THE CHARITY AUCTION

Nerissa was still grappling with the shocking revelation that Amelia had gotten married without informing her. The fact that Nerissa didn't even know the identity of the groom had left her in a state of utter bewilderment and distress.

"Amelia! How could you do this? Am I still your best friend?" Nerissa shouted, her voice echoing through the car and giving Beryl, who was seated beside her, reading documents, an instant headache.

"What is wrong with you? What made you so angry this time again?" Beryl asked, trying to calm Nerissa down.

"Ahhhh! Amelia got married without telling me! I don't even know who the man is!" Nerissa frustratedly exclaimed. As Nerissa spoke, she couldn't help but wonder why Amelia was with her Brother Kendrick, adding to her confusion.

Beryl inquired, "When did she get married?" He recalled Kendrick mentioning his upcoming marriage. 'Amelia is married too?' Beryl pondered, quickly dismissing the idea, 'It couldn't be; Amelia is half our age.' Beryl scratched his chin.

Nerissa responded, "I'm not sure when she got married; Amelia simply informed me that she's already married. She's coming with him to the auction tonight," Nerissa complained. "We were supposed to attend together."

If Amelia is coming with her husband, we will have the opportunity to discover the identity of the man she married. If the man is among the invitees at this auction, it suggests that he is someone exceptional, and we should be genuinely happy for Amelia." Beryl defined the situation to his sister, Nerissa.

Indeed. The exclusive charity auction is being hosted by a distinguished Duke from Country X. This highly prestigious event is strictly by invitation only, with the invitations extended only to the most elite members of society. Attendees are the epitome of sophistication, representing the highest echelons of social prominence. They are the 'creme de la creme' as they call it.

Beryl and Nerissa arrived at the auction ahead of Kendrick and Amelia; both were anxious to speak with each other's best friend to interrogate them about their marriage.

When Kendrick's Rolls Royce stopped at the entrance, Beryl and Nerissa wanted to meet him. However, the reporters and paparazzi beat them to it. They were pushed back by the crowd and opted to wait inside.

Whenever Kendrick makes appearances at public social events, reporters and paparazzi are always buzzing with excitement to welcome him. However, this overwhelming attention is precisely why Kendrick tends to avoid such gatherings.

Kendrick requires additional security measures beyond what the event hosts can offer in order to manage the crowd. Therefore, Kendrick consistently travels with a dedicated security team to guarantee his safety.

When Kendrick emerged from the car, a frenzy erupted among the reporters, who eagerly anticipated his every move. Their excitement peaked as Kendrick turned and gallantly escorted a woman out of the vehicle.

Alu and Kendrick's security chief positioned themselves in front of him, creating a protective barrier to shield Kendrick from the mob. Simultaneously, the rest of the team formed a human barricade, effectively halting the advance of the reporters and paparazzi.

Amelia was momentarily stunned as she emerged from the car and stood beside Kendrick, the harsh flashes of the cameras almost blinding her. The relentless barrage of questions from the reporters left Amelia feeling overwhelmed.

"Are you dating her, Mr. Yang?"

"What is your name, Miss?"

"Who is she to you, Mr. Yang?"

"From which family is she, Mr. Yang?"

"How long have you known her, Mr. Yang?"

Amelia gripped Kendrick's arm, uncertain of what he intended to do next.

As Kendrick said, "Alu, you know what to do."

Alu acknowledged with a firm "Understood."

"Let's go." They then proceeded forward, with Kendrick and Amelia following Alu while the head of security trailed behind.

The elegant venue buzzed with excitement as the other guests eagerly awaited the arrival of the mystery person who could make the reporters and paparazzi scramble to capture the moment, their cameras flashing in anticipation.

As Kendrick and Amelia stepped into the room, a sudden silence fell over the crowd, all eyes turning to take in the unexpected sight. The guests, accustomed to Kendrick's solo appearances, were mesmerized to see him accompanied by a stunning woman. The air was electric with whispers of surprise and curiosity as onlookers exchanged glances and opinions. In contrast, others chose to keep their thoughts to themselves.

"Who do you think she is?"

"Could she be a relative that Kendrick is bringing to the event?"

"She seems too young to be Kendrick's romantic partner."

"Perhaps she's a gold digger disguised as an innocent woman."

"She's like a sweet treat waiting to be sampled."

"Sister Clara, aren't you Kendrick's fiancée?"

Clara Lin stood speechless, her smile masking the seething hatred she felt towards the woman in Kendrick's arms.

Meanwhile, Beryl and Nerissa were stunned to the point of being unable to do anything but watch as the couple approached them.

Nerissa was so shocked that all she could manage to say was, "You! You! You!"

"Are you seriously telling me that she's the one you married?" Beryl questioned, pointing at Amelia.

Kendrick responded with a smug face, "Who else could have the right to hold on to me if not my wife?"

Once again, Nerissa could only manage to repeat, "You! You! You!"

Amelia let out a light chuckle, her eyes sparkling with amusement upon witnessing Nerissa's action. "Let's save this conversation for later when we have more time. Right now, we're blocking the way and should probably start moving," Amelia suggested with a knowing smile.

"Come, let's make our way to our seats," Kendrick said, gesturing for everyone to follow. Just then, an usher from the event appeared before them, offering to guide them to their private viewing area on the second floor. "Please, follow me," the usher said with a warm smile.

As they followed the usher, Kendrick caught Alu's eye and gave a subtle wave, to which Alu nodded in acknowledgment.

Kendrick and his companions made their way to the designated viewing area. At the same time, Alu headed back to the cluster of reporters and paparazzi.

As Alu emerged, the group of reporters and paparazzi swarmed around him, firing off a barrage of questions. Alu lifted his hand in a gesture to indicate that he had something important to communicate.