Chapter 7

After that birthday, something in Alban shifted. He still spent most of his time with Davina, yet he began coming home almost every day. Even when they exchanged only a few words, he made a point of standing where Eliza could see him, as though to assert his presence.

One afternoon, after Alban left, Eliza glanced through the documents he had brought home.

An auction catalog lay among them. She flipped through it without much interest, then stopped short. A crystal sphere appeared among the featured lots.

Her breath caught.

Kyran had once planned to make that crystal sphere for her. He had set gems inside it and engraved their initials on them. He had intended it as a gift and had never mentioned it to anyone.

She had no idea how it had found its way to an auction house. Because he had made it for her, he had kept it private. No one else knew where it came from.

As she stared at the photograph in the catalog, her vision blurred. She knew she had to have it.

….

Eliza changed her clothes and hurried to the auction house.

When she arrived, she saw that Alban and Davina were already there.

Surprise crossed Alban's face when he noticed her. Before anyone spoke, the auction began.

After they took their seats, Davina leaned against Alban's shoulder with easy familiarity, as if she were his rightful wife.

Concerned she might be cold, Alban removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "Don't catch a cold."

She allowed him to fuss over her and replied sweetly, "Al, you promised me. Today, whatever I want, you'll bid on it for me."

His voice remained low and steady. "When have I ever broken a promise to you?"

Davina smiled, satisfied.

Eliza ignored their closeness. She kept her eyes fixed on the stage and waited for the item that mattered to her.

At last, the crystal sphere appeared.

The starting bid was 200,000 dollars.

Eliza raised her paddle without hesitation. "400,000."

Her intent was clear.

The starting price was reasonable. Her bid already stretched the limit. Few bidders would go higher.

She had not expected Davina to want it as well.

"Al, I like that crystal ball too," Davina said lightly.

Alban lifted his paddle at once. "600,000."

Eliza's heart lurched. She knew she could not compete with him financially, yet she raised her paddle again.

"800,000."

Neither side retreated. The price climbed without pause.

1,000,000… 1,400,000… 1,800,000…

When it reached 2,000,000, Eliza knew she had reached her limit. She did not have the funds to continue. If the bidding went any higher, she would lose.

Yet the crystal sphere meant too much to surrender without trying. For the first time, she softened her voice and looked at Alban with restrained pleading.

"Can you let me have this one?" she asked quietly. "I really like it."

She had never asked him for anything like this.

Hesitation flickered in Alban's eyes.

Then Davina spoke.

"But I really like it too," she said gently. "If I don't get it, I'll be upset."

The warmth in his gaze disappeared.

Alban's expression hardened. He raised his paddle again and signaled a full override. No matter how high the bidding rose, he would exceed it until the item was his.

At that moment, Eliza understood that she had already lost.