Chapter 6

Inside, the auction hall was breathtaking.

Crystal lights hung from the high ceiling, casting a soft glow over the room, while elegant decorations filled every corner and guests moved from one conversation to another, speaking in low voices as they greeted old friends, business partners, and people whose names were known far beyond the walls of the estate. Everything about the place looked expensive, from the polished floors beneath their feet to the glasses carried by waiters dressed in perfectly pressed suits, and even the smiles on people’s faces seemed carefully practiced, as though everyone had come knowing exactly how they were expected to behave.

Claire followed Daniel toward their seats, keeping her expression calm even though she could still feel the weight of everything that had happened since the previous night.

She had told herself that coming here would be easier than staying at home, that being surrounded by people would keep her mind occupied, but the moment she stepped inside the hall, she realized she had been wrong.

Ethan was here.

The man she had met at the bar.

The man she had spent the night with without knowing his name, his life, or his connection to the man she had been married to for five years.

And now he was sitting somewhere in the same room as her husband.

Claire lowered her gaze as she took her seat beside Daniel, hoping that if she didn’t look in Ethan’s direction, she would somehow be able to forget that he was there.

Daniel sat beside her, adjusting his coat before leaning back comfortably in his chair, looking completely at ease among the people around him.

Claire wondered how he could sit there so calmly.

How could he look so normal after everything she had discovered about him?

She forced the thoughts away as the lights around the stage slowly dimmed.

The conversations throughout the room began to fade, and the auctioneer stepped onto the stage with a pleasant smile, waiting until the last few whispers disappeared before raising the microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. We hope you are prepared for an evening of exceptional pieces and perhaps a few unexpected surprises.”

A few people laughed softly.

Claire looked toward the stage as the first item was brought out. It was an antique watch carefully placed inside a glass case, followed by a painting that immediately attracted the attention of several people. One by one, the items were introduced, the bidding began, and within minutes, each piece was sold to someone willing to pay more than the person sitting beside them.

Claire watched quietly, paying attention to the numbers being called even though her mind was somewhere else.

She had attended charity events with Daniel before, but tonight felt different. Maybe it was because she no longer saw him the way she used to. Maybe it was because she was still trying to understand how the man she had loved for five years could have been living another life behind her.

She turned her attention back to the stage, but Daniel suddenly leaned closer.

“I've been waiting for one particular piece tonight,” he said.

Claire looked at him.

“Which one?”

“You'll see.”

There was a small smile on his face as he reached for her hand.

“I saw it before the auction started, and the moment I saw it, I thought of you.”

Claire didn't respond.

Daniel continued, his voice soft enough for only her to hear.

“I want to buy it for you, Claire. You deserve something beautiful, and I know you would look incredible wearing it.”

She stared at him for a moment, unsure how to respond to the sweetness in his voice. Once, she would have believed every word without question. Once, she would have smiled, squeezed his hand, and felt lucky to have a husband who still looked at her that way.

But now she couldn't.

Not after everything she had discovered. Daniel seemed not to notice the doubt in her eyes.

“Just wait,” he said with a quiet smile. “When I put it around your neck, you'll see exactly what I mean.”

Claire forced a small smile, but she didn't believe him.

She turned her attention back to the stage just as the auctioneer announced the next item.

“Lot twenty-three.”

The room gradually became quieter as the lights shifted toward the stage. The auctioneer stepped forward while an assistant carefully carried out a long black velvet box and placed it on the display table.

He opened it slowly.

A beautiful diamond necklace rested against the dark velvet, its delicate chain surrounding a large central stone that caught the light and sent tiny reflections across the room.

A quiet murmur moved through the guests.

The auctioneer smiled as he looked around the room.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is one of the most remarkable pieces we have presented tonight. This necklace comes from a private European collection and has remained in private hands for more than three decades. Tonight, it is being offered to the public for the first time.”