Chapter 2

But he was the one who'd handed my things to somebody else one piece at a time, and now he thought I looked cheap for bringing up money.

I turned back to the emerald brooch at her collar. "And this. Before you put it on, did Andrew tell you it belonged to my mother?"

Sophia instinctively pressed her hand to the brooch.

She moved so quickly, as if she thought I might snatch it away on the spot.

Andrew finally spoke up. "I had someone get the brooch. Sophia didn't know it was your mother's."

"She knew," I said.

I didn't raise my voice, and everyone at the main table heard it anyway.

Sophia's face went pale.

I looked at her. "Three years ago, at the Lane family's holiday party, you saw me wearing it. You said my mother had beautiful taste and that shade of green was rare."

Her lips moved.

But no words came out.

The host's voice came from the stage. "Our next item is a vintage villa at Clearwater Estate, with bidding opening at ten million dollars. This lot will be bid on by tonight's guest number seven, representing the Hughes Foundation."

I turned my head toward the stage.

Number seven.

The auction paddle clutched in Sophia's hand.

I reached out. "Hand it over."

Sophia instinctively pulled back a step.

Andrew caught my wrist, his voice even lower. "Claire, don't make a scene."

I looked down at his fingers.

After four years of marriage, he almost never touched me in public. And tonight, the first time he ever reached for me in front of everyone, it was just to keep me from reclaiming my own things.

I pulled my hand back and kept my voice flat. "Andrew, she's in my seat, in my dress, wearing my mother's brooch, holding my paddle.

"Now she's about to bid under the Hughes Foundation's name. Tell me how far this has to go before I'm allowed to react."

The only sound left was the faint clink of silverware.

Sophia's tears fell. "Claire, I never thought it would get this messy. I just wanted a fresh start."

I looked at her.

"Then start by giving me back what's mine," I said.

She froze in place.

The host on stage turned to the main table. "Number seven, are you bidding?"

All eyes were on me.

Sophia gripped the paddle, but didn't move.

Andrew looked at me, anger simmering in his eyes. "Claire, Sophia needs this chance tonight."

I nodded, meeting his gaze. "And I need it too."

He froze, caught off guard for a split second.

I reached out and took the spare microphone from the organizer, then walked up to the auction stage.

When the spotlight hit my face, everyone in the room turned to stare.

I stood next to the host, casting a look toward the main table.

Sophia was still in that dress, the brooch glinting so bright under the lights it was hard to miss.

Andrew stood beside her, his expression even more grim than before.

I turned on the mic.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm suspending every bid made tonight under the Hughes Foundation's number seven paddle," I declared.

A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.

I continued, "The person holding the number seven paddle is not authorized by the Hughes Foundation."

Sophia's face went completely pale.

I looked straight at the main table, my voice echoing through the hall. "Ms. Grant, sitting in the Hughes Foundation's seat, is not a representative of the foundation. The gown and brooch she's wearing? Those belong to me personally."

A gasp rippled through the crowd.

I handed the microphone back to the host and stepped off the stage.

Andrew strode over, his voice tight with anger. "Claire, do you even know what you're doing?"

I looked at him.

"I know." I replied.

I stopped right in front of Sophia and, without hesitation, took the auction paddle from her hand.

"I'm taking back my place," I said.

When security walked Sophia away from the main table, nobody in that hall dared to speak above a whisper.

She stood there with tears clinging to her cheeks, looking like she might come apart at any second. Andrew stepped in front of her with his shoulders pulled tight.

"Claire, that's enough," he said, his voice low and strained.

I handed the paddle to my secretary. "Void the registration. The Hughes Foundation won't be bidding on the Clearwater Estate villa tonight."

She nodded and hurried backstage to take care of it.

Andrew watched me, his face so dark it was almost livid.

"You know how much that land means to Sophia," he said, his voice tight with frustration.

"I know," I said, my voice cold. "That's exactly why I'm killing the deal."

He stared at me, like he was seeing me for the first time.

Sophia stood behind him, her fingers still pressed to the brooch. She didn't take it off, her dress trailing along the floor, the black-and-gold embroidery shimmering under the lights like a layer of floating fire.

She really knew how to play her part.

Half her body was tucked behind Andrew, just enough of her pale face showing to make her look like the most pitiful person in the world.

I didn't spare her another glance. I turned to the organizer and said, "Get me a room where she can change."

The organizer nodded right away. "Of course, of course. The suite upstairs has been reserved for you all along."

Andrew hurried after me. "What are you doing?"

I didn't slow down. "She needs to take off my dress."

He blocked the elevator doors, his voice low. "If you make her take off your dress now, how do you think people will see her?"

I looked at him.