Lord Banks’s expression twisted into a scowl. James’s remarks struck a chord, making it painfully clear that if he chose to confront Deana, Zayne—his eldest son—and his family would undoubtedly oppose him. Yet, deep down, he was acutely aware that refraining from acting against Deana would bring shame upon the Banks Family!

He simply could not stand by and allow Deana to act so brazenly. If the Banks Family’s honor could be so easily trampled by a woman like her, how could they ever hope to uphold their status and dignity?

With this in mind, he coldly declared, “Once this situation is resolved, send Fitz to Australia to meet your eldest brother. He shouldn’t return!” James was electrified upon hearing this!

“If Dad sends Fitz to Australia to meet my eldest brother, it’s akin to an exile. The two of them will lose their chance to vie for the heir of the Banks Family, destined to live out their days in Australia and eventually perish! This paves the way for me to be the top choice in my father’s eyes!”

Meanwhile, it was nearly ten o’clock in the morning. At the auction venue, a handful of bidders were scattered throughout the room, all there for today’s judicial auction. Most were interested in second-hand properties and vehicles. Given that nearly all items up for auction were tied to complex legal matters, the average person found little appeal in such transactions.

There were numerous past incidents where a judicial auction item was won, but the original owner refused to vacate the premises, leaving buyers in a lurch.

As a result, the prices of foreclosed homes typically fall below market value. For those undeterred by potential complications, there were savings to be had. Since everyone was there hoping to snag a bargain, the enthusiasm at judicial auctions rarely matched that of public auctions.

In public auctions, it’s common for multiple bidders to fiercely compete for a single item, sometimes escalating the price into the millions due to aggressive bidding.

At judicial auctions, however, participants aimed to save money and find hidden gems. They typically hoped for a 20% discount on a property valued at one million; anything less than that felt unworthy. If the discount dipped below 10%, interest waned significantly. Thus, these auctions often lacked excitement.

At ten o’clock, the auctioneer finally entered the hall.

With a straightforward approach, the auctioneer wasted no time and began, “Thank you all for attending this judicial auction. The first item up for bidding today is an Audi A6, registered to the company, with three years of licensing and a mileage of 113,000 kilometers. The starting price is set at 150,000, and the minimum increment is 1,000. Let’s get started!”

In the current market, a vehicle in comparable condition would typically trade for around 210,000. Acknowledging this cap, bidders approached the auction with caution.

After several rounds of bidding, the price climbed to 180,000, prompting many to withdraw, leaving only two bidders still in the game.

As the price neared the ceiling, both remaining bidders became increasingly wary. A few minutes later, one raised their bid to 195,000, but the other chose not to respond.

The auctioneer promptly announced that the first lot had been sold for 195,000.

In a nearby box, Isaac Cameron casually flipped through the auction materials and remarked to Charlie, “Master, there are eleven vehicles being auctioned today. After the cars are sold, we’ll move on to the real estate. The first property, your parents’ former residence, has a starting price of 880,000.”

“I’ve already spoken to the driver; regardless of the bidding, he will see it through to the end, ensuring you secure this house!”