Chapter 7

The auction officially began. I gripped my paddle tightly, waiting for Lot 47.

At last, the auctioneer raised the pearl necklace. "Lot 47, a pearl necklace. Opening bid, five million dollars."

I raised my paddle immediately. "Five million dollars."

"Ten million dollars," came Serena's voice from right beside me.

I looked over. She was all smiles, her paddle raised.

"15 million dollars," I said, raising my paddle again.

Serena didn't even pause. "20 million dollars."

The price started to soar. 30 million dollars. 50 million dollars. 80 million dollars…

Sweat slicked my palms. My lawyer had said everything I owned was worth about 100 million dollars in total, but the price had already climbed to nearly 120 million dollars.

"120 million dollars."

Serena raised her paddle with ease, as if she were naming a trivial number.

The auctioneer looked at me. "Ma'am, would you like to continue?"

My hands trembled. I couldn't raise the paddle again. I didn't have enough.

All eyes were on me, Daniel's included. Swallowing my pride, I turned to him.

My voice shook. "Daniel, lend me some money, please. This necklace was my mother's. It's the only thing she left me."

Daniel looked at me. Something complicated flickered in his eyes. Just as he reached for his black card, Serena turned to him as well.

In a sweet, wheedling tone, she said, "Danny, I had nothing growing up. This is the first necklace I've ever truly loved. Could you ask Freya to let me have this one?"

She caught his sleeve, her eyes bright with expectation.

Daniel looked between Serena and me, silent for several seconds—seconds that felt like an eternity.

"Let Rena have it," he said at last.

A chill ran down my spine. My world collapsed around me.

The auctioneer's voice rang out. "120 million dollars, going once! 120 million dollars, going twice!"

I wanted to beg Daniel again, but when I opened my mouth, nothing came out.

"120 million dollars—third and final call! Sold!"

The instant the gavel fell, my heart went cold.

Thrilled, Serena clapped and turned to me. "Freya, thank you!"

Smug satisfaction was written all over her face.

After the auction, Serena said she had a headache, and Daniel went to get her medicine. I sat alone in the lounge, watching the staff clear the items away.

Ten minutes later, Serena came to the backstage area and stopped in front of me.

I got to my feet to meet her. "Serena, would you trade me the necklace for something else?"

She lifted a brow. "Trade it for what?"

I forced myself to stay calm. "I have a sports car and a few high-end watches. The total doesn't come to 120 million, but if you give me a little time, I'll make up the rest. All I ask is that you return the necklace."

Serena shook her head. "I don't need those."

"Then what do you want?"

She thought for a moment, then smiled. "I want you on your knees, begging."

"What?"

Something vicious flickered in her eyes. "Get on your knees, apologize, and beg me for the necklace. After how you treated me before, it's your turn to beg."

I stared at her, my fists clenched. Thinking of Mom's keepsake, I sank to my knees.

"Good. Let me show you where the necklace is," she said.

Serena wore a triumphant smile as she took out her phone. She pulled up a video and handed it to me. On the screen, a dirty stray wagged its tail, a pearl necklace around its neck.

It was Mom's.

Serena's smile turned sickly sweet. "See? This is where it is now. I think it suits the stray perfectly. A bitch's things belong with a dog."

My blood went cold. "What did you just say?"

Serena put her phone away. "I said a bitch belongs with a dog. Wasn't your mother a bitch? She deserved to be hit by a car and die. Now her keepsake is on a stray. That fits, doesn't it?"

"Which hand did you use to put the necklace on the dog?" I asked, my voice so soft I could barely hear it.

Serena was still grinning. "My right hand. Why?"

I snatched the dinner knife from the table and plunged it into her right palm. Blood spurted, and she let out a piercing scream.