Chapter 3

The auction kicked off shortly after. Julian announced loudly that it was his birthday and he was sponsoring everyone in the class to have some fun.

Every time he bid, I raised the price aggressively.

"Who the hell is up on the third floor messin' with me?! Don't they know who the Millers are?!" Julian raged, watching a vintage diamond piece he bid one million on get bumped all the way to five million.

"It's okay, babe. Money is just numbers to us. Once this is over, I'll have the staff bring them to you so you can vent," Hayley purred, comforting him while handing over my black card to keep his ego stroked.

Seeing me continuously bid up the prices without taking anything, Caleb looked at me with hesitation.

Thinking there was something he wanted, I reached into my coat and pulled out a black velvet box like a magic trick.

"The stuff down there is junk. This is the real birthday gift Dad got for you."

"See if you like it."

He took it with trembling hands. Inside rested a rare, royal collector's edition timepiece—a piece worn by British royalty.

It was priceless. Everything on the auction floor tonight combined couldn't buy a single screw on it.

"This is way too expensive... I don't deserve it..." The boy didn't even dare touch it with his bare hands.

I lifted it from the box and fastened it onto his wrist, my tone leaving no room for argument.

"Only you deserve it. You will always be my precious son."

Holding the watch like a holy relic, he wrapped his arms around me for the very first time.

"Thank you, Dad."

Thank you for not hating someone as broken as me.

Warmth flooded my chest. I vowed right then to give him the world, and make sure every single person who touched him paid in blood.

After chatting with him for a bit, I stepped away to take an urgent business call. When I returned to the balcony, I looked down—Caleb was surrounded on the first floor.

"Caleb, Hayley didn't invite you! How shameless can you be, stalking us here?!"

"Julian brought the whole class to see the high life tonight! He offered to pay for anyone who bids, but that definitely doesn't include a street rat like you!"

"What kind of trash watch is on that dog paw? It looks so beat up and fake!"

A short-haired girl violently ripped the watch off Caleb's wrist, tearing his skin and leaving a bleeding gash.

"Look at him, still daydreaming about being an elite heir! How dare you still claim to be a Miller, haha!"

A jock in an athletic jacket jeered, and the entire circle burst into mocking laughter, hurling insults like "leech," "parasite," and "fake."

In the chaos, someone kicked away his walking crutch. Several hands shoved him violently, slamming him onto the marble floor.

Seeing this, the mystery of the bruises and fractures on Caleb's body was instantly solved.

Holding back a blinding wave of murderous rage, I started walking down the staircase while snapping photos with my phone.

Normally, cameras were strictly banned here. But for me, rules didn't exist.

I dialed a private number—a woman whose very name sent chills through both the corporate elite and the international underworld.

"Miss me, darling? Did Caleb love his surprise?"