Lucas Griffin's appearance was undoubtedly the climax of the evening.
Everyone was shocked, even Mr. Griffin, who had been sitting there all along, asked the Old Housekeeper in confusion, "Does Lucas know Miss Jenkins?"
The Old Housekeeper shook his head, "Usually, Young Master Griffin and Miss Jenkins don't associate with each other, it is the Second Young Master who has been recently getting closer to Miss Jenkins Second."
Although Benjamin Griffin was getting on in years, his eyes were still sharp. He watched Amanda Jenkins on the stage carefully and instructed the housekeeper, "Find out about this Amanda Jenkins, and bring her information to my study tomorrow."
He simply didn't believe that these two didn't interact in their daily lives.
Of course, besides Benjamin Griffin, Emma Bollock also noticed something was amiss. She was about to step forward but was stopped by Jonas Jox.
"Miss Bollock, the President probably doesn't want to be disturbed right now."
Emma Bollock bit her lip in frustration, "When did they meet? How far has their relationship progressed?"
"I'm sorry, I'm not sure either." Jonas looked to the shocked host, "Aren't we going to call the bid?"
The host finally came to his senses, quickly cleared his throat, "Fifty million for the first time."
Emma Bollock wanted to say something but stopped herself, unable to accept it, yet powerless to change anything.
The Bollock Family, being a Military Noble Family, always acted discreetly. She had impulsively called out a bid of twenty million earlier, if her brother found out, he would definitely scold her for showing off and there would undoubtedly be a severe reprimand awaiting her.
Moreover, she didn't actually have twenty million, and would still need to get some subsidy from her mother when she got home.
Now, with the sky-high price of fifty million, she could only watch in desperation.
"Fifty million for the second time."
There was a silence all around...
"Fifty million for the third time!" the host said with passion, "Congratulations to Young Master Griffin, for purchasing Miss Jenkins's design rights with a sky-high price of fifty million tonight, this fifty million will be donated to charity in the name of Mr. Griffin."
Thunderous applause erupted, but Amanda Jenkins, the person concerned, was still stunned.
At that moment, she couldn't hear any sound, as if the whole world was left with only her and Lucas Griffin.
Lucas Griffin looked at her with tender eyes as she stood there, dazed.
He draped his suit jacket over her and took her small hand.
This small gesture, in everyone's eyes, was extremely shocking.
No one had ever seen Lucas Griffin so gentle! He always appeared coldly aloof and noble.
Most guests thought that Lucas Griffin had bid such a high price simply because he liked Amanda's design, and the bid was made in the name of Mr. Griffin for charity.
Therefore, his actions didn't seem strange.
However, his current gesture was enough to show that his relationship with Amanda Jenkins was extraordinary!
"Let's go," Lucas Griffin said, pulling Amanda Jenkins's hand as if they were lovers who had known each other for years, so natural and familiar.
Amanda Jenkins's mind went blank, completely unclear how to react, and just stiffly followed him.
It wasn't until the warmth of his palm spread to hers, and until the fragments of broken memories suddenly flashed through her mind.
Amanda Jenkins suddenly shook off Lucas Griffin's hand and stopped.
Lucas Griffin turned around, about to say something, but Amanda, trembling all over as if waking from a dream, suddenly raised her hand and slapped Lucas Griffin hard across the face.
"Oh my god!"
It was another uproar. The guests stared in surprise and confusion, and Jesslyn Derei covered her mouth in shock.
What in the world was happening?
Lucas Griffin was not angry, just stunned for a moment, with a deep frown on his brow.
Amanda Jenkins was panic-stricken, looking around helplessly, as if she were the most lowly clown on the stage at that moment.
She turned and ran, wanting only to escape everything.
The first to react was Emma Bollock, as she caught up to Amanda Jenkins and grabbed her. "What do you think you are! How dare you hit my Brother Lucas!"
With that, the furious Emma Bollock swung her hand, aiming a slap at Amanda Jenkins.
Having learned some martial arts from her father and brother since she was young, coupled with her raging fury at the moment, the force behind that slap was not small.
Amanda Jenkins only felt a wave of dizziness and imbalance, she staggered a few steps, suddenly missed her footing, and tumbled into the lake below the stage.
Everything happened so suddenly that Lucas Griffin sprang forward, reaching out his hand but not in time to catch Amanda Jenkins.
"Brother Lucas!" Emma Bollock hastily grabbed him.
"Get out of my way!" Lucas Griffin shook off Emma Bollock and without hesitation, leapt into the lake.
A "splash" was heard as Lucas Griffin's figure disappeared beneath the lake's surface.
The crowd was both shocked and taken aback. In less than half a minute, all this was too sudden for anyone to respond!
"What are you standing around for!" Mr. Griffin barked angrily, "Go into the lake and save them now!"
The lake water in early spring was bitterly cold, piercing to the bone.
The penetrating coldness revitalized all the memories Amanda Jenkins had buried.
That year, in a foreign land.
He, had changed her life.
Amanda Jenkins opened her eyes to see the illuminated surface of the lake, him swimming towards her.
To her, he was a stranger, yet so familiar.
She had so firmly believed that in this lifetime, they would never again cross paths; they were merely passersby in each other's lives, like a dream destined to vanish without a trace.
Yet in the end, here he was, leaving her completely unprepared.
…
Amanda Jenkins had been unconscious for the entire night while Lucas Griffin kept a sleepless vigil by her side.
A middle-aged woman carrying a milk breakfast knocked and entered, softly placing the breakfast on the table beside her, "Young Master Griffin, you've not slept all night, please have your breakfast and get some rest. I'll keep watch for you, and let you know immediately when Miss Jenkins wakes up."
Lucas Griffin was sitting by the bed, showing no trace of fatigue although he'd been awake all night.
He watched the sleeping Amanda Jenkins intently, unwilling to look away for even a moment.
For five years, he had searched so hard for her.
Now that she was right in front of him, he feared that a blink might cause him to lose her again.
"Young Master Griffin?"
"Hmm," Lucas Griffin finally responded, "I want to keep watch over her myself, Aunt Morgan, please leave."
Aunt Morgan was Jonas Jox's mother. She had come to the Griffin's Family with Lucas Griffin's mother when she was young. She had watched Lucas Griffin grow up and cared for him even more than for her own son.
She knew that once Lucas Griffin set his mind on something, no one could change it, so she didn't try to persuade him further.
Just as she was about to leave, Aunt Morgan hesitated, looking at the Amanda Jenkins on the bed, her words caught in her throat.
"If you have something to say, just say it," he said.
"Well, it's nothing much," Aunt Morgan said gently, "I saw what happened last night. Although I don't know what kind of past Young Master Griffin and this girl have, if you truly like her, just let go and pursue her. With girls, a little sweet talk usually does the job."
Lucas Griffin, now twenty-four, had never been in a relationship, which had been a source of worry for Aunt Morgan, even on behalf of his late mother.
Lucas Griffin remained silent, a frown etched with worry.
Would she forgive the mistakes he had made back then?
Was there still time to make amends?