Chapter 127
Elodie’s Pov~
The starting price for the emerald jewelry was one and a half million.
Someone immediately jumped in. “Two million p>
I raised my paddle, my voice still steady despite how my entire core was beginning to tremble. “Two point three million p>
“Two point five million p>
“Three million p>
I waited, my heart pounding, watching the front row.
Sienna’s paddle stayed down.
Cara grabbed my arm, her grip tight with hope. “She’s not bidding. She’s not p>
I was about to raise my paddle again when Sienna’s hand went up.
“Five million p>
The room gasped.
My stomach dropped.
Sienna lowered her paddle calmly, like she’d just ordered a coffee.
I clenched my fist under the table, my nails biting into my palm, and forced myself to think.
*You can do this. You can go higher p>
I raised my paddle. “Six million p>
Someone else countered. “Six point five million p>
I didn’t hesitate. “Seven million p>
My voice was calm, but inside, I was screaming. Again and again.
Seven million was more than I’d planned to spend. More than I should spend.
But this was my grandmother’s seventieth birthday. A milestone. Something rare and precious.
If I spent eight million—
Sienna raised her paddle.
“Twelve million p>
All the air left my lungs.
Twelve million. For a set of emerald jewelry that was beautiful, yes, but not worth anywhere near that amount.
I stared at the stage, my chest tight, my hands trembling.
I couldn’t. I couldn’t.
Slowly, I lowered my paddle.
The room was silent.
No one else bid.
Everyone had seen what Dante was willing to spend tonight. No one wanted to go up against that kind of wealth.
The auctioneer’s gavel came down.
“Sold! To the lady in blue for twelve million dollars p>
I sat there, staring at nothing, feeling hollow.
Cara’s hand found mine again, squeezing hard. “Elodie p>
I didn’t respond.
What was there to say?
I’d come here to buy my grandmother a gift. Something meaningful. Something that would show her how much I loved her.
And I was leaving empty-handed.
Because my husband had made sure of it.
The rest of the auction dragged on.
There were other items, beautiful things, rare things but I didn’t want any of them.
And because the auction house had a strict rule that no one could leave before the event ended, I was stuck there, sitting in the middle-back section, watching Dante casually spend over three hundred and sixty million dollars like it was nothing.
Cara leaned over, her voice tight with disbelief. “Does he even have a limit? Even if he’s rich, this is insane. For *her*, he’s really not holding back at all p>
I didn’t answer.
I didn’t have an answer.
But the answer came soon enough anyway: Dante didn’t bid again.
He’d gotten everything Sienna wanted.
Mission accomplished.
When the auction finally ended, I stood and walked out without looking back.
I didn’t glance at Dante. Didn’t acknowledge him.
I just left.
Cara followed close behind, but I could tell she was still watching the front row.
“Rex is talking to them,” she whispered. “He’s smiling. They’re all smiling p>
Of course they are.
As we stepped out into the lobby, an older woman approached us, someone Cara knew from her social circles.
After some polite pleasantries, the woman’s gaze shifted to me, her smile curious and appraising.
“Cara, this young lady looks unfamiliar. May I ask which family she’s from p>
Cara glanced at me, then introduced me. “This is Elodie Miller. She’s Mr. Jason Miller’s niece p>
The woman’s smile faltered just slightly. “Ah. Mr. Miller’s niece. How lovely p>
She knew the Miller family, clearly. Knew that my mother had struggled with her mental health for years. Knew that the family business had been declining.
Her eyes swept over me again, appraising.
I was beautiful, sure. Well-mannered. Probably educated enough.
But my family was struggling.
And in this world, that mattered more than anything else.
Despite Jason’s tireless efforts to keep the company afloat, the odds of Miller Corporation bouncing back were slim at best.
And with those two glaring issues, my mother’s mental health and my family’s financial instability, it didn’t matter how beautiful I was or how much this woman might have liked me at first glance.
I would never be welcomed into families like hers.
Such a pity, her expression seemed to say.
She didn’t speak the words aloud, but Cara and I both heard them loud and clear.
The woman still had more to discuss with Cara, so we stayed put for a few more minutes.
That’s when I saw Dante, Sienna, and Rex stepping out of the auction hall together.
Rex reached out to shake Dante’s hand. “I’ve got something to take care of. Let’s catch up next time p>
Dante nodded. “Next time p>
Rex left with his friends, and immediately, more people swarmed Dante, eager to talk, to network, to be seen.
And in the middle of all that attention, Dante’s eyes found mine. We locked gazes. For a split second, neither of us moved.
Then I looked away first.
He did the same a moment later, turning back to the people vying for his attention like nothing had happened.
Sienna, standing beside him, noticed the brief exchange. I saw the smile curve slowly across her lips. The smile looked smug and satisfied and victorious. Like she had achieved her aim.
I turned back to Cara, keeping my expression carefully blank.
After another ten minutes of polite small talk, Cara was visibly parched. She grabbed my arm and nodded toward the drinks table. “Let’s get something to drink before we leave p>
I followed her across the lobby to a quieter corner where the refreshments were set up.
There weren’t many people over there, which was a relief. I was about to comment on it when I heard voices nearby. Male voices.
“Rex, what’s going on? Are you interested in Dante’s girlfriend p>
I froze.
So did Cara.
We turned slightly, careful not to make ourselves obvious.
Rex and one of his friends were standing just on the other side of a tall display of champagne flutes, their backs to us.
They hadn’t noticed us.
“I wouldn’t say interested,” Rex said thoughtfully. “But… she is quite interesting p>
Cara’s eyebrows shot up. She mouthed, Sienna?
I shook my head slightly. Wait.
“During the auction, I saw you eyeing the gentle beauty sitting with Jessica,” Rex’s friend continued, his tone teasing. “She’s probably still in the hall. Why don’t you go say hello p>
My breath caught.
He’s talking about me.
Cara’s eyes went wide, and before I could stop her, she looked ready to march over there and play matchmaker on the spot.
But then Rex shook his head.
“No need p>
Cara stopped mid-step.
His friend laughed. “Huh? What happened? Suddenly lost interest p>
Rex sighed. “Yeah. She’s beautiful, I’ll give her that. But… she looks so gentle. So quiet. No real fire, you know? I don’t find it interesting anymore p>
I felt the words land like stones in my chest.
They just said I was gentle. Quiet. With no personality p>
Cara’s face flushed red with anger, but I stayed perfectly still, my expression frozen.
Rex’s friend laughed louder. “Damn, man, and you say you’re not interested in Sienna p>
Rex didn’t respond immediately.
His friend pressed on. “Come on. You talked to her for what, five minutes? And suddenly the other girl doesn’t measure up? That’s textbook interest, my guy p>
Rex chuckled softly. “It’s not like that. It’s just… Sienna’s got this cold, untouchable vibe. Makes you want to break through it, you know? That kind of woman is way more intriguing p>
“I get it,” his friend said, grinning. “And honestly? A lot of guys in the circle have noticed her. Some are practically obsessed. But she’s already with Dante, so He trailed off with a low whistle. “I gotta hand it to him. Dante’s got impeccable taste in women p>
Cara’s smile vanished.
Her entire face went dark, her jaw clenched so tight I thought she might crack a tooth.
I felt my own hands curl into fists at my sides.