Chapter five

I walked up to them, Rhydian just a step behind me. 

The moment they saw me, I saw the gleam of mischief in their eyes. 

*Here comes the fatty,* Isolde said and chuckled. 

*Why is she here? What is she hoping to buy? I mean, isn't she about to go broke or something?* Seraphina asked herself with a scoff. 

I listened to them, and it only fueled my rage to get my revenge. 

"Isolde, Seraphina. It's good to see you two," I said, without keeping the bitterness out of my voice. It sounded like I was dragging the words out. 

"Vespera, likewise," Seraphina replied flatly. 

Glad we weren't faking anything. 

"Vespera, what have you come here hoping to buy?" Isolde asked curiously, "I hope you're just here to watch because, well, we don't have to remind you of your terrible financial situation now, do we?" She was the one who loved to openly mock Vespera. 

"She's obviously here to watch," Seraphina replied, "No need to ask her that question,"

"Come on, you never know," Isolde said, and then she glanced at Rhydian next to me, "Maybe she borrowed some money from her E-rank wolf husband over here. Oh! I forgot. E-ranks are also broke!"

They both burst into laughter, but I simply smirked at them, "Are you done?" 

The laughter stopped, and their eyes narrowed, "What did you say?"

"Since you are so interested, I'm actually here to buy the Lunar core suppression crystal,"

They both paused for a few seconds, and then burst into laughter again, "Oh God, and here I was thinking she was going to be serious for once in her life," Isolde cried, holding her stomach. 

"The Lunar crystal? You mean the most expensive and wanted item tonight? Can you even hear yourself?!" Seraphim questioned. 

"Loud and clear," I said strongly, then I linked my arms with Rhydian's. He immediately tried to pull away, but I clenched hard, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than listen to you two run your mouths,"

I walked past them, intentionally brushing my shoulders against Seraphina's. She stumbled a bit with a harsh gasp, then she turned around and glared as she watched me walk into the building. 

Exactly what I wanted. 

To rile her up...then I'll embarrass her in front of the everybody. 

*Don't be so confident in yourself, bitch!* I heard her say, *You might somehow have the money, but I'll make sure you never get your hands on that crystal!*

I smirked again. Just what I wanted. 

We walked in and took our seats. A woman and her husband approached us. The woman looked like someone had vomited diamonds all over her body. 

Her hair, arms, clothes, neck, all had jewellery that caught the light. 

They stopped right next to Rhydian, and her brows creased the moment she saw him, "Why the hell is an E-rank wolf sitting in the front row?! Are you out of your goddamn mind?!"

I had a feeling she was going to be trouble. In this world, you are treated exactly like your rank, but I wasn't going to allow anyone to push my husband. 

The moment the words left her mouth, I was off my seat with hell in my eyes, "Who are you to talk to my husband like that?! Fuck off!"

Anger roared in her eyes, and her husband stepped forward and glared at me also, "Vespera Veyne, isn't it?"

"And you," I crossed my arms again, "Benedict Nile,"

The Nile family were B-rank side characters in this book, known for their arrogance and pride because they had a son in the family who was A-rank.

"You cannot speak to my wife like that!" He spat.

"And she cannot speak to my husband like that. I don't give a damn whether he is E-rank or F-rank or whatever. He will sit in front and he will have the best view. Both of you can go and find some place else to sit!"

People were starting to stare at us and point fingers. 

"Isn't that Vespera Veyne?"

"Of course it's her. I'll recognise that chunk of meat anywhere!"

"What is her problem this time?!"

"Is she really defending her husband? I thought she hated them!"

"She must be up to something!"

Ugh! These people. I could hear them loud and clear with my superhearing. 

"Vespera, you should really watch your mouth. Just because you are Richard's daughter gives you no right to talk to us like that," Benedict scoffed. 

"If you didn't want me to speak to you like trash, then you should have respected yourselves and not insulted my husband!" I fired back. 

Rhydian's hand suddenly closed around my wrist, "Vespera," he said quietly.

I glanced at him.

His expression was cold, but I could hear his thoughts.

*What the hell is she doing? Does she want to get us thrown out?*

Well, I wasn't going to let anyone insult him just because they thought they could.

I looked back at the Niles, "I said what I said. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have an auction to attend. You can go find another seat."

"You'll regret this." Benedict's face darkened.

"That's a very interesting thing to say to someone who hasn't done anything to you."

Before he could respond, a man approached and politely asked the Niles to move. Apparently, the auction organisers had noticed the commotion and decided to intervene before things got worse.

The woman glared at me as her husband led her away, and I smiled sweetly, "Enjoy the auction."

Once they were gone, I sat back down and sighed. But the whispers didn't die. 

"I heard her father died recently,"

"He left his entire fortune to her stepsisters. Didn't leave her a single thing!"

I rolled my eyes and leaned back on the chair. So that's the rumour my stepsisters were spreading this time. Seraphina and Isolde had made sure everyone believed I was broke, while they enjoyed pretending to be the rightful heirs to my father's fortune.

I was so going to enjoy making them swallow it all back. 

I turned to look at Rhydian again. He was staring straight ahead, his expression unreadable, *She doesn't need to embarrass herself further. Defending me? Yeah, right. We should just leave.*

I almost sighed. Not a chance!

The auction began with several expensive pieces of jewellery, followed by rare artifacts and other valuable items. The bidding was fierce, and people seemed more than willing to spend millions just to get their hands on something they wanted. Reading about this auction in the book was one thing, but experiencing it was a whole new level. 

Millions were being spent. 

Higher ranks with more money were trampling on the lower ones. 

The whole sizzled with tension, and if they were careful, someone might just rip off another person's head. 

It went on for hours, till the moment I had been waiting for finally arrived. 

"Our next and final item is a rare Lunar-Core Suppression Crystal."

Rhydian immediately stiffened. I glanced at him, then back at the stage. The crystal was exactly what he needed.

"The Bidding price starts at fifty million!"

The bidding began almost immediately, different wealthy wolves raising their pads high up and yelling. 

"Fifty million!" Someone called. 

"Seventy million!" Another yelled. 

"A hundred million!" 

"A hundred and fifty million,"

Then, Seraphina's voice rang out, "Two hundred and fifty million!"

I turned my head to look at her. She was seated in the next row and glanced back at me, looking far too pleased with herself. Isolde sat next to her and whispered something that made them both laugh. 

'Poor Vespera. She probably can't even afford the starting bid.'

I smiled to myself, and even my wolf felt the excitement. Oh, this was going to be fun.

"Three hundred million!" The price climbed higher.

"Four hundred million!"

I remained silent. 

Seraphina raised her paddle again and called, "Five hundred million."

The other bidders now looked pale. No one was raising their paddle again, suggesting they couldn't afford it anymore. 

"Five hundred million!" The auctioneer beamed, looking over the crowd, "Going once, going twice..."

Silence remained. 

"Sold!" The hammer came down, loudly. 

Rhydian's hands curled into fists beside me, a look of pure frustration threatening to express itself on his face. His lips were set into a very thin line, and he looked just about ready to explode.

*Fuck!! What was I expecting?* He yelled internally, *That she was actually serious for once?! I was stupid for giving myself any hope.*

I wanted to tell him it was all under control, to hold his hand and tell him not to worry and simply enjoy the show. But he would probably snarl at me if I touched him. So, for now, I would let my actions speak for me. 

I turned to look at my sisters. Seraphina was smiling triumphantly, and Isolde was practically bouncing in her seat. I could already imagine the little celebration they were having in their heads.

They should enjoy it for as long as it lasts, because I was about to have the last, sweet laugh of the day. 

The auction staff approached them with the payment details and she handed over her card leisurely, then she leaned back. 

She turned to me with those sparkling, wicked eyes of deep satisfaction while I simply shrugged. If I were her, I would begin panicking because the original Vespera is never this relaxed whenever things don't go her way. 

A few moments passed, and then the staff member returned and said, "I'm sorry, Miss Veyne. The payment was declined."

Seraphina's smile vanished instantly, and she stood up, "What?"

"Your account doesn't have sufficient funds for the transaction."

"That's impossible!" She exclaimed, snatching the card back to try again.

Declined.

The whispers began almost immediately, and it was my turn to lean back in my seat and smile at her. 

'Oh, Seraphina. You poor thing.'

She turned to Isolde, panic creeping into her face, "Call the bank! Call the bank, now!"

Isolde hurriedly pulled out her phone, and I watched them scramble. The money they thought they could access was no longer available. 

That was when I raised my paddle, and then said, loud and clear, "One billion!"