CHAPTER 23

Joanna 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 Joanna had just taken off her ring finger a few minutes ago.

By the time Joanna had taken her seat, someone had already made a bid for it at the price of 6.8 million dollars! "That's ridiculous!" exclaimed Joanna. She remembered how the diamond ring had only cost around four to three 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 Ace'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…" Ace turned to Joanna 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 three years and donate it without any hesitation!"

Joanna picked up her drink, calmly took a sip, then smilingly responded, "There's nothing baffling about it, Mr. Moran. I was only trying to put the ring to good use, that's all."

Ace's eyes turned even colder than before. There was a sign of almost insuppressible rage in them. Joanna was sure that if they had not been alone right now, he would have torn her into shreds!

"Mr. Moran," 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, Ace would be under the spotlight, yet the enemy would be hiding in the dark-this place was simply too dangerous for him!

Ace seemed a little more vigilant now. He squinted, studied Joanna 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 Joanna could tell him.

"Twelve million!"

"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, Joanna'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.

"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 Ace'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 Ace 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 Joanna 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 Moran 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. Moran 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 Ace's grand gesture.

But Alice , who was in the second row, clenched her fists and glared at Joanna, her eyes burning with hatred borne of jealousy.

"But Mr. Blackwood 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!"

"Fifteen million going twice!"

"Fifteen million dollars sold!"

Holding the microphone, the host excitedly announced, "Congratulations, Mr. Moran! The diamond ring that your wife donated is now yours. Please come onstage and give a short speech!"

Ace'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 Joanna and Liam. Or was he perfectly willing to step into the trap himself?

The spotlight was now aimed at Ace. He stood up haughtily and buttoned up his suit, preparing to walk onto the stage.

"Don't go up there!" Joanna 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!

But Ace 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!"

Ace and Joanna both went on stage. Under the dazzling light, they looked like a match made in heaven.

The host discussed the issues between her and Ace as the crowd cheered for them. Joanna's sharp gaze swept through the crowd as she tried to find the problem.

However, everyone seemed normal, and no one appeared suspicious.

'Did I mishear it? Or is that a prank?' she thought to herself.

At this moment, she heard the host say, "Let us congratulate Mr. Moran for successfully auctioning off the ring for fifteen million dollars, and we will have our presenter hand the ring to him."

Ace was gracefully presented with the display box containing the diamond ring by the tall and stunning presenter in a white gown.

"Let's have Mr. Moran put the diamond ring on his wife's finger again. We are all here gathered around to witness the consistent and beautiful love between Mr. and Mrs. Moran!"

The host had unexpectedly become a wedding host, as it seemed he was hosting Ace and Joanna's wedding.

The mood grew lively as the crowd became enthused, as though they were attending the wedding. The amount of excitement was identical to their actual wedding three years ago.

Ace's face was originally frigid as he maintained his poker face with no emotions. After all, he had just wasted fifteen million dollars on something that had once belonged to him!

But since the host had called him out for the sake of everyone, he cooperated and said, "I'm grateful that everyone is here today to witness the love I have for my wife. I think the best place this ring belongs is on my wife's finger."

With that, he held the ring and tried to slide it onto her finger.

"Hahaha!"

Joanna snorted quietly behind her smile and stood stiffly as uneasiness flooded her.

"Is this necessary?" she wondered to herself.

She didn't reach out her hand. She smiled awkwardly and said through gritted teeth, "I think it's not necessary."

"It is necessary. How am I supposed to keep you with me without the ring?"

Ace was a natural flirt and the living embodiment of shamelessness.

Hearing this, the audience became even more excited.

Joanna didn't have an option. She could only stretch out her hesitant hand and say, "Mr. Moran, do the honors of keeping me with you."

'Let's see who's awkward now!' she thought to herself.

After all, it wasn't a huge matter since she could take it off afterward.

Ace gracefully held her hand and gently slipped it on her finger. The sight was romantic as if it were from a movie.

It was also at this moment that Joanna's sharp gaze noticed something odd about the presenter holding the display

box.

"Watch out!"

Joanna pulled Ace behind her without hesitation as she saw the woman pulling a tiny revolver from her gown. Her movements were quick, and she knocked the gun off the woman's hand with a kick.

But even so, she wasn't as quick as a bullet.

Bang!

Joanna's arm was shot, and blood poured out of her wound.

"Ahhhh! Murder!"

The scene turned chaotic as people were running everywhere.

"How dare you ruin my plan!"

The lady kicked to the ground and spoke in a man's voice. When he glared at Joanna, his eyes were filled with murderous intent, and he whipped out another gun.

"Ace, you'll die here today! This is the end for the Moran family!"

At the same moment, the other three hosts charged at them with fury. The situation was dire!

"You should go now. They're here for you!" Joanna shielded Ace behind her as she urged him coldly.

"You're hurt!" Ace exclaimed, remaining still.

His whole attention was fixed on the gushing wound on her arm. The crimson-flowing blood was the same as what had flowed from Dylan's chest three months ago!

Ace was instantly repulsed, and his head began to spin before he lost his balance and fell to the ground.

He heard more gunshots, and a bullet seemed to strike Joanna again in his foggy vision.

"Joanna!"

He struggled to get up, but eventually, his vision turned dark, and he lost all consciousness.