Michael had been watching Lydia from across the room, his heart racing every time she raised her paddle. Eventually, he pushed through the crowd to sit next to her.
“Are you out of your mind?” he hissed, his face contorting with rage. “You got any clue how long the company’s gonna have to hustle to make back that 6.3 million?”
Memories of those tough days flooded back. Back then, she’d scrimp and save for weeks just to buy a 630–dollar dress. Now, she was dropping 6.3 million like it was nothing.
“6.3 million, first call!” The auctioneer’s voice boomed.
“I’ll pay the penalty. Just tell them you don’t want the item,” Michael said, looking at Lydia nervously. He’d brought just enough money for the emerald grail. If he lost 6.3 million here, he’d be broke.
“Second call. Third call. Sold!” the auctioneer said.
Lydia didn’t even glance at Michael. She pulled out a diamond card and handed it to the attendant in a sleek black dress.
“Payment confirmed,” the attendant said with a professional smile, sliding the scroll across to Lydia. “As a VIP member, you might want to stick around for our upcoming exclusive items.”
Lydia clutched the heavy scroll, a wave of relief washing over her. Then she turned to Michael. “That’s sweet of you, Mr. Finnian. But there’s nothing between us. Don’t waste a single cent on me–not even that 10% penalty.”
“What are you talking about?” Michael’s eyes went wide. “We…”
“You didn’t know?” A frosty smile played on Lydia’s lips. “Three days of silence means we’re over.”
Just then, the auctioneer announced, “Next up: an emerald grail.”
Michael snapped back to the moment, only to meet Lydia’s distant gaze, his heart sinking. But business came first. He forced down the restless churn in his chest.
“Opening bid–1.6 million!”
The grail gleamed under the lights, its rich emerald color drawing gasps from the crowd. Bids flew back and forth until only two bidders remained.
“Bid of 16 million from VIP Suite 01 on the second floor. Any higher?”
Michael’s forehead glistened with sweat, his hand trembling as he lifted his paddle.
“This gentleman bids 18 million!”
Michael glanced up at the second–floor VIP room behind him. A man in a suit stood at the window, staring right back. A shadowy figure loomed behind him–Michael caught a glimpse of the suited man turning to ask for a nod.
“20 million! Sir, you gonna top that?” the auctioneer turned to Michael, grinning.
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Chapter 15
Michael clenched his jaw and lifted the paddle again. He told himself, ‘As long as I land Leonard Group’s urban renewal project, it’ll more than cover this 21 million bid.
‘If I lose the project, this emerald grail can still get me in good with the Leonards. And with that connection, I’ll finally hold my head high in front of my family.’”
“21 million, going once. 21 million, going twice. Sold for 21 million!”
The gavel cracked, and Michael’s ribs echoed it. Every last cent of his liquid assets was now tied up in this emerald grail. He swallowed hard and prayed the prize was worth the sting.
Up in the VIP lounge, Hayden sipped his coffee, slow and easy.
Zachary stood beside him and huffed a laugh. “That grail’s worth ten million tops. Michael just took a massive hit here.”
He’d kept nudging the bid, figuring Michael would back down. Never in a million years did he think Michael would fork over that much just for an emerald grail.
Hayden set the coffee cup down, his expression cold. He rolled his chair toward the door. “Everyone’s just chasing the money. What a pity–even if he gets what he wants, he’ll never really appreciate it.”
He nodded toward the exit. “Let’s go. She’s waiting.”
Downstairs, Lydia clutched the painting carefully as she headed outside. Hearing the quick footsteps behind her, she picked up her pace.
But Michael caught up, blocking her way. “Lydia, don’t make a scene, okay?” he said, his eyes filled with the same pain she knew all too well.
When they first met, they connected through their shared experience of broken families. Michael was like a wounded stray dog, always flinching and keeping everyone at arm’s length.
Lydia had thought she could finally break through, believed she could help him heal from his family’s damage. In the end, she was the one left hurting.
Once, that look would’ve made her give in every time. Now, all she could think about were those photos Ciara had posted on her WhatsApp status.
Those photos felt like they were mocking her, rubbing in how stupid she’d been–forgiving him time and again, only to let him keep breaking her heart.
Lydia hugged the scroll tighter, feeling like her dad was right there, standing behind her, quiet and strong.
“When
you look at Ciara, your eyes go all soft. But you never look at me that way–you know this whole ‘lonely guy‘ act only works on me.” She tilted her chin, her voice sharp. “But I’m done falling for it.”
Michael opened his mouth to argue, but a staff member hurried over and cut in, “Ms. Sullivan, your ride’s here.”
Lydia’s brow pinched, then she caught on. “Got it. On my way,” she said.
In Jettridge, only Hayden would send a car for her. But whether that was true or not, she was grabbing the ride–she was
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20:00 Fri, 15 Aug
Chapter 15
done with this mess.
Michael tried to follow, but the staff member stepped in. “Mr. Finnian, could you please settle the bill first?”
3.76%0
Michael took the pen, his gaze locked on Lydia until the black Cayenne she’d got in rolled away. Then he scrawled his signature and paid up.
Quickly, he called Henry. “Lydia’s been hanging around some guy in a wheelchair. I need everything you can dig up on him.”
Henry was confused. “Wait, you said Lydia was crazy about you, didn’t you? So how did things go south?”
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