Chapter 4

The mood on the yacht that night was electric.

The main event, a high-stakes charity auction, was drawing to a close with the final lot: a sapphire necklace called the Abyssal Heart.

The bidding started at two-point-six million.

The moment the auctioneer opened the floor, Claire tugged at Alexander's sleeve, her eyes wide with that practiced, girlish longing. "Alexander, I'd really love that."

He gave her an indulgent smile and raised his paddle. "Three million."

Most people in the room were bidding out of courtesy. Nobody wanted to offend Grant. The number climbed steadily to five million.

Alexander was already savoring the moment, mentally accepting the congratulations that would come his way.

Then a woman's voice cut through the chatter, cool, unhurried, completely unbothered. "Ten million."

Gasps rippled through the room. Every head turned toward me.

I was sitting next to Nathan, twirling my paddle lazily between my fingers, a half-smile playing on my lips.

Jumping the bid by five million wasn't bold. It was a declaration.

Alexander's face went rigid. His eyes sliced toward me, cold and sharp.

Claire's cheeks drained of color, but she was too polished to crack in public. She forced a gentle tone. "Alexander, maybe we should let it go. If this lady wants it so badly—"

"Let it go?" I let out a soft laugh, tilting my head toward her. "Mrs. Grant, are you really questioning whether your husband can afford it?"

She opened her mouth, then closed it. Nothing came out.

Alexander let out a cold snort. He lifted his paddle again. "Eleven million."

"Fifteen million," I said, not even hesitating.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

Sure, dropping fifteen million on a necklace was rich-people flexing. But pushing the price way past what it's worth to make a point? That was either insane or personal.

Everyone could feel it now. This wasn't about jewelry. Iris had her sights set on Alexander.

A vein pulsed at Alexander's temple. He stared at me like he was trying to see through concrete.

"Have we met before?" His voice came out low, almost wary.

I swirled the wine in my glass, watching it catch the light. "How funny, Mr. Grant. I've been living abroad for years. This is the first time back home. But you..."

I paused, letting my lips curve into something sly, my eyes catching his long enough to make it dangerous. "If you keep looking at me like that, I might start thinking you've got a crush on me."

The room went dead silent. Then, a soft chuckle broke the tension. It was Nathan.

He lounged back in his chair, watching the spectacle with a hint of amusement, as if he were an outsider with nothing at stake, simply enjoying the show.

Claire's composure cracked. She gripped Alexander's sleeve so hard her knuckles went white. "Alexander."

Alexander sucked in a breath, forcing his voice steady. "Iris, you've got a sense of humor. Since you're so taken with it, I'll step aside. It's yours."

He folded like I knew he would.

Alexander would spend millions to make a woman smile, but he'd never risk his reputation or his bottom line for someone he couldn't control. Business first, as always.

Just like three years ago, when he'd traded me, Vivian, for shares in his own company without a second thought.

"How generous." I raised my glass to him. Then I turned to the auctioneer and added, almost as an afterthought, "Actually, I'm out."

"What?" For once, Alexander's mask slipped. His voice went sharp, incredulous. "Is this a joke?"

"A joke?" I raised an eyebrow, all innocence. "Mr. Grant, you know the rules. Highest bidder wins. I withdrew, so the necklace goes to the runner-up. What's the confusion?"

I glanced at Claire. She looked like she'd seen a ghost. My smile widened. "Unless you're telling me you can't afford eleven million for your own wife?

"I don't want anything that's been touched by someone else. A necklace, or a man."

I stood, looping my arm through Nathan's. Every eye in the room was on me, disbelief written across their faces. "Mr. Blackwood, I'm tired. Let's go."

Nathan stood, ruffling my hair like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Alright."

As we walked past Alexander, I paused, leaned in, and let my voice drop to a whisper. "Mr. Grant," I murmured, "you keep looking at me like you're seeing someone else.

"That woman, Vivian Sterling. She was your wife, wasn't she?" My voice was soft, almost kind. "You still love her."

I watched as his pupils contracted, his entire body tensing up in a flash.

A slow smile spread across my face.

This was the beginning, Alexander. Everything you did to Vivian, Iris was going to return the favor, ten times, a hundred, a thousand.