The night of the auction arrived, and Lucien and Katie stepped into the grand ballroom.
They mingled with the guests, exchanging pleasantries and smiles, before taking their seats.
As the auction began, the room fell silent, with all eyes on the auctioneer.
But just as the bidding was heating up, Dakota and Liam burst in, their faces tense with determination.
The security guards swiftly moved to intercept them, guiding them to their seats. “Please, you can’t disturb the occasion,” one of the guards whispered.
‘You’re welcome to participate in the bidding, but please keep the noise down.”
Katie’s eyes widened in surprise as she turned to Lucian. “What the heck are they doing here?” she whispered.
His expression was calm, but his eyes sparkled with interest. “I’m not surprised they’re here at all,” he said. “I wonder what they have to say.”
Katie’s gaze flicked back to the front, where the auctioneer was showcasing a stunning
ecklace.
Focus on the bid,” Lucian reminded her, his voice low.
The necklace was a rare, wrinkle–free diamond piece, worth millions. The starting price was $500,000, and the bidding quickly escalated.
.ucian leaned over to Katie, his voice barely audible.
Do you want it?” he asked, his eyes locked on the necklace.
Yeah,” she whispered back, excitedly.
.ucien’s smile was swift. “Okay, I’ll bid for it.”
The auctioneer started the bidding at $500,000.
Lucian raised his hand, and the auctioneer announced, “$500,000 from Alpha Lucian.”
Liam’s voice was as loud as speakers as he bid $700,000.
Katie sighed. “What the heck is he trying to do?”
Lucian’s expression remained calm. “Just a little competition,” he said, bidding $1 million.
Liam countered with $1.5 million.
Lucian’s eyes never left the necklace as he bid $2 million. Liam raised it to $2.5 million.
The bidding continued, with each man determined to outdo the other.
$3 million!
$4 million!
And finally, $10 million.
The auctioneer slammed down his gavel. “Sold to Alpha. Lucian for $10 million!”
As the room erupted in applause, Dakota grabbed Liam’s arm, holding him back. “Stop, Liam,” she whispered urgently. “You know we have trouble in the pack, and a lot of your stocks are
already reducing. You can’t afford to waste money like this on Katie. She doesn’t even care about you.”
Liam’s face twisted in anger, but Dakota’s words seemed to sink in.
He took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as he watched Lucien smile at Katie, the necklace glinting in his hand.
During the short break, Dakota slipped away, her eyes scanning the rooms for the area where the items up for auction were kept.
She spotted the table with Katie’s ring, the one she was supposed to auction off.
A sly smile spread across her face as she sent a messenger to replace the ring with a worthless
rubber item.
Meanwhile, Liam waited for her return, his eyes fixed on the crowd.
When Dakota reappeared, he raised an eyebrow. “Where have you been?” he asked, his voice low.
She smiled slyly. “Just tying up a few loose ends,” she said, her voice airy.
The auction resumed. The auctioneer announced Katie’s item. “And now, introducing from Katie, her prized ring for auction.”
The crowd leaned in, expecting to see something exquisite.
But when the item was revealed, gasps of shock filled the room.
nstead of a valuable ring, a cheap rubber eraser lay on the velvet cushion.
Many people started pointing and giggling.
Others whispered.
Katie’s face turned bright red with embarrassment, Lucian clenched his jaw. He was obviously not pleased.
His eyes narrowed, fixed on Dakota.
Dakota’s eyes sparkled with malice as she stepped forward. “Oh my goodness, Katie, how shameless can you be? We know you just divorced Liam, and you probably don’t have any money. Is that why you’d come here and auction something as worthless as this?”
Katie’s face burned with anger, but she kept her cool. “Shut up. You know nothing about it.”
Katie turned to the organizers, her voice urgent. “My ring was just here a second ago. What happened to it?”
Dakota snorted. “Give it up, Katie. Stop trying to act up. You probably knew it was worthless all along.”
“It’s impossible that the ring disappeared,” Lucian said firmly. “Send the guards to search the rooms. Find out who did this.”
The guards sprang into action, searching the rooms and corridors.
Dakota’s smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure.
Katie’s eyes locked onto Lucien’s, her gratitude evident.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Lucien’s expression remained stern, but his eyes softened slightly. “We’ll find out who did this,
Katie. Don’t worry.”
Katie began to fidget, her anxiety growing as the minutes ticked by.
Lucien noticed and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, in a minute, everybody’s going to find out the real culprit behind this. And when I find out, that person won’t go scot–free.”
Dakota, who had hidden the ring in her purse, quickly removed it and dropped it on the floor without anyone noticing.
The guards searched the room, but the security cameras had been tampered with, and they couldn’t find any clues.
Just then, Katie spotted the ring on the floor and rushed over to pick it up. “How did it get there?‘ she exclaimed, her eyes narrowing as she turned to Dakota.
“How would I know?” she asked back, her voice sweet. “You were just careless, that’s why it ended up on the floor.”
Katie’s eyes flashed with anger, but Lucian intervened before she could respond. “We’ll get to th bottom of this,” he said, his voice cold. “Mark my words.”
Liam whispered into Dakota’s ear, “Were you behind this?”
Why are you trying to see the worst in me?” she retorted.
Liam’s gaze was intense. “No other person has the motive to do that to Katie. You, on the othe
land…”
Dakota’s smile was sly. “Oh, what if I did? Maybe I just wanted to teach her a lesson.”
Liam’s face turned as dark as a cloud, and he gripped her arm. “You better not fuck things up fo ne. We’re here to make amends, not instigate things further. I’m here to beg Katie, and you nee o mind your own business.”
Dakota rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
As the auction ended, Liam rushed over to Katie and Lucian, who were already outside.
Lucian shot them a glare. “What do you people want?”
Liam’s face was desperate. “Get out of my way. I’m here to see Katie.”
Katie’s voice was firm. “Don’t come any closer to me. I don’t want to see you.”
_iam tried to grab her hand. “Please, I’m so sorry for everything. I really love you, and I can’t bear to see you live without me.”
Katie’s expression was cold. “Isn’t your mistress enough for you?”
Liam’s eyes pleaded. “Come on, it was all a misunderstanding. Please forgive me. Our late daughter Ruby would really love it if we were a complete family.”
Katie’s anger erupted. “How dare you mention Ruby! I know you killed her, you bastard!”
