At the auction house, my husband threw caution to the wind for some pretty little thingb, /bcasually raising his paddle with the highest bid of the night.[]

His little side piece strutted over to me with this smug attitude:[]

“Face it, bitch–you can’t handle being Mrs. Thorne. I’d quit while you’re ahead if I were you!“[]

Damien and I had an arranged marriage, pure business, zero feelings.[]

But that sure as hell didn’t mean I’d let some two–bit homewrecker get in my face.[]

“You better watch yourself, sweetie. Keep this up and you’re gonna crash and burn.“[]

The little wannabe clearly didn’t give a damn about my warning. She was still trying to muscle me out of my seat.]

“Fine by me. It’s all yours.”

I stood up smoothly. The girl thought she’d scared me off and plopped down in my chair, looking pleased as punch.[]

What she didn’t know? That seat came with the auction house’s premium package.[]

Whoever sits there foots the bill for every single winning bid in the room.[]

“Congrattions! This item goes to Miss Sterling!“]]

As the gavel came down the fifth piece was once again imed by Aria Sterling.[]

Someone in the crowd spoke up, confused.].

“Who the hell is this Sterling chick anyway?b“/b]

A helpful voice answered.]]

“That’s Damien Thorne’s assistant. Guy keeps her glued to his hip 24/7.”

“Won’t Mrs. Thorne be pissed about that?“]

The crowd burst into mockingughter.[]

“Thorne’s wife is sitting right there. Think she’s got the balls to say anything?“]

Aria giggled behind her hand, yfully swatting Damien’s chest with fake concern.[]

b“/bMr. Thorne, you’ve gotta stop spoiling me like this! Vera’s gonna blow a gasket~“]

Ever since the auction started, anything that caught my eye would somehow end up in Aria’s hands after she’d tug on Damien’s

Chapter b1 /b

sleeve.

Damien dotingly brushed his finger against Aria’s nose before turning those cold eyes on me.

e.]

“Aria’s young and doesn’t know any better. Don’t hold it against her.“]]

His words sounded casual enough, but I caught the warning loud and clear.[]

The old me would’ve turned this whole auction house upside down.[]

But right now? I couldn’t be bothered. My eyes were locked on the next item.[]

The auctioneer carefully opened an antique box, revealing its contents to the crowd.[]

I swallowed nervously.]

“The sixth auction item–from the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest–an snow lotus!“[]

“Legend says this herb can bring back the dead and mend broken bones. Starting bid: one million!“[]

The crowd murmured skeptically. No matter how much you hyped it up, a snow lotus was still just some herbal medicine.]]

Who’d be dumb enough to blow serious cash on something that might not even be real?[]

But I shot my paddle up without hesitation.[]

“Two million!”

I stared at that snow lotus like my life depended on it. Because it was my only hope.[]

The doctor’s words still echoed in my head.]

“Mr. Bet’s been in a vegetative state for years. Without that legendary snow lotus to sustain him, he’ll slip intoplete brain death. He’ll never wake up.“]

When I heard that news, tears flooded my eyes instantly.[]

Dad had been in aa since his car ident when I was neen.[]

I didn’t cry then. I kicked out all the vultures circling our family fortune and held the Bet empire together single–handedly.[]

All because I hoped that someday Dad would wake up and smile at me: “That’s my girl!“[]

And now, I had finally waited for this moment–all my fantasies were about toe true![]

“Two million going once!“]]

“Two million going twice! Any other bidders?“]

The auctioneer’s eyes darted around, not missing a thing.]

Just as the third hammer was about to fall.[]