Chapter 2

Jason, my arch-nemesis, was sitting right across from me, watching me with a mocking grin.

He looked like he was hell-bent on getting that ink slab, too.

"Twenty-five million dollars," I said, my voice dry as I raised my paddle.

Jason smirked and raised his paddle. "Twenty-five point three million dollars."

He was only adding about 330,000 dollars each time, just to mess with me.

I took a deep breath and called out, "Twenty-six point seven million dollars."

That was my bottom line, everything I had.

The whole room erupted.

Every single pair of eyes was locked on me.

Jason's expression shifted, he clearly hadn't expected me to put everything on the line like that.

He frowned, clearly torn about whether to keep bidding.

The auctioneer shouted, "Twenty-six point seven million dollars. This gentleman bids twenty-six point seven million dollars. Anyone want to go higher?"

The auctioneer called, "Twenty-six point seven million dollars, once."

The auctioneer called, "Twenty-six point seven million dollars, twice."

My heart was in my throat.

Just then, a staff member came over and whispered, "Sir, could you please show us proof of your funds? We need to verify your account on the spot."

I nodded and handed over the bank card Charlotte had given me.

Everything was riding on this.

I watched as the staff member swiped the card through the POS machine, sweat dripping down my face.

Jason sat across from me, arms crossed, looking like he was waiting for the show to start.

A few seconds later, the staff member's brow furrowed.

He handed the POS machine back to me, with an awkward look on his face.

The staff member said, "Sir, I'm sorry, but your balance is insufficient."

Buzz! Everything went numb for a second.

My mind went completely blank.

How was that possible?

I snatched the POS machine back, and there it was, staring me in the face, "Insufficient Funds" in big, bold letters.

My hands were shaking as I pulled out my phone and opened the banking app.

I logged in and checked my balance.

26,666,663.71 dollars.

I was short 2.96 dollars.

I scrolled up through the transaction history, and the latest charge hit me like a knife to the heart.

[Penny Saver - Automatic Transfer: -3 dollars]

It happened just five minutes ago.

My blood ran cold.

All those nightmare details, the skyscraper, the screaming wind, the frozen ground, hit me all at once, vivid as reality.

It was over.

Everything was over.

The auctioneer announced with regret, "Since this gentleman was unable to verify his funds, the twenty-six point seven million dollar bid is invalid. We'll pick things up again at twenty-five point three million dollars."

Jason's smug laughter rang in my ears, getting louder and louder.

He took home the Dragonstone Ink Slab for twenty-five point seven million dollars.

He strolled over, gave me a condescending pat on the shoulder, and smirked like the devil himself.

Jason said, "Michael Carter, thanks for the show. If you're broke, don't try to act rich. Twenty-six point seven million dollars? You really think you could pull that off?"

I didn't even bother to respond.

I kept my eyes glued to the charge for 2.96 dollars on my phone, unable to tear myself away.

I saw it.

I saw the first domino fall.

I saw my own ruin, no hope left.

Seven years of marriage.

A 26.7-million-dollar life-or-death gamble.

All because of a ridiculous 2.96 dollars.

I slowly got to my feet and walked out of the auction house, my face a mask of stone.

Behind me, Jason's arrogant laughter echoed, and everyone was shooting me sympathetic glances.

But I couldn't hear a thing.

I pulled out my phone and made a call.

I said, "Ben, draft me a divorce agreement."