Chapter 38
“You’ve kept your bid open twice already. According to your asset verification, you only have less than ten million in liquid cash left. Do you know what that means?“N
My voice was drained. “Keep going.”
“Heh.” The disdain on the auctioneer’s face twitched before he pulled up the next slide. “Third photo. Starting bid, five hundred thousand!”
“I’m keeping my bid open!”
The moment my voice rang out, heads turned. Whispers died mid–breath. Some people blinked in disbelief; others exchanged incredulous glances.
The auctioneer gave me a sharp look. “Miss Graham, your pre–auction verification showed less than ten million. You’ve already committed more than eight million. Your remaining funds aren’t enough.”
From the side, a man chuckled and leaned forward. “Please, sweetheart, let me cover one for you.“}
I ignored him. My gaze slid straight to Brandon.
He was watching me, too–expression calm, eyes faintly amused, a cruel smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Not even a flicker of concern. There wasn’t the slightest intention to step in.
The others turned toward him. After all, I was still legally his wife.
“Why are you all looking at me?” Brandon’s voice was slow, amused. “I already said–let the guests bid however they like.“}
Laughter rippled across the room.
“Thank you, Mr. Willis, for your generosity in stepping back!”
Relieved, the men leaned back, grinning. Their game had just been made easier.}
Then, from beside Brandon, Maisy suddenly raised her hand.
“I’m keeping my bid open for this photo. On behalf of Leia.“}
Her voice rang out, soft and deliberate.
Brandon turned to her. For the first time that night, surprise registered in his expression–then quickly gave way to an indulgent smile. His features softened as he looked at her.
Maisy smiled at me, all wide–eyed and innocent. “After all, you once paid for my tuition to study abroad. I haven’t forgotten your kindness.”
The room buzzed again. Whispers turned to laughter.
“No wonder Mr. Willis likes her–who wouldn’t fall for someone that sweet?“}
“Maisy’s a good girl. Just hearing a dirty joke makes her blush. Not like someone else here–tsk, tsk!“}
The words cut sharper than any knife. Their eyes stabbed into me, gleaming with scorn.
A glimmer of satisfaction flashed across Maisy’s lips before she turned back to me, still wearing that sugary smile. “Leia, don’t worry.“} “Hypocrite.” I sneered.}
She froze. “What?”
“Is this your way of repaying me? By taking my place and seducing my man?” I leaned back in the chair. “Sorry–I haven’t sunk so low that I need help from an ungrateful bitch.“}
“Leia!”
For the first time all night, Brandon addressed me directly. His tone was cold, foreign. Like I was a stranger.}
I gave him a sidelong glance, my voice sharp. “I’m keeping my bid open. Just do your job.“}
The auctioneer hesitated. “If you insist, we’ll have to factor in the remaining real estate under Graham Holdings. But since the company’s gone bankrupt, those assets have severely depreciated. Even with that, it might barely scrape together six million.”}
“Just do it,” I said flatly. “No need for commentary.”}
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. This woman’s completely out of her mind.” One of the men shook his head, clearly entertained.§
‘She’s even giving up her place to live now? All for pride? What a waste.“}
“The third one was the one I wanted the moment I saw it.“@
“No worries. There are still over three hundred photos left. What’s the rush?“}
‘Exactly. I peeked ahead–she just gets filthier and more pathetic from here on. Hahaha!“}
Their voices blended into a wall of noise–mockery, cruelty, amusement. A symphony of vultures circling a corpse.”
Their eyes found me again.”
A few were pitying. Most weren’t.
‘A cornered beast lashing out,” someone snorted.
“Wait for the next one, another added. “She won’t be able to do a thing. We’ll be the ones bidding on her private photos.“%
“Tsk, tsk, tsk! I really want to see her face then. A man licked his lips. “Think it’ll be the same expression she made in Mr. Willis’s bed?“% Sneering laughter filled the hall. But I didn’t flinch.
Let them laugh. Let them show their fangs. The wolves could circle all they liked. I was still standing.
