Her eyes shimmered, soft and bashful, as if she wanted to say something but held back.


    Any man who saw that look would have been ready to hand over his heart to her.


    Victor lifted his eyelidszily, his gaze sweeping over her with a hint of mischief curling at his lips. "Do you like it?"


    A thrill of delight shot through Laverne at his words.


    Sure, given her current status, she could barely afford a ne like this on her own. But if it was a gift from the man beside her, it would mean something entirely different—especially tonight, at such a high-profile charity g.


    By tomorrow, she''d no doubt be trending across social media, her worth soaring even higher.


    A flush of pink bloomed on Laverne''s cheeks. "It''s far too generous."


    Someone in the crowd raised their paddle-fifteen million.


    Victor didn''t even blink. He lifted his own paddle.


    "Fifty million."


    The entire ballroom erupted.


    Most auction lots went for five, maybe ten million at most. And here was the heir to the Fitzgerald family, starting at fifty. The sheer extravagance stunned the crowd into silence; no one dared bid against him.


    The auctioneer brought down the gavel with a flourish.


    "Congrattions to The Fitzgerald Group! Mr. Fitzgerald has imed the ne for fifty million!"


    Nearby, Isadora bit down so hard on her lower lip, she broke the skin. It felt as if a knife had plunged straight through her heart, each beat pumping out fresh pain.


    She couldn''t stay a moment longer.


    Isadora knew all too well-if Victor wanted, he could shower a woman in happiness. He''d done it for her once.


    Clinging to Nte''s hand with all her strength, Isadora fled.


    Nte looked around anxiously, clearly wanting to say something as she


    watched Isadora''s slender shoulders trembling.


    She stomped her foot in frustration, but in the end, she hurried after Isadora and slipped out the doors.


    Isadora didn''t slow down until they''d run far from the building.


    Nte caught up and blocked her path. "Isadora, what happened? Why would Victor give that woman such an expensive ne?"


    Isadora tried to answer calmly, but her trembling voice and reddened eyes gave her away. "We broke up."


    "Really?" Nte sounded disbelieving. She''d thought Isadora was exaggerating before.


    "But to move on so quickly, with another woman—what kind of man does that? You deserve so much better, Isadora. Don''t be upset."


    Hearing that, Isadora''s eyes filled with tears, and the next moment, they spilled over and streaked down her cheeks. She couldn''t help it; she crouched down, her shoulders shaking with sobs.


    "I''ll be okay. I just need to cry for a bit."


    She reached into her bag for a tissue, but as she fumbled around, a folded sonogram slipped out andnded on the ground.


    Isadora noticed immediately and lunged for it, but Nte was quicker. She picked it up, and when she read the words on the page, her eyes went wide in shock.


    "Isadora, you''re pregnant?" Nte''s voice was a whisper. "Is it... Victor''s?" Isadora said nothing.


    Nte didn''t need an answer-she already knew. Fury red in her chest.


    That bastard.


    After everything he''d put Isadora through, after she''d thought he really loved her -tonight, he''d unted that diamond ne for another woman. Men were all the same.


    "I''m going back in there to give him a piece of my mind!"


    Isadora grabbed her arm, pleading, "Nte, if you''re really my friend, please— don''t tell him."


    Nte''s voice trembled. "You''re really going to do this alone? Are you going to be a single mom? No matter how powerful the Fitzgeralds are, this child is still part of their family."


    Isadora shook her head, her voice choked with tears. "Nte, will youe with me to the clinic?"