Chapter 2

The room had gone dead quiet. Every single pair of eyes was on me.

Even the auctioneer up on the stage was stunned, frozen in place.

He knew I probably didn't have the money, but he couldn't bring the hammer down. Not with bids still flying.

Then Richard's roar cut through the silence like a knife.

He yelled, "Susan! You're out to get me today, aren't you?"

I glanced at Bonnie, who was standing next to Richard, and said flat out, "You bet I am."

Before I could catch my breath, Richard was shouting again.

He sneered, "Fine! Let's see how much money you've got to throw around."

He raised his paddle without a second thought.

He said, "I'll go to three million!"

If Richard was ready to risk the whole company for Bonnie, then I was ready to play along.

"Three million and one," I said with a smirk.

As soon as the words left my mouth, everyone's eyes swung back to me.

I could see it in their faces. They were all just waiting for me to embarrass myself.

What they didn't know was that I'd been calling the shots at Levine Group all along.

When the Levine family was about to go under, Richard's dad Edward had shown up at my door in the middle of the night, holding a marriage contract and begging me to save them.

I'd only married Richard to pay back a debt from the past.

But who would've thought that after all I'd done, he'd treat me like dirt—humiliating me every chance he got. And now, he even had the nerve to bid for another woman right in front of me. I wasn't about to let him get away with this.

Bonnie snapped, "Susan, do you even have the money to back this up? This is an auction house, not a market!"

Her face fell as she saw me take on Richard.

She warned, "Don't say I didn't warn you—if you can't pay up, you'll be facing criminal charges!"

I glanced up at her and smiled.

"Bonnie, my money's my business. You should worry more about your boss," I said.

"Once you go all-in, there's no turning back," I added.

At that, Richard flew into a rage and raised his paddle again.

"Susan, you've got some nerve talking back to my girl," Richard growled.

"You think you can keep up? Let's see how deep your pockets are," he sneered.

"I'll go to six million," Richard declared.

His shout sent the room into an uproar.

After all, this was just a charity auction. The items were nice, but they weren't worth millions.

And the blue diamond wasn't anything special—it was just a small one.

"Mr. Levine, you're so generous. The poor kids will be grateful," I said, clapping slowly as I stood up.

"But since it's for charity, more is always better, right?" I added.

Then, with everyone watching, I slowly raised my finger.

"Six million... and one," I said, my voice steady.

No one in the room expected me to go head-to-head with Richard. Their eyes widened in surprise as they looked at me.

Everyone here at the auction was either a big shot in business or a top executive from some major company. Richard was only invited because the Levine Group had been doing so well lately.

I could see the gleam in Richard's eyes—he was enjoying this.

He smiled, "Everyone, let me make something clear. Technically, she's my wife, but in reality, she's nothing to me.

"If she can't pay up later, don't expect the Levine Group to cover for her."

I nearly laughed out loud at Richard's words.

I smiled, "Mr. Levine, I wouldn't be so quick to distance yourself from me.

"After all, Mr. Levine, you're the only one reckless enough to make a blank check bid at a charity auction.

"Just you wait. When you can't pay, you'll be begging me to help you out."

No sooner had I finished speaking than Bonnie suddenly sprang to her feet.

"Susan, are you daydreaming or something?" Bonnie scoffed.

"You're just a housewife. Who do you think you are, trying to go up against the entire Levine Group? You're way out of your league."

I just shook my head and looked at Bonnie with a calm expression.

I smiled, "Hard to believe right now, I know. But that's just how it is.

"If you don't believe me, why don't you have Mr. Levine try me?"

Bonnie raised an eyebrow and laughed mockingly.

She said, "Fine, bring it on. Someone who doesn't even know their own limits has no right to act all high and mighty in front of me."

I didn't get angry. I just stayed calm.

I said, "Look, I'm not like you. I don't need a man's money for things I want."

As soon as I finished speaking, the guests who knew me began to murmur again.

"Come on, talk is cheap. If you're really that capable, why settle for being just a housewife?" one of the guests sneered.

"Exactly. Mr. Levine is a billionaire and a rising star in the business world. What the hell are you, anyway?" another chimed in.

"Right. She's just an attention-seeking clown. Let's ignore her," someone else added.