Chapter 2

I understood the assignment.

I timidly glanced at Sean, then at Kayla. "I-I don't think I can accept it. Sean said I shouldn't casually take things from other people."

With just one sentence, I placed me and Sean on the same side and made Kayla 'other people.'

Kayla's smile froze.

Sean, who was holding his coffee, stopped moving and smiled.

"Kayla gave it to you. Take it." Since he had spoken, I could only slowly reach out.

I opened the gift box. Inside was a lace baby outfit that had turned slightly yellow with age.

The craftsmanship was exquisite, but it carried an unmistakable sense of oldness.

I immediately pulled away as if I had been burned.

"Ahh!" I covered my mouth, and my eyes filled with fear. "W-Where did you get this? Could there be bacteria on it? M-My babies could get sick," I said through choked sobs. I sounded naive and foolish.

Kayla's face turned pale. Her expression darkened.

"Ms. Everton, this was handmade for the Fercanso Royal Family. It's priceless."

"B-But it's so old." I pouted. Tears gathered in my eyes. "Sean, I'm scared."

I turned to face Sean. It looked like I was asking him to protect me.

Sean put down his coffee cup. He stood up and walked over to me before pulling me into his arms.

He didn't even look at Kayla. He simply told the butler, "Walter, put it away. Burn it later."

He then lowered his head and whispered next to my ear. "Stop crying."

Kayla left.

As she walked away, the hatred in her eyes was so intense it felt like she wanted to tear me apart.

Sean, however, acted as if nothing had happened. He held my chin and forced me to drink a glass of prenatal vitamin supplements.

The bitter liquid made my entire face scrunch up.

He laughed and brushed a finger against my lips.

"You're so spoiled."

I couldn't tell whether it was praise or mockery.

'Mommy, he's going to a private auction tonight,' Caleb suddenly said. 'He'll take you with him.'

'Why?' My heart clenched.

Kayla always went to places like that.

'It's a trap,' Caleb answered immediately. 'He's using you to lure someone out.'

'Who?'

'His illegitimate older brother, Steve Freeman.'

I was taken aback.

Did the Freeman family have an illegitimate son? I had never heard of that.

'Steve has always wanted a share of the family fortune, but he never had a chance. Tonight's auction has something that belonged to his mother. Sean deliberately leaked the information to draw him out.'

'What is it?'

'A jade hairpin.'

'What does that have to do with me?'

'Sean told outsiders that the jade hairpin was something he bought for you as a reward after you give birth to his heir.'

Lily kicked angrily inside me. 'Daddy is awful! He's using us as bait!'

Caleb remained calm. 'Mommy, this is our chance. You can't make a mistake. You need to perform perfectly.'

That night, Sean really did take me to the auction.

The venue was filled with wealthy elites.

Everyone had on expensive clothes and carried an air of arrogance.

Kayla was there too. She moved around Sean like she was his wife.

Meanwhile, I was nothing more than a decoration.

Sean pushed me into my seat and warned me, "Stay here. Don't move around."

I obediently nodded.

The auction began. One item after another was presented.

Finally, the jade hairpin appeared.

It was emerald green. A lifelike lotus flower was carved into the tip.

"This is the Silent Lotus. The starting bid is 500 thousand dollars."

Kayla looked at Sean, her eyes filled with confidence.

Everyone knew Kayla loved lotus flowers, but Sean didn't even raise his bidding paddle.

The price continued climbing. Soon, it reached one and a half million.

Suddenly, a bidding paddle with an unfamiliar number was raised.