He looked at me with a cold, resentful glare—and all I could feel was guilt.
Delilah didn’t have so much as a scratch on her, but he rushed to scoop her into his arms and sped off to the hospital like she was made of glass.
No one noticed my legs pinned under the ladder, blood soaking through my pants.
By the time I was treated, the damage was severe. Ninety-nine stitches. The doctor said I was lucky I’d kept mobility.
I wheeled myself to the billing counter, only to spot them in the lobby—Delilah bouncing cheerfully beside him, eyes bright, skin glowing.
She spotted me too, then tilted her head with practiced innocence.
“Mr. Langford,” she said sweetly, “should we help your wife? Maybe… she didn’t mean to.”
Nathaniel glanced over.
Disgust flickered in his eyes.
He pulled her closer, shielding her as if I were the threat.
“She’s gone too far this time,” he said. “Don’t worry about her. Let her cool off.”
“For me, being with you is what matters most right now.”
They walked away, hand in hand, their backs a blur through my haze of pain.
And just like that, the last lingering shred of affection I had for Nathaniel... disappeared.
You’ve made your choice, Nathaniel.
Now it’s my turn.
And I’ve prepared a gift you won’t forget.
---
I stayed in the hospital for another two weeks before being discharged.
But I didn’t go home.
Instead, I slipped into a sleek black dress, painted my lips crimson, and headed straight for the auction house.
Nathaniel and Delilah were already seated in the front row. Their hands were linked, their expressions filled with flirtation, their body language so close they may as well have been alone.
“Delilah,” he whispered, brushing her hair behind her ear, “I’m going to win the final piece tonight—for you.”
“I want it to be my official confession.”
“But…” she bit her lip, her voice trembling just enough to sound virtuous. “Mom and Dad always taught me never to be a third party… Mr. Langford, I know you care about me, but I—I can’t do something so wrong…”
Tears welled in her eyes, and her voice choked with sorrow.
It was a performance worthy of an award.
Nathaniel fell for it completely.
“I’ll take care of everything,” he said. “You’re not a mistress. After tonight, I’ll speak to Elena about the divorce.”
Even though I had expected it—even though I had planned for this—I still felt my chest tighten at the word divorce spoken so casually from his lips.
I lowered my head and adjusted the brim of my hat, determined not to draw attention.
But he noticed me anyway.
His brow furrowed.
“What, now you’re stalking me too?” he hissed under his breath, his tone sharp.
He had forgotten. Forgotten that three months ago, I told him I wanted to bid for this specific jewelry piece—for our fifth anniversary.
I didn’t bother to remind him.
Instead, I smiled faintly. “The auction’s starting.”
He scowled. “We’ll deal with this when we get home.”
Beside him, Delilah smirked at me, triumphant. Her posture relaxed, her eyes gleaming with victory.
The final item was wheeled onto the stage beneath a velvet cloth.
When the auctioneer revealed it, Delilah’s eyes lit up. Diamonds caught the light and exploded into brilliance. She gasped, stunned by its radiance.
For the first time, Nathaniel saw wonder in her eyes. And it softened him completely.
He began raising his number paddle again and again—faster, more determined, outbidding every competitor without hesitation.
The price soared—1 billion, 2 billion, 3 billion…
Until the entire room fell into shocked silence.
“Seven hundred thousand dollars,” the auctioneer declared, his professional smile still intact though visibly strained. “Do I hear any higher?”
No one moved.
All eyes turned to Nathaniel, sitting tall and proud, drinking in the awe from the crowd and the adoration from the girl clinging to his arm.
“Mr. Langford is truly remarkable. Five billion without a blink!”
“He must be serious about Miss Vance—look at how deeply he dotes on her!”
“Mrs. Langford’s wedding jewelry only cost tens of millions. This? This is a real love confession.”
“If I were Mrs. Langford, I’d be crawling with embarrassment. What a fall from grace…”
The auctioneer lifted his gavel.
“If there are no further bids, this stunning set will go to Mr. Langford. Congratulations—”
