor.

"Mona, was it that man who paid?" Haley asked.

"Yes. Now I owe him a huge debt," Mona carefully held the rare herb as it was crucial to saving her grandfather's life.

Nevertheless, she had no clue how to repay Brendan. Sixty million dollars wasn't an amount an ordinary person could even dream of. All she knew was his name and nothing more.

Therefore, she knew that the favor would have to be owed at the moment. If he needed help in the future, she would do her best to repay him as long as it didn't break the law or violate her morals,

After securing the herb, Mona left the auction with Haley and headed straight for the hospital.

Brendan watched as she departed and instructed his bodyguard to discreetly ensure her safety. He also sent someone to warn the man who had been bidding against her.

"What? You're saying Mr. Conrad told me to either divorce my wife or shut down my company?" The man's face was full of disbelief.

"Yes. The choice is yours. You should be grateful that you only made Mrs. Carter unhappy. If you had harmed her, things wouldn't have been so simple."

The bodyguard's message carried an implicit warning-if that man dared harm Mona in Horieta, the consequences would be more than he could handle.

"Dear, I just wanted the herb. Why are we in trouble?"

I'm really sorry. It's all my fault I didn't realize Mrs. Carter was Mr. Conrad's friend. I'll file for divorce tomorrow." After apologizing, the man slapped his wife across the face with a loud crack to vent his frustration while showing his sincerity to Brendan.

After Brendan's bodyguard left, the room was filled with the sound of the woman's sobbing. She had barely managed to secure this marriage, and it was over before she knew it.

On the other hand, Mona remained unaware of these events. All her focus was on safely delivering the herb to the hospital and handing it over to Dr. Bird.

"Wow! This herb is a truly rare one. I'll head back now and ensure Bernard takes his medicine tomorrow," Dr. Bird stated confidently.

"Thank you, Dr. Bird."

"No problem at all I would do anything I could to help."