Ste didn''t even join the bidding!


    Jasper sat there, momentarily at a loss.


    Leaning over to Haynes, he whispered, "Haynie, Ste isn''t bidding at all. Should I


    try to raise the price, just to provoke her a bit?"


    Haynes shot him a disinterested nce. "Childish."


    Jasper grinned, undeterred. "Come on, I just want to teach Ste a lesson!


    Haynie, help me out here-give me some advice!"


    It was obvious that Jasper was no match for Ste when it came to wits.


    Normally, Haynes couldn''t care less about Jasper''s petty antics. But tonight, his mind drifted back to Ste''s brilliant, self-assured smile from earlier. His eyes darkened for a fleeting second.


    Ever since she''d left him, she didn''t seem to be suffering at all. In fact, she''d arrived at the auction with Neville, making quite the scene-like she was thriving.


    Still...


    A faint, cold smirk tugged at the corner of Haynes''s lips.


    If she was truly doing so well, she wouldn''t need to go out of her way to make her presence known in front of him.


    Haynes finally spoke, his tone measured. "You could try bidding once-not too high. Watch what Ste does after you ce your bid. If she raises again, you''ll know whether she''s targeting you."


    Jasper''s eyes lit up.


    Of course! Why hadn''t he thought of that?


    He followed Haynes''s advice and ced a bid—not too aggressive, just enough that if Ste ignored it, someone else would likely outbid him anyway. No risk of being stuck with it.


    Sure enough, as soon as he called out his price, Ste raised her paddle again.


    So she really *was* targeting him!


    Jasper''s eyes glinted with mischief.


    If she wanted to y games, he''d make sure she paid for it.


    This time, he was smarter-no more raising the bid by millions at a time. He kept each increase under half a million.


    Finally, when the bidding soared to nearly double what the antique vase was actually worth, Jasper bowed out.


    Ste won the vase for six million dors.


    Jasper could barely contain his glee. He couldn''t wait to see her regret it-to watch her break down in tears over such a foolish purchase.


    But to his surprise, Ste didn''t look the least bit distressed. She epted the vase from the attendant with perfectposure and paid for it without hesitation.


    Abby took the vase from Ste with exaggerated care. "Wow, is this really worth six million? That''s insane!"


    Ste shrugged. "For this auction, it''s not actually that expensive."


    Neville examined the vase for a moment, then nodded. "It''s a bit above market price, but the craftsmanship and the ssic design make it a solid investment. There''s room for it to appreciate."


    Abby lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Mr. Connolly, you don''t have to sugarcoat it for Star. She never meant to buy it in the first ce—if it weren''t for Jasper trying to show off, she wouldn''t have bid at all."


    Neville''s lips curled into a faint, indulgent smile. "It''s fine. Star can buy whatever she wants tonight I''ll cover it."


    The three of them chatted andughed, not the slightest hint of regret among them.


    Jasper was so furious, his face turned an ugly shade of green. "Making a man pay for her? Shameless!"


    Rachel, seated beside him, said evenly, "Six million isn''t much for a man like Neville."


    Jasper shot her a re. "If six million is nothing to Neville, is a hundred million nothing too?"


    Rachel''s eyes widened. "Jasper, you''re not thinking—"


    He sneered. "I don''t believe Neville can buy up every lot at this auction just to please Ste."


    He still had some money left, but even he wouldn''t dare spend over ten million on a single piece.