Goodbye Forever Ex-Husband (Olivia and Adrian) novel Chapter 190

Chapter 190

Chapter 190

ADRIAN’S POV

“Just like I said, this place isn’t that bad,” James said as we walked in, his eyes darting around the hall with mild curiosity.

But truthfully, I barely heard him. My attention had locked entirely onto the grand prize sitting in the center of it all–the Rolls–Royce Black Heart. It wasn’t just the car’s elegance that drew me in, but what it symbolized. A statement that even after everything that had happened in the past five years, Adrian Westwood hadn’t lost his touch.

I kept walking, but my gaze hardly shifted from the obsidian body of the car reflecting the subtle glow of the overhead spotlights. I could almost imagine my hands gripping the steering wheel, the low hum of the engine, the attention it would draw as it rolled through New York.

Or I could also keep it as a nice piece of furniture in my mansion, just for my eyes only.

A staff member wearing a sharp black suit finally guided James and me to our seats, positioned perfectly close to the car. From here, I could admire every curve, every polished detail. It was as if the entire hall had been designed solely to showcase this single masterpiece.

A large digital timer next to it blinked steadily, counting down the minutes until the auction would begin. My chest tightened a little watching it, the anticipation settling deep in my stomach.

“There sure are a lot of competitors here,” James remarked beside me, his voice low enough for only me to hear.

“What do you mean?” I asked, tearing my gaze from the car to look at him.

“We’re not many in number here,” he said, glancing around at the exclusive seating area reserved for those bidding on the car. “And that’s obviously because not everyone can afford to even think about starting at the bidding price. But look around, everyone here has that same fire in their eyes–the fire to win, to take that car home.”

I followed his gaze subtly, scanning the room. Men and women, dressed in the finest designer suits and gowns, all exuding an air of wealth and quiet confidence. But James’s attention seemed to linger on one figure in particular.

“For example, do you see that young man sitting over there in the black suit?” he asked, gesturing slightly with a nod of his head rather than pointing outright.

My eyes shifted in that direction, landing on a man who couldn’t have been more than mid–thirties. His hair was neatly styled, his posture relaxed yet unmistakably alert, like someone used to observing and calculating everything happening around him.

“What about him?” I said, studying the stranger carefully.

“I’m surprised you haven’t heard of him before,” James said, almost teasingly. “That’s Damien Cole”

The name didn’t strike any immediate chord, and I raised an eyebrow at James, silently asking why it should matter to me. It’s not as if this Damien was about to invest in my business or threaten it.

“He’s one of the best lawyers, continentally,” Jame

mean exactly that.”

scontinued, his tone taking on a note of respect that was rare for him. “And when I say the best,

“A lawyer?” I said, the disbelief clear in my voice, “What would a lawyer be doing here, sitting among billionaires, CEOS, and investors? Even if he came to bid, how could he possibly afford something like that based on a lawyer’s salary?”

James chuckled quietly, clearly amused by my skepticism. “It might sound odd, but I genuinely believe he can afford the car.”

“And how do you know that?” I asked, my curiosity piqued despite myself.

James leaned in slightly, lowering his voice further. “That man has never lost a case in his entire career. And I’m not talking about some petty neighborhood disputes, Adrian. Early in his career back in Mexico, his client was accused of murdering a woman. All the evidence pointed to the client being guilty every single piece. And yet Damien won the case, turning the courtroom on its head. After that, he became the go–to lawyer whenever a powerful businessman or politician was in trouble.”

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Chapter 190

My brow furrowed, processing this.

James went on, “What he charges for a single case isn’t small change, Adrian. His clients pay millions just to have him in their corner. And they do it happily because the man has never failed. He doesn’t just defend; he dismantles the other side completely.”

hall,”

calm of someone who had never tasted

I’d spent years collecting and dealing in gems; my eyes were trained spot the difference between crystal, rhinestones, and the real thing. And those diamonds looked real–painfully real. Not the sort of display you see every day, even among the powerful and wealthy gathered here.

Yet there was something beyond the material extravagance that intrigued me: her presence. She carried herself differently from the others in the hall. There was a quiet assurance in the way she sat, a stillness that came only from someone accustomed to power–and winning. She didn’t fidget or glance around nervously like some of the others. Instead, she kept her focus forward, her chin slightly raised, almost regal.

And then there was the mask.

A deep red, matching the color of her gown perfectly, it covered the upper part of her face and lent her an air of mystery. No one else in the hall wore anything like it. I wondered what she was hiding–and more importantly, why she felt the need to hide it.

“Adrian.” James’s voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.

I turned to look at him. “Hm?”

“Are you alright?” he asked, tilting his head slightly. “You seemed lost there for a second.”

“Yeah, it’s just…” My voice trailed off, eyes still on the woman in red Her posture, her aura, even the lines of her jaw felt oddly familiar–like a half- remembered dream tugging at the back of my mind.

“Never mind,” I finally muttered, shaking my head slightly.

I forced myself to focus. Maybe I was overthinking it. I didn’t know this woman, and there was no logical who she was based on a gown and a mask. Besides, there was a far clearer threat here: Damien Cole

reason for me to waste time trying to figure out

James was right. For Damien to travel this far just for a single auction, it spoke volumes about his determination–and likely his resources. A man with that reputation wouldn’t bid unless he intended to win, But unfortunately for him, he didn’t come prepared the way I had. I wasn’t leaving this hall empty–handed. That Rolls–Royce was going to be mine.

Still, despite my best efforts, my gaze drifted back to her. Her expression was unreadable behind the mask, but there was something about her jawline… sharp, elegant, unmistakably familiar, It bothered me. Where had I seen it before?

Who was this mystery woman in Red?