Around us, whispers spread like wildfire.
Businessmen exchanged knowing glances, their eyes full of disdain and mockery.
A wife lower than a mistress—what a joke.
Yet Owen remained unfazed. With no regard for me, he lavished Julia with affection.
“You must be tired after last night,” he said softly. “Buy whatever you like today. Think of it as my way of making it up to you.”
“Good girls get rewarded. That’s what I love about you.”
Every piece of jewelry that came up for auction was claimed by him without hesitation. His bids lit up the room, one after another.
I no longer had a heartbeat, but I could still feel my body trembling with tension.
Julia, who had started off feigning shyness, quickly grew bold and smug.
Anything she liked, she took.
Owen gave her that confidence—his indulgence was her armor.
He spent over a hundred million without blinking.
Yet his gaze kept drifting to me. Each glance grew darker, more annoyed.
I didn’t look back. I didn’t want to see his face, nor did I care about his mood.
Until the final item was revealed—and for the first time, light returned to my eyes.
“Our last item: a white jade bangle with emerald inlay. Starting bid—five million!”
Without a second’s hesitation, I raised my paddle.
“Ten million.”
A flicker of jealousy flashed in Julia’s eyes. She clung to Owen’s arm, her tone syrupy sweet.
“Mr. Carter, I want that bracelet too. We could pass it down to our future child.”
“I heard jade is good for the body. I’ve never owned a real bangle before.”
Owen’s expression faltered for a moment.
He clearly recognized it—it was the Myers family’s heirloom. But he had no idea how it ended up here.
He couldn’t be bothered to figure it out. He simply lifted his paddle for her.
“Twenty million.”
“Thirty million,” I countered, my voice steady, but my palms drenched in cold sweat.
This was the Myers family’s last legacy.
'Please... don’t take this from me too.'
But Owen couldn’t hear the silent pleading in my heart. All he cared about now was punishing me.
“Light the sky lantern,” he ordered, then turned to me. “Sheryl, do you even have that kind of money? Don’t overestimate yourself.”
I let out a bitter laugh.
I’d already given him every last bit of the Myers family’s fortune.
The thirty million I bid included what I could claim in the divorce settlement.
Gasps rippled through the room.
A public bidding war between husband and wife—it was pure entertainment for the crowd.
“That’s Owen’s hundredth mistress, huh? No wonder he doesn’t even bother with his wife.”
“Wife? Please. She’s worse than a maid. Have you ever seen a wife pouring tea for the other woman? She’s a disgrace to women everywhere.”
“She knows Owen hates her, but still clings like a fool. Tsk. Serves her right. She ruined her entire family chasing after love—no wonder the Myers family went bankrupt. With a daughter like that, no wonder they were cursed.”
My body swayed, and I could barely stand.
The final gavel fell. The bangle was sold. It was over.
As the crowd dispersed, I tugged at Owen’s sleeve.
“Please... can you give me the bracelet back?”
He chuckled coldly and lifted my chin. “You want the bracelet? But it’s something Julia likes. I already promised it to her.”
Seeing the devastation in my eyes, he paused, then added, “Though... I might reconsider.”
“If you kneel right here, in front of everyone, and bow to Julia—if she agrees—I won’t stop you.”
Before his words even finished echoing, my knees hit the floor.
The skin on my bruised forehead split open as it struck the cold marble.
Blood trickled down my face.
“Ms. Julia,” I whispered hoarsely, “please... have mercy. Let me have the bracelet.”
Owen’s fists clenched in fury.
“All this... for a bracelet?” he hissed. “You’re really willing to throw away your dignity for something like this?”
