Livid Guardian's Endless Coddling

Soon all entered the auction hall. While other arts were ranked based on scores and liking, Painting was on the bids. Aria had heard some artists creating fake buyers to increase the price so she wasn't sure how Rian's paint bidding would be.

Seeing Aria holding the buyer number card, Alan curiously asked, "Are you bidding for anything?"

Aria hummed and tried to scare him, "I will help all the artist's paintings price to reach high. Don't worry, I will not waste my money. I will use your money to buy everything."

"Let me see how you can squander my money." Alan knew she wouldn't do that. He thought she might bid to raise Rian's painting price.

The auction soon started. Many bids to their favorite paintings. The highest grossed painting title was 'Caged' by an artist Roxy Stephen which was eight hundred thousand.

The emcee announced Rian's painting as Rian's painting displayed on a large screen. The bidding started and the basic price was ten hundred.

Many in the hall wanted to buy the painting but...

The first bidder directly rose the price to, "A million."

The whole hall gasped but Aria and others sat elegantly and looked ahead where the bidder was present.

Many bidders had to back out due to high cost and all thought painting was sold at the first bid.

Emcee recovered first and called once, another bidder raised his card which increased the price to ten hundred making it 'A million ten hundred.'

The first bidder again jumped the price, "A million and a half."

All started to murmur trying to know about the identity of the bidder. It went on...

The first bidder was raising half million each time as the second bidder didn't open his mouth which increased only ten hundred.

Nobody knew the second bidder was Alan's man.

All were bored seeing two compete reaching it to twenty million. From the looks, not a single party was ready to stop.

Aria yawned quite a few times. Rowan and Amelia were very proud of Rian. Noah and Eva were already planning a party. Alan thought the first bidder was Rian's die-hard fan.

The emcee was troubled by the situation because there were many more paintings and two bidders weren't ready to stop.

Aria lazily raised her land, "Fifty."

All looked at her in utter shock because she meant to say 'Fifty million' and the bid was at 'Twenty million'.

Only one in the whole hall knew why she was holding the bidder card, others thought she was time passing.

The emcee was stuttering as he called Aria's number once. Alan's man didn't raise his hand first and the other bidder increased a million instead of half-million making it to 'Fifty-one million'.

Seeing the second bidder just raise his hand, Next Aria raised the price again, "Seventy."

Eva, Noah, Amelia, Rowan looked at her in amazement. They couldn't understand why she wants the painting. Alan asked in a low voice, "Are you buying the painting at any price?"

Aria nodded playing with the card. Alan messaged his man to stop bidding. The first bidder again raised it by a million after a second call.

All looked at Aria who nonchalantly raised the price, "Seventy-five."

While the whole hall murmured that Aria was insane seeing her bid such a high price for the painting but Aria didn't care.

She wasn't buying it to increase the price. She was ready to buy at any cost even if she has to transfer the amount from her swiss bank account or sell her Skyline shares.

The first bidder hesitatingly raised his hand when emcee called the second time.

Aria wasn't in a mood to raise by a million each time, "One hundred."

The hall went completely mute. Many people's eyes were on Aria who was in formals wearing her sunglasses looking calm as a clam.

The emcee called thrice and nobody raised price making the painting as highest bid making it to all news channels, social media. Rian's social media account shot with numerous followers.

Aria's name was under wrap which Alan managed. Aria left with others after payment from her personal account and painting would be sent to the address she provided.

Rian almost squeezed her in a hug before pinching her cheeks ignoring her punch. "I had almost thought you forgot your promise."

When only two men were bidding for a long time, Rian had thought Aria forgot about their promise and was very disappointed even though his painting was at the highest grossing. Even if it was ten hundred, he wanted Aria to buy it.

Alan had thought she was buying it for them. Hearing Rian, he clenched his fist, looking down.

Eva and Noah were in confusion with Rowan. Amelia tried to remember, "Arrie, is it the same promise which you guys made when he drew you as an ugly little demon? I had heard you had said... you will earn and buy with your own money if Rian really makes it big."

Aria smiled as she nodded and spoke, "And how can I let Alan run away to somebody's else house. Let him pine on my room wall itself."

Alan's clutch lightened hearing her and realized he was getting jealous of his brother but nothing much showed on his face.

"Arrie, you guys were just eleven at that time. You had beaten him for drawing you like that." Amelia had to coax Aria at that time saying Rian would paint her really well when he learns. 

They were eleven but they had IOU for it and which always reminded them about the promise.

"Little devil! Good that you had earned else that stupid man would have bought it."

Rowan interjected, "Aria! Did you started working and learning so early was it because of Rian?"

Aria hummed nonchalantly. "Beauty was teasing me for four years when I just had pocket money and he had won the inter-school painting competition. Finally, we completed our promises."

Aria and Rian bumped their fist but they started to fight saying who was successful.

All were surprised and looked at Rian and Aria in admiration.

Roxy Stephen looked at them standing little away. She wanted the painting. When her assistant first raised, she thought, the painting was hers but she didn't expect Aria to buy for a hundred times more.

'Aria Cooper, I haven't lost anything but I have nothing. How can you have everything even after losing everything?' Her eyes didn't leave Aria and Rian who were bantering.

The Fourie, Alan and the Morgan parents talked and went to the nearest restaurant for lunch. Then to their room to pack.

Alan pondered to ask for a long time before he could make himself prepared to hear any response. "Aria!"

Aria hummed and turned to him from her bag. Alan asked without looking at her. "Would you have bought the painting if you hadn't promised Rian?"