If Ste really refused to pay, what kind of punishment would she face?
For a moment, everyone held their breath, waiting to see how this drama would unfold.
Even Rachel was staring at Ste, holding onto a sliver of hope.
If Ste couldn''te up with the money, Neptune''s Tear would still belong to her.
But Ste disappointed them all.
Without the slightest hesitation, she pulled out her bank card and handed it over.
A single beep sounded-payment approved.
Everyone stared at Ste in stunned silence.
She''d just spent forty million dors without blinking.
A moment ago, plenty of people thought she was a reckless fool.
Now, they had to admit this woman was seriously loaded.
A few more impressive items came up as the auction continued.
Ste made bids on two more pieces.
Whenever she raised her paddle, no one even tried topete.
She actually won them for less than their starting prices.
Jasper didn''t dare challenge her again.
He''d already blown his budget, and if he got burned one more time, not even Haynes could bail him out.
Satisfied with her wins, Ste decided to let the others have a chance and stopped bidding.
Haynes and Jasper seemed to realize that, with Ste deliberately targeting them, they''d either get fleeced or lose out entirely, so they stopped as well.
After the auction ended, Abby still felt like she was dreaming.
"Star, you really went head-to-head with Haynes. Aren''t you worried he''lle after you now?"
She eyed the Neptune''s Tear hanging around Ste''s neck, letting out an admiring whistle.
"But wow... that ne really is gorgeous."
Ste smiled faintly. "If I don''t stand up to them, they''ll find other ways to make my life difficult, anyway. I''d rather fight back than sit around and let them walk all over me."
Abby muttered, "Yeah, but spending that much money just to prove a point... it hurts to even think about."
Ten million could have set them up for life.
"But still..." Abby''s tone shifted, "after what those bastards Haynes and Jasper did, kicking us out of the hotel, I guess it''s fair to let them taste their own medicine."
Neville raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you two got kicked out of your hotel?"
Abby nodded. "That''s right. You have no idea how miserable it wasst night. We ended up crashing in my junky old car. If we tried another hotel, they probably would''ve had us thrown out, too."
Neville didn''t know that both Ste''s and Abby''s homes had been locked down.
After hearing Abby''s story, he chuckled.
"That''s easily solved. I have plenty of properties-why don''t you move into one for now? Think of it as your employee housing, on the house."
Abby replied, "Thank you, Mr. Connolly, but there''s no need—I was nning to go apartment hunting tomorrow-"
Before Abby could finish, Ste cut in.
"Thank you, Mr. Connolly. We''ll take you up on that."
Abby shot Ste a surprised look.
They had more than enough cash to buy several ces outright—why stay in one
of Neville''s properties?
But then it hit her.
If it annoyed Haynes, all the better.
Let him see that Star wasn''t some helpless housewife nobody wanted.
Neville casually picked up Ste''s auction haul andughed quietly.
"I suppose if Mr. Burton finds out Jasper blew all that money on worthless junk, he''ll be pretty pleased, too."
Ste saw that Neville had figured out her n, but she didn''t deny it.
She nced at Jasper, who was storming out of the auction hall with a thundercloud hanging over him.
"If he won''tpensate Mr. Burton, then let him lose money somewhere else.
Sooner orter, everyone pays for their actions."
Abby couldn''t help but admire Ste''s guts.
Spending millions just to help Mr. Burton get some payback-that took guts.
...
"Damn that Ste! She totally set me up!"
Jasper''s face was dark as he red at the expensive painting he''d just overpaid
for, wishing he could tear it to pieces.
But if he destroyed it, he''d have even more exining to do to the old man.