Chapter 3

Cassian stepped in front of me, blocking my view of the bidding stage completely.

"How high are you going to push the price?"

"Until the two of you pay for your own choices."

Livia burst into tears. "I just wanted to prove that Cassian doesn't belong to you alone. I never thought you'd drive up the price on purpose to humiliate him in front of everyone."

She had cast herself as the victim, reframing my attempt to buy back my mother's keepsake as deliberate revenge. Cassian didn't correct her.

Instead, he turned to me. "You're paying the bill."

I looked at him. "Why?"

"We're getting married soon. After the wedding, everything we own will be shared anyway. Whether you pay now or I pay later makes no difference."

"If it makes no difference, then why should the necklace go around Livia's neck?"

Cassian frowned, as if I were being deliberately difficult. "She's had a scare tonight. Let her keep it for now, so she doesn't stay anxious."

"She activated the gold-tray bid on her own and ran up a bill large enough to buy a ship, yet somehow she's the one who had a scare?"

"Helena, she's already crying."

"I'm not crying, so the person who lost her mother's keepsake doesn't deserve any comfort?"

Cassian fell silent. Leon struck the bronze bell. The bidding was over.

"The silver dolphin necklace goes to Mr. Severus."

The attendant carried the necklace to the main table. Livia didn't wait for Cassian to speak. She had the maid clasp it around her neck. The silver dolphin settled against her crimson gown, blindingly bright.

She looked down and touched the pendant, sighing softly. "Lady Helena's mother left behind something beautiful after all."

My fingers curled tighter, one by one, but I didn't rush up and grab it. The auction had not been paid for yet. The necklace was still under Guild custody. She could wear it now, but that didn't mean she owned it.

I turned to Leon. "Whose name goes on the bill?"

"Under the rules, the owner of the seal is responsible for the debt."

Leon had the accountant deliver the parchment bill to Cassian. The figure on it drained the last bit of color from Cassian's face.

Livia saw it too and jumped in. "This was just a friendly bidding game. Cancel the last few rounds and it's fine."

Leon replied, "A gold-tray bid cannot be revoked. I announced the rule before you placed the seal."

"Then write a new bill."

"I can't."

Livia's expression went cold. "Mr. Harrow, your father has a shipment leaving port next month. Making an enemy of Cassian won't do your family any favors."

The room went silent instantly.

She thought Cassian controlled the Silver Swallow fleet. That was the only reason she dared threaten to deny Leon's family shipping service. Cassian just tugged her arm. "That's enough."

Leon entered the threat into the official witness record. If Cassian denied it publicly, he would have to admit the twelve ships were never his. He watched the secretary write it down and chose silence.

"The bill must be paid within three days. Until then, the necklace may not leave the city or be resold, and the Guild may inspect it at any time."

Livia clutched the necklace. "Cassian already won the bid!"

"But he hasn't paid," Leon said.

Cassian pushed the bill toward me. "Helena, just pay it. The bigger the scene, the worse it looks for both our families."

I didn't take it.

"There are two choices."

Cassian stared at me. I pointed at the seal in Livia's hand.

"First, you admit she used your seal without permission. Leon can have the guards take her away, and the bill gets reviewed."

Livia went white. She grabbed Cassian's arm. "Everything I did was for you!"

"Second," I continued, "you admit she can represent the Severus house. Then every bid she made, every threat, every promise tonight stands, and you pay the bill yourself."

Cassian looked between the bill and Livia for a long time. Livia reminded him through her tears. "You told me yourself that I could make decisions for you."

"She speaks for me," Cassian said at last.

Leon set the official bill in front of him. Cassian had understood both options and had chosen the one that was his to bear.

He put the bill away, then turned to me again. "Since I'm taking the bill, let this go. Tomorrow, go to the Vesta estate and explain things. And talk to Leon. Tell him Livia just got carried away."

He had just taken on a debt for Livia, and in the same breath, he was dumping the cleanup on me.

I stood up to leave, but Livia blocked my path.

She was wearing my mother's necklace, and she stood her ground. "You deliberately drove up the price and saddled Cassian with debt. You owe him an apology."