Chapter 3

The auction was crowded.

The moment I walked in, I saw Dana Gilbert seated in the front row, Marina Fox on his arm in an extravagant haute couture gown.

When she saw me, she deliberately lifted her chin.

"Ms. Henson is here to bid too?"

Her voice wasn't quiet; several people nearby heard it.

"I hear Dana gave you a hefty settlement. What, Ms. Henson—now that you're spending your ex-husband's money, you really think you belong in this circle? Aren't you afraid this land will swallow up every last cent you've got?"

I sat down and opened the auction catalog.

"Ms. Fox is very chatty today."

"I'm just here to enjoy the show. Is a little curiosity not allowed?"

"Curiosity killed the cat. If you don't understand something, keep it to yourself."

Her face darkened.

Dana reminded her under his breath.

"Stop embarrassing yourself here."

Marina turned her head aside, her eyes full of hurt.

"You still have feelings for her, don't you? That's why you're protecting her!"

Dana said nothing more.

Once the bidding started, the parcel in the development zone was quickly driven up to a high price.

I raised my paddle twice, and Marina immediately followed.

Every round I bid up, she chased.

She had no idea what the land was worth; she only wanted to beat me.

Dana quickly sensed something was off and turned his face, lowering his voice.

"Marina, stop bidding."

Marina wouldn't back down.

"A nouveau riche like her dares to bid, so why should I cave?"

I looked at her and raised my paddle a third time.

She barely hesitated and pushed the price up.

The figure hit three times the original estimate, and the room went quiet.

The auctioneer looked at me.

"Ms. Henson, do you want to raise?"

I closed the catalog and gave a small smile.

"I'm out of steam. I'll just lie back and take it easy."

The smile hadn't even faded from Marina's face.

"Congratulations, Ms. Fox."

The auctioneer called three times, and the gavel fell.

Marina had won the parcel.

She sat frozen in her chair, fingers clenched around her bidder's paddle.

Dana's face was dark and ugly.

"Marina, do you even know what you just bought?"

"I... I just saw how she wouldn't let go. I couldn't let her win."

"She digs a pit and you have to jump right in?"

Her eyes went red at once.

"Dana, you'd actually snap at me for her sake?"

I stood and smoothed my skirt.

As I passed them, Marina suddenly blocked my way.

"Gertrude Henson, you set me up on purpose."

"I raised my paddle for a legitimate investment."

"Don't play dumb. You knew perfectly well I'd fight you to the death."

"Ms. Fox, the paddle is in your hand."

I stopped and straightened her slightly crooked collar for her.

"Next time you want to go head to head with someone, check whether Dana's wallet says yes first."

She gritted her teeth.

"What are you so smug about? He dumped you."

I looked at the necklace around her neck.

"I got dumped, yes—but Mr. Gilbert kept shoving big luxury apartments into my arms, one after another."

"You've been with him all this time. How many years' worth of bonuses has he ever given you?"

Marina's expression changed.

"What he gave me is pure love. You don't know a damn thing!"

"Then have him give you something real."

I laughed lightly.

"Shares, a house, anything. Don't think you've won just because you got one necklace."

She raised a hand to shove me, but Dana caught her wrist from behind.

"Enough."

Marina turned to look at him, tears spilling down.

"You're actually helping her?"

But Dana's gaze stayed on my face.

I didn't look at him.

After we left the venue, Valerie asked me.

"You really don't want that land?"

"Of course I do. I've dreamed of getting my hands on it."

"Then why did you let it go?"

"Because when your virtue doesn't match your position, disaster is bound to follow."

The next day I went to a private club to meet an investor.

Before our appointed time had even come, Marina chased her way in.

She was stopped in the lobby and shrilly announced who she was.

"I'm Dana Gilbert's girlfriend—how dare you stop me?"

I stood on the second-floor viewing terrace and watched through the glass as she forced her way up.

Valerie frowned.

"Gertrude, this crazy woman is charging up here. Want me to call for backup?"

"Not yet."

Marina closed in on her high heels.

"Gertrude Henson, you play the head-in-the-sand coward pretty smoothly."

I took half a step back. Behind me was the display stand for the club's artwork, no railing around its edge.

She stared at me, her eyes furiously red.

"Gertrude Henson, if you don't give me an explanation today, this isn't over!"

I lowered my eyes and slowly gripped the hem of my skirt.

"All right. What do you want to hear?"

Down at the entrance a black sedan had just come to a stop, and Dana Gilbert stepped out.