Chapter 126
Elodie’s POV~
This time, Rex didn’t counter.
The auctioneer’s gavel came down with a sharp crack. “Sold! To the lady in blue for fifty million dollars p>
The room erupted in applause and whispers, everyone turning to look at Sienna like she was royalty.
And maybe, in this world, she was.
I watched as she turned to Dante, her face glowing with gratitude and something softer, something that looked a lot like love.
He smiled at her. That rare, private smile.
And I felt nothing. Or at least, I told myself I felt nothing.
Cara leaned over, her voice tight. “Damn. Fifty million p>
She looked like she was in physical pain. Like watching someone else spend that kind of money on a whim had actually hurt her.
I understood the feeling.
But it wasn’t the money that bothered me.
Not really.
“Are you okay?” Cara asked quietly, her eyes searching my face.
I knew what she was asking. Can you handle this? Watching your husband throw millions at another woman, your half-sister, no less?
But that wasn’t what was eating at me.
“Dante has money,” I said evenly. “He can spend it however he likes. It doesn’t bother me p>
Cara looked skeptical, but I pressed on.
“What bothers me is that if there’s something I want to bid on, and Dante and Sienna want it too?” I shook my head. “With my financial situation, I can’t compete p>
Cara’s expression shifted. Understanding dawned. “Oh. Oh p>
“Exactly p>
“But she’s already bought two things,” Cara said hopefully. “She probably won’t bid anymore, right p>
I wanted to believe that.
But Dante had endless resources. He could spend another few hundred million tonight without even blinking.
And if Sienna wanted something, he’d make sure she got it.
I was still turning that thought over in my mind when the next item was brought out.
The embroidered art piece.
One of the two things I’d come here for.
My heart picked up speed.
The auctioneer’s voice rang out. “Starting bid: seven hundred thousand dollars p>
Someone immediately jumped in. “Nine hundred thousand p>
I raised my paddle. “One million p>
My voice was steady, but my pulse was racing.
At first, Sienna didn’t seem to notice.
But the second I spoke, I saw her shoulders stiffen.
She turned. And our eyes met.
For a long, tense moment, neither of us moved.
Then she turned back around, her expression blank, and raised her paddle.
“Two million p>
My stomach dropped.
She’d recognized my voice. And that meant Dante had too.
But he didn’t look back. Didn’t acknowledge me. Didn’t even glance in my direction.
Like I wasn’t even there.
Cara hissed beside me. “Damn it! She’s doing this on purpose p>
Rex entered the fray. “Two and a half million p>
I clenched my jaw and raised my paddle. “Two point eight million p>
Sienna didn’t even turn around this time.
She just raised her paddle, her voice cutting through the room.
“Five million p>
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
She’d jumped the bid by more than two million.
My heart sank.
I didn’t have that kind of money to throw around. My budget for tonight was maybe eight million and that was stretching it. The Miller family business had been struggling lately. We didn’t have endless reserves.
But Sienna? Sienna had Dante.
And Dante had everything.
Rex raised his paddle. “Seven million p>
I stared at the embroidery on the stage, the beautiful stitching, the vibrant colors, the craftsmanship that had taken someone months, maybe years, to complete.
It was perfect for my grandmother.
But could I really go higher?
Should I?
Cara grabbed my arm. “Elodie, don’t p>
I raised my paddle.
“Eight million p>
My voice was calm. But inside, I was screaming.
Because I’d just blown my entire budget on one item. And I had no idea if it would even be enough.
I could feel eyes turning toward me. They were curious. Assessing me.
Rex Hardin looked back, his gaze landing on me with a flicker of surprise and maybe interest.
He raised an eyebrow and smiled.
I smiled back and gave him a polite nod.
Please don’t make this harder than it already is.
But before I could even exhale, Sienna’s paddle went up again.
“Ten million p>
My hands clenched into fists under the table, my nails digging into my palms.
Rex jumped back in. “Twelve million p>
I raised my paddle quickly, my heart pounding. “Fifteen million p>
Sienna didn’t hesitate. Didn’t even blink.
“Twenty million p>
Those numbers hit me like a punch to the gut.
My mind went blank for a second, the noise of the room fading into a distant hum.
Twenty million.
I’d budgeted eight million for tonight. Maybe I could stretch to ten if I was desperate.
But twenty?
I could afford it. Technically.
If I sold the villa Dante had just put in my name, I’d have that and more. Easily twenty or thirty million.
But that felt… wrong.
Not because I didn’t want to spend the money. But because I knew… I knew that this piece of embroidery wasn’t worth twenty million. Not even close.
And if I sold the villa, I could use that money for something that actually mattered. Something that could help my family’s business. Something with real impact.
I couldn’t just throw it away on a bidding war I was never going to win.
My hand stayed down.
Cara leaned in, her voice urgent. “Why don’t you call Dante p>
I’d thought about it.
God, I’d thought about it.
But would Dante really ask Sienna to back down just for me?
No.
Of course not.
Still, some stupid, desperate part of me pulled out my phone and dialed his number anyway.
I watched the front row.
Watched as Dante pulled his phone out of his pocket.
Watched as he glanced at the screen.
And watched as Sienna leaned over, her eyes flicking to the number. “A stranger p>
Dante smiled faintly.
And ended the call.
Just like that.
No hesitation. No second thought.
My screen went black.
My chest felt hollow.
Cara hissed beside me, her voice shaking with anger. “He didn’t even pick up! That bastard p>
I didn’t respond. I just slipped my phone back into my bag, my hands were steady even though everything inside me felt like it was crumbling.
The bidding had already climbed to thirty million.
Rex rubbed his forehead, looking frustrated, and turned to Dante. “President Wilson, do me a favor here p>
Dante gave him that same polite, detached smile. “Next time, I’ll definitely help p>
Rex looked like he wanted to argue, but he just shook his head and raised his paddle.
“Thirty-five million p>
Sienna didn’t even flinch.
“Forty million p>
Rex went silent.
The room went silent.
Cara whispered beside me, her voice tight. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen Rex Hardin get outbid p>
The Hardin family was one of the top-tier families in the Pack. On par with the Bellinis.
But Rex looked hesitant now. Like he was weighing whether it was worth it.
Meanwhile, Dante didn’t even blink.
He just sat there, calm and unbothered, while Sienna spent his money like water.
No one else bid.
The auctioneer’s gavel came down.
“Sold! To the lady in blue for forty million dollars p>
Applause filled the room.
Dante turned to Rex, his tone easy. “I owe you one, Hardin p>
Rex sighed, shaking his head. “You’re too polite, President Bellini p>
I sat there, staring at the stage, at the embroidered art piece being carefully wrapped and carried away.
My grandmother’s gift.
It was gone.
Cara grabbed my hand. “We still have the emerald jewelry. Maybe Sienna won’t bid on that p>
I wanted to believe her.
But deep down, I knew better.
If I wanted it, Sienna would want it too.
And Dante would make sure she got it.
No matter what it cost.
No matter who it hurt.