08

Harry was aware of Andrew’s relationship with Hadley because they were close friends.

After their divorce, Andrew started dating someone else— Laura.

Harry was not at much taken aback.

Andrew changed girlfriends like clockwork, after all. No woman stayed with him for longer than three months.

For the years, Andrew and Hadley were married, to the point where Harry thought he truly loved her, but when he heard they for a divorce, he was stunned.

Harry noticed that Hadley was more radiant than ever. He questioned whether Hadley was as stupid as people had said after looking at her profile. "Hadley, how important are you to sit here?" he wondered.

The elites were enticed to the gathering by the rare violet diamond.

Hadley shouldn't be occupying that prominent seat, according to Andrew . She wasn't even eligible to attend.

Hadley cast a sidelong glance at the man seating next to her.

His attractive face was unreadable and icy. And she was wounded by his cold, contemptuous look.

She was perplexed, wondering what she had done to merit his punishment.

The child developing inside her came to mind next. She was now four months along in her pregnancy. Her baby bump would soon be visible.

Hadley’s heart ached and twisted.

He cheated on her just as she was ready to live out the rest of her days with him.

Andrew grew impatient at Hadley’s silence, and she was not even looking at him.

"Hadley, what are you doing here?" Andrew suddenly asked. “Who do you consider yourself to be? This is not where you belong. Only when the seat's true owner appears will you feel ashamed."

Hadley looked at him icily as the sharp, bitter ache grew within of her.

What sort of person did she seem to him?

She was curious about the response.

Her fantasies had burst due to his betrayal, shattering her illusions.

She didn't realize until then that she had little chance of winning his affection.

The sad reality was that Andrew wasn't and wouldn't be her life's lighthouse.

"You don't own the place," she fired back, lounging back. “Why can't I be here if you can?”

"I am a guest of honor here, just so you know. I have a better spot than you.” Hadley continued.

When Andrew saw her stunning gaze, his face became turbulent. Anger simmered in his eyes as they constricted.

He recalled his assistant telling him that she arrived in a beautiful sedan with a handsome man.

Hadley seemed like a complete stranger to him all of a sudden.

She had always had that dejected expression in her eyes when they were still together.

She was radiant and sassy now, though.

"You're here for your boyfriend, right?" Andrew sneered. 

"I deserve to be here!" Hadley smirked in response.

Harry prodded Andrew and showed him the list of VIP guests at that very time.

The seat turned out to be owned by the enigmatic billionaire Kingsley Fern.

Andrew turned to face Hadley, his eyes narrowing. “Are you truly here for that guy, then? You disgust me, Hadley Beck!" he asked. With a voice full of jealousy, he snapped.

Just one month had passed after their breakup, and she was already seeing someone else.

Hadley felt as though a knife was piercing her heart when she heard that.

The agony was nearly unbearable.

She lowered her head, avoiding to look at Andrew, pain written all over her face.

He has previously referred to her as "disgusting."

He seemed to despise her. 

Hadley made the decision to stop loving him after coming to this conclusion.

She gazed up at him, her voice dripping with contempt. “I also think you're disgusting, Andrew Shaw. You know, a decent ex-husband ought to avoid his ex and cease pestering them permanently.”

Andrew scowled, stunned by what she had said.

When Laura heard Andrew’s critical remarks, she grinned contentedly. 

She thought Hadley would always be in her shadow.

At that moment, the first item up for bid was introduced by the auctioneer.

"Dear guests, I would like to present our first item for auction tonight, the pearls and Shimmer."

Hadley immediately looked up at the painting on the stage.

Her eyes widened in shock as she wondered how it got there.

Horace had been gone for years, and it was his painting.

The notion made her heart skip a beat and tears build up in her eyes.

It wasn't until Andrew began placing bids that Hadley changed her mind.

And their gazes locked when she turned to face him.

When Andrew noticed her teary eyes, which were like sparkling gemstones, his heart skipped a beat.

He had never seen her weep before.

And something deep within of him was aroused by the anguish and grief on her face.

He was curious as to who she was sobbing for.

Hadley suddenly forced herself to stop crying and gather herself. Still unsure of its purpose, she returned her attention to the painting.

She was positive, though, that it couldn't end up in the wrong hands.

After all, there was a significant mystery in the artwork.

Then Hadley sent a message to Ryland Palmer, her assistant, who was seated behind her.

Hadley: [Ry, obtain that painting at whatever cost.]

Ryland: [All right, Miss.]

Hadley was ready for tonight. The purple diamond was the main reason she attended the auction.

Ryland would acquire it for her if she placed her sights on something else.

The painting's value had risen to eleven million dollars as the bidding continued.

Few purchasers entered the auction because Andrew was in the lead.

"Eighteen million, going once, going twice... Any further bids?" the auctioneer exclaimed with excitement.

"Twenty million," Ryland said as the woman in the final row abruptly lifted her paddle.

Thirty-three million.” Andrew added his voice.

Ryland went on, "twenty-five million."

Andrew’s expression grew gloomy. 

He found it unbelievable that someone would genuinely challenge him.

He smiled menacingly and increased the stakes. "Twenty-seven million."

Hadley couldn't help but wonder if Andrew was aware of the painting's secrets given his intense fascination with it.