Chapter 2

Isabella didn't know when Sophie had left.

She only noticed that the next day, Ethan was even more attentive to her, almost carrying her downstairs for everything.

That evening, he took the initiative, "Bella, I've cleared my schedule tonight. Let me take you to the charity auction."

Isabella was a professional photographer with quite a reputation in the industry.

Every year she donated several photographs to charity auctions and attended to show support.

This year, despite having just awakened, she'd received an invitation.

But as soon as she and Ethan arrived at the auction venue, they spotted a familiar figure.

"Professor! Isabella!" Sophie ran over cheerfully. "You're here too!"

Ethan frowned slightly. "What are you doing here?"

"I have photographs in the auction too!" Sophie ducked her head shyly. "To be honest, Isabella, your influence inspired me to take up photography, and I even won an award!"

She gazed at Isabella with starry eyes.

"Isabella, you're my idol! I want to become just like you!"

Become like her?

Or rather, replace her entirely?

Isabella's lips curved sardonically, but she said nothing.

The auction began shortly.

Isabella and Ethan sat in a VIP box on the second floor, while Sophie took a seat in the main floor seating area.

As the most renowned photographer at this auction, Isabella's work was featured first.

"Our opening piece tonight is a work by Miss Isabella Winters from seven years ago, titled 'Memory.'"

The large screen displayed the photograph, and Ethan's expression changed instantly.

"Bella!" He whipped around to face her. "Why did you put this photograph up for sale?"

The screen showed two hands clasped together on a beach, both wearing wedding rings on their ring fingers.

This was Ethan and Isabella's most treasured piece—taken on the day he proposed.

Isabella had once considered this work priceless; she'd refused offers of ten million dollars for it.

But now, she was selling it.

Isabella looked up at Ethan. "Ethan, do you remember the promise you made me that day?"

Ethan answered without hesitation, "Of course I remember. I promised to love only you for the rest of my life, never to betray you."

He felt a pang of guilt afterward.

Could it be... did Bella know something? Was that why she was selling this photograph?

As he panicked internally, he heard Isabella laugh.

"Exactly. Since you remember so well, it's just a photograph after all. No need to keep it—might as well sell it for charity."

What she didn't say aloud was: broken promises make photographs meaningless anyway.

Meanwhile, the bidding had begun below—

"Fifty thousand."

"One hundred thousand."

"One hundred fifty thousand!"

As a well-known photographer, the piece immediately drew enthusiastic bidding.

Then Ethan raised his paddle.

"One million!"

The bid—ten times higher than the previous offer—made everyone gasp.

Ethan looked at Isabella earnestly.

"You may say that, but since this represents my promise to you, I want to keep it forever."

Amid the applause, Ethan won the photograph.

Acquaintances in the crowd joked good-naturedly.

"Well, well! Turns out Mr. Cross just wanted to donate a million dollars while showing off for his wife—we're all just watching a love show!"

Everyone laughed, but Isabella's smile never reached her eyes.

The auction continued.

Since tonight's guests were all wealthy and influential, the organizers had set a rule: each guest could bid on only one photograph.

So Ethan lost interest in the other pieces, focusing instead on peeling grapes for Isabella and feeding them to her one by one.

Until the host announced—

"Our next piece is from emerging photographer Sophie Shaw, titled 'Dreams'!"

The screen lit up again amid applause, but the next second, someone cried out in shock.

"What the heck is that!"