As soon as Sean spoke, the room erupted in surprise.
Ella’s expression darkened. This old fox! He had the audacity to claim he was her grandfather? And to money in her name? His game was clear: make everyone believe he treated her exceptionally well, to the point of being over the top.
Sean was truly shameless. Just because he had some money, he thought he could bully her? That he could shamelessly claim her as his granddaughter ?
Ella let out a cold laugh, raising her eyebrows calmly.
A flash of coldness flickered in Eric’s dark eyes as well.
Immediately, he took Ella’s hand and whispered with a smile in her ear, "Let’s go skin that old fox."
Ella instantly understood. Her beautiful eyes sparkled as she chuckled and followed Eric onto the stage.
As soon as they stepped onto the stage, the room fell silent. Eric, dressed in a sleek black suit that fit him perfectly, exuded elegance and nobility with every move.
Ella wore a white evening gown, embodying grace and poise. Together, they looked like a golden couple, causing many in the crowd to marvel, envy, and even harbor a touch of jealousy.
Even those who were jealous had to admit that standing next to Eric, Ella’s queen-like aura was a perfect match for Mr. Nelson!
It was now Leah’s turn to , and she generously gave three million under her own name.
Leah’s substantial donation drew applause from the audience. After all, Leah had made her fortune overseas, and as a woman, her contribution of three million was even more impressive than what some top-earning celebrities had offered.
As Eric and Ella reached the stage, Sean’s expression remained unchanged, though he glanced at Ella with a calm demeanor.
Ella spoke calmly, "Thank you, Old Mr. Carter, for donating in my name. I appreciate your gesture!"
With poise, Ella bent down and held up a plaque that read "Five Million." "Even though I lost my mother at a young age and my father has passed, I can still manage this sum."
The crowd was collectively stunned, staring at the plaque Ella had raised.
Sean and Leah’s donations together barely reached that amount!
This was a slap in the face, no doubt.
Hadn’t Sean just implied that Ella didn’t have the financial means, subtly suggesting that, as a college student, she couldn’t afford such a contribution? NO! Thanks to her success in the stock market, her wealth had nearly skyrocketed to 100 million! In just two short years, she probably earned more than anyone in the Carter Group could dream of.
Sean and Leah’s faces quickly turned awkward. This public humiliation wasn’t something they could easily shrug off. Did they really think everyone here was a child?
The room remained silent for a few seconds before thunderous applause erupted.
"Ella, you’re amazing!" Amelia shouted from the audience with a big grin.
"Ella! You’re loaded!"
Ella’s friends cheered her on, encouraging her to further expose the old fox.
Sean’s face flushed red, then pale. Even though he suspected how Ella got her money, the donations were being processed via card on the spot.
Leah’s face, which had been full of smug pride, froze in a twisted expression, caught between smiling and frowning—she looked downright miserable.
Eric chuckled softly, his devilish good looks exuding confidence. He glanced wickedly at Old Mr. Carter. "Old Mr. Carter, though Ella’s still a student, she’s quite the stock trader, so five million is like pocket change to her..."
Sean’s mouth twitched as he forced a stiff smile, at a complete loss for words.
Ella put down the five-million plaque and raised another plaque, this one reading four million. "This four million is to repay Old Mr. Carter for his kindness. Thank you for your concern for a little girl like me!"
The crowd erupted once more!
Four million on top of five million—wasn’t that nine million in total?
What a powerful woman!
Though many speculated the money likely came from Eric, the fact that he was willing to spend so extravagantly was truly shocking.
Sean’s face turned ghostly pale, but he forced a smile. "No, no, Ella, there’s no need to be so courteous..."
Leah was furious, her chest tightening with anger! Now, Sean would definitely be provoked. He couldn’t afford to less than Ella after being shown up.
How could Sean, with his pride, accept being outdone by a young girl? Especially when Ella framed it as a "repayment" for his kindness by donating an additional four million!
This was clearly mocking Sean for his comparatively small donation!
Sean caught the glint of sarcasm in Ella’s eyes, and Eric gave a wicked grin. Mocking, he said, "Old Mr. Carter, if a young girl can be so generous, shouldn’t you consider increasing your donation just a little?"
Amelia burst out laughing again from the audience. Eric was truly shameless and ruthless. Sean wouldn’t be able to refuse such a challenge, so he had no choice but to be skinned alive!
Sure enough, Sean coldly smiled and raised an "Eight Million" plaque!
With the three million he had already d, that totaled eleven million!
Another round of applause echoed through the room, though Sean’s smile barely hid the pain he was feeling inside. Eleven million! Even though Carter Group was a large corporation, the economy wasn’t great at the moment. It would take a while to make back that amount.
Besides, Sean was notoriously stingy. His charitable donations were typically just for Carter Group’s good image, rarely exceeding one or two million. He had never been so lavish!
Ella smiled serenely, looking at Sean. "Old Mr. Carter, you’re truly generous. On behalf of the disaster victims, I thank you sincerely."
Eric beamed even more brightly. "Indeed, Old Mr. Carter, your generosity is impressive!"
Sean’s smile grew stiff. "It’s nothing, Mr. Nelson. I’m sure your contribution will be substantial as well."
Eric chuckled softly and lifted a plaque reading "Ten Million," causing gasps from the audience.
"This ten million, combined with Ms. Davis’s nine million, makes a total of nineteen million, which we will in both our names. Additionally, our Elite Horizon Club will personally oversee the relief efforts, documenting the entire process to ensure that none of the donations are misused."
Another round of applause broke out. Down below, Richard was laughing so hard he nearly doubled over. Eric was truly a mastermind—one simple comment, coordinated with Ella, had caused Sean to effectively slap himself in the face, spending millions more just to save face!
How cunning was that! Ella and Eric were indeed a perfect match!
Sean’s face flushed red and green, while Leah didn’t dare utter a word as she clung to Sean and walked off the stage.
Sean’s attempt to publicly claim Ella as his granddaughter had backfired spectacularly, leaving him humiliated. He would likely regret this for months.
Claiming he wasn’t feeling well, Sean made an early exit. After the charity event, there was a banquet, and sure enough, a number of reporters surrounded Ella for interviews.