Chapter 44
Chapter 44
I had to use all of my strength to force the tears back.
It hurt so much because the attack had come from someone used to love.
Despair and hate filled me. My fingers trembled.
Then, suddenly, I asked, “Will you keep going as long as I lep raising the price?”
Edward looked pained. “Please stop, Tay.”
I smiled at him and shouted, “20,000,000 dollars!”
What was the worst that could happen? I’d become everyone’s punchline. My company would be taken from me, I’d be bankrupt.
But if this gambit worked out, and he took the bait… he’d be the one losing a ton of money over a bracelet he himself saw as worthless!
As far as a consolation prize went, this would do nicely.
I know it. Edward couldn’t take my provocation.
Maddison, though, had no idea she was reaching the end of her line. She saw the gavel raised and snatched Edward’s paddle, shrieking, “27,000,000 dollars!”
The crowd gasped. Even the auctioneer slurred his words in excitement. “Oh my God! Will we see anyone top this today? Going once…”
I thought Edward would shout at her. But he didn’t.
He couldn’t offer me 13,000,000 dollars, yet he’d let her waste 27,000,000 dollars just to make her happy.
I snickered. A tear escaped and rolled down my cheek.
Any common sense had left me. I just wanted mutually assured destruction.
I was about to raise my paddle when he suddenly pushed my arm down. His eyes were fixed on my face.
“Please, no more. You can’t afford it,” he said, enunciating each word.
I was stunned. His eyes were red. He was begging me.
I understood now. He had been trying to outbid me to prevent me from losing my fortune over the bracelet. He
worried I couldn’t afford to pay.
was
Was that why he kept bidding? Or was it just a moral cover for him to enable Maddison’s tyranny?
I couldn’t tell.
But one thing was for sure–he was losing a ton of money already. That was enough for me.
1 smiled and dropped my paddle.
“Fine. I hope you can pay 27,000,000 dollars, Mr. Kennedy. Or you’ll be forced to pay a really exorbitant fine,” I reminded him.
He frowned. “You… tricked me?!”
I smiled and said nothing. Reminding myself that he was now trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea
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Chapter 44
made me feel so much better.
The only thing that could poison this joy was Maddison’s inevitable mockery and schadenfreude.
The auctioneer raised his gavel. “Any more bids for this bracelet? 27,000,000 dollars, going once! Going twice Maddison was enraptured, as if her disease had been cured “Eddy, I’m finally getting something I want!”
Suddenly, a cool, composed voice cut through the din. “%0,000,000 dollars.”
The room froze, then buzzed as everyone turned to find the source of that voice.
“Up there! The VIP box!”
I looked up. There was a VIP box up there all along!
“It’s… Holy shit, the Kenways!”
The Kenways are attending this auction?!”
Kenway?
My heart skipped a beat. Soren’s princely silhouette flashed in my mind. Could it be…
I looked up instinctively and found a familiar figure flashing me a familiar smile.
Soren! It was Soren!
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