Godly Investor: A Hundred Trillion Dollars For Investment And Donations-Chapter 308

Ethan walked straight to Serenity, his gaze steady and unaffected by the stares burning into him from all directions. As soon as he reached her, he gave a small nod and said, "Sorry for being late."

Immediately Serenity smiled, a flicker of relief in her eyes.

"I told you I saved you a seat," she said softly, then turned to Archer. "And I told you Ethan wasn't like that."

However Archer, who had been watching the entire scene unfold with thinly veiled irritation, forced a smirk and gestured toward Ethan's suit.

"Nice tux," he said, his voice carrying a pointed edge.

"Serenity, I have to say, you have good taste. Buying a suit for a man—it's a bold move."

Serenity stiffened. It was subtle, but Ethan caught it immediately. She wasn't afraid of the accusation—she was more bothered by the assumption that she had been the one to announce it when, in reality, she had said nothing.

Ethan's response was calm, effortless.

"I was just lucky."

The simple answer threw Archer off. He had expected Ethan to stumble, to look embarrassed or at least hesitate. But Ethan didn't. Instead, he owned the moment, standing tall with an energy that didn't waver.

Archer's fingers curled slightly around his glass, his irritation evident. He wanted to push further, to find some way to make Ethan feel small, but before he could say anything, Serenity took Ethan's hand.

"Dance with me," she said, her voice leaving no room for argument.

However Ethan didn't hesitate. He allowed her to lead him toward the dance floor, where lovers were already lost in slow movements beneath the golden chandeliers.

As they swayed to the rhythm of the music, Serenity finally spoke. "I never told anyone that I bought the suit."

Ethan glanced at her, his expression unreadable. Then he gave a slight nod.

"I know," he said. "You're not that kind of person."

A breath of relief passed through Serenity's lips, and for the first time that night, she let herself relax in Ethan's presence.

Serenity barely had time to react before the music cut off abruptly.

A man in a sleek navy suit stepped onto the stage, tapping the microphone twice before his voice echoed across the grand ballroom.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, his tone smooth and commanding.

"The dance is officially over, and now, we move on to the next event—an exclusive showcase of value." He smirked, letting his words sink in. "One by one, we'll step onto the stage, so we can all appreciate the worth of what each of us is wearing tonight."

At that moment a murmur rippled through the crowd. Some of the guests chuckled, clearly expecting this, while others—like Serenity—stiffened in surprise.

"When did we agree to this?" she whispered, her eyes darting toward Ethan.

Ethan didn't react, but his grip on her hand remained firm. He was watching the stage with mild curiosity, as if already predicting how this would unfold.

Just then, an assistant walked up and handed the host a list. He glanced at it, then cleared his throat.

"First up, let's welcome—" He stopped, his lips curling into a knowing grin. "Ah, what a coincidence. The first name on this list happens to be none other than someone who caused quite the stir this morning."

Immediately Serenity's stomach dropped. She didn't need to guess who he was referring to.

"Archer Carter!" the host declared.

But there was no movement. No one stepped forward.

After a brief pause, the host glanced around, feigning disappointment. "Ah, it seems Mr. Carter isn't here," he mused.

"What a shame." Then, without missing a beat, he scanned the list again and called the next name.

Another young man strode onto the stage confidently, dressed in a custom-tailored tuxedo with a designer logo subtly embroidered on the lapel. He took the microphone with ease and announced, "Tonight, I'm wearing a fully customized suit from Pierre Leclerc, limited edition shoes from Belmont, and this watch—" he lifted his wrist slightly, flashing the gleam of diamonds, "—is from the Signature Crown Collection. Total worth, three hundred thousand dollars."

The applause swelled as the young man who had claimed a worth of 300K dollars stepped off the stage, his confidence radiating. The host, grinning ear to ear, checked his list once more and called out the next name.

A new figure strode onto the stage—another sharp-dressed young man, his presence exuding the kind of wealth that had been ingrained in him from birth. Without hesitation, he lifted the mic and spoke.

"Tonight, my ensemble consists of a custom-tailored suit from Sorrento, paired with handcrafted leather shoes from Valmont, and a limited-edition Montres Royale timepiece—bringing my total worth to 350K dollars."

The crowd responded instantly with an even louder round of applause. Whispers ran through the audience, excitement building. The bar had been raised, and everyone was eager to see who could push it even higher.

Then, a woman stepped onto the stage.

She was poised, elegant, with an effortless confidence that turned heads. The moment she took the mic, she gave a knowing smile, as if she had been waiting for this exact moment.

"I'm dressed in an exclusive gown from Valerie Noir's private collection, paired with custom diamond-encrusted heels, and my accessories include a 750-piece diamond bracelet set from Ophelia & Co." She turned slightly, allowing the light to catch the shimmer of her jewelry.

"Total worth: 500K dollars."

The moment the number was spoken, the ballroom erupted in applause.

A new record.

The young men who had come before her exchanged glances, their confidence visibly wavering. 500K dollars wasn't just an upgrade—it was a statement. And at this moment, this woman had made herself the center of attention.

The host capitalized on the moment, hyping her up.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have our current record-holder! 500K dollars! What a statement of class, elegance, and exclusivity!"

For a while, it seemed as if no one else would come close.

Three more contestants took the stage after her—three men, all dressed in high-end designer suits and wearing rare watches. But none of them could break past the 500K mark.

At that moment the atmosphere buzzed as the host continued to hype the previous woman.

"Extraordinary!" he called out.

"Do we have anyone else who can shatter this record?"

Then, as if on cue, another woman stepped forward.

She was calm, composed, with a subtle smirk that hinted at confidence. The moment she reached the mic, she let her presence sink in before finally speaking.

"I believe I can do better," she said.

The audience murmured.

With a graceful motion, she gestured toward herself.

"Tonight, I am wearing an original couture piece from Fleur de Lis, paired with limited-edition Argentum heels, and accessorized with a platinum-gold necklace designed exclusively for me." She turned slightly, as if giving the audience a better look.

"Total worth? 600K dollars."

The spokesman chuckled into the microphone, shaking his head in amusement.

"It looks like the ladies are stealing the show tonight," he teased, earning an enthusiastic round of laughter and applause. "Gentlemen, are we really going to let them take the spotlight?"

Serenity exhaled sharply, shifting in her seat. She turned to Ethan, her voice low.

"Let's get out of here," she muttered. "I didn't sign up for this nonsense."

Ethan barely reacted. His eyes remained on the stage, but he gave a small nod.

"Alright."

Just as they rose to leave, two men in black suits stepped in front of them. Security.

"Apologies, but you can't leave," one of them said firmly.

Serenity's brows furrowed.

"What? Since when are we being held hostage at our own school event?"

The security guard didn't move. "The event requires full participation," he stated.

"If you leave now, it will be seen as disrupting the order."

Ethan raised a brow but said nothing. He simply exhaled, placing his hands in his pockets as if waiting for the next move.

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Then, the spokesman's voice boomed across the ballroom. "And next, we have… Serenity York!"

A hush fell over the crowd. Then, whispers. Some eager, some amused.

Heads turned in her direction.

Serenity's body stiffened. She hadn't expected this. She wasn't even wearing anything that extravagant. Sure, her dress was beautiful, and it had cost a good sum, but compared to the 600K dollars outfit that had just set the record? She wasn't even in the same league.

The murmuring grew louder.

"She's trying to escape," someone snickered.

The spokesman, ever the entertainer, took advantage of the moment. "Now, now, Miss York. Surely you wouldn't abandon us like this?" His voice was teasing, but there was an underlying pressure in his words. He turned back to the crowd. "What do you say, everyone? Should she come up and show us what she's got?"

The response was immediate.

A chorus of voices rang out in unison.

"Go up! Go up! Go up!"

Serenity clenched her jaw. She wanted nothing more than to walk out that door and never look back.

She turned to Ethan. "Wait here," she said quietly. "If you find a way to leave, go ahead, I will come look for you."