Abby had only asked out of idle curiosity-she didn''t actually expect Ste to


    know this person.


    Still, Ste had taken art sses before, so there was a chance she''d heard something.


    To Abby''s surprise, Ste replied, "I do know her."


    Everyone turned to look at Ste.


    Even Neville had never figured out who Aurora really was.


    Abby''s eyes widened. "Wait, Star, you know someone that impressive? Don''t tell


    me you and Aurora actually took art sses together?"


    Ste nced at Abby. "Isn''t there an Aurora sitting right here with us?"


    Abby fell silent, her expression shifting as realization dawned.


    She opened her mouth, hesitated, then stammered, "No way... it can''t be that much of a coincidence, right?"


    Ste could tell Abby had figured it out. "That''s right. Aurora is Aurora Williams."


    Neville shot a quick look toward Aurora. "It''s actually her?"


    He sounded both surprised and oddly unsurprised at the same time.


    It wasn''t exactly shocking that Aurora could paint—after all, in families like theirs, daughters were expected to be well-versed in all the ''refined'' arts: music, painting, literature. Some were even trained in flower arranging or dance. If they were being groomed for a role in the family business, they''d have to study finance and management on top of everything else. Thepetition was relentless.


    Abby''s excitement fizzled out like a candle in the rain.


    "So it''s her."


    She bit back the sarcastic remark on the tip of her tongue.


    In truth, Aurora had never gone out of her way to make trouble for Ste in the Williams household; the two of them had always maintained a polite distance. But deep down, Abby knew they''d never truly get along.


    The reason was simple.


    If it hadn''t been for Aurora''s mother, Ste''s own mother wouldn''t have left home for so many years.


    If Ste''s mother had found it in herself to forgive Skyler Williams or Aurora, she might not have died without ever seeing Skyler again.


    Aurora was innocent, sure, but Ste was even more so.


    Now, thanks to Skyler''s lies, Ste''s ce in the family was awkward at best.


    Unless Aurora herself dered to


    the world that she was the


    illegitimate daughter, there was no


    w of this deadlock between


    But would Aurora ever do that?


    Of course not.


    If she were to reveal her true status, everything she''d worked so hard to build


    would crumble overnight.


    Being illegitimate was like the difference between a noble-borndy and amoner in olden times.


    Granted, Aurora was talented


    enough to offset some of the


    stigma, and these days, being born out of wedlock wasn''t the scandal it used to be. Still, after years spent as the untouchable golden girl, there was no way Aurora-with her príde-would ept a fall from grace.


    At that moment, the host finished his introduction.


    "We''ll begin the auction now. The starting bid is three hundred thousand. Each raise must be at least ten thousand."


    Barely had the words left his mouth when Sherman Burton raised his paddle.


    "Five hundred thousand."


    A murmur rippled through the crowd.


    Jumping up by two hundred thousand right off the bat? He was clearly aiming to drive the price into the millions.


    Abby scoffed. "Just now, the host


    was bragging that each of her paintings goes for over a million. I thought her work was actually in high demand. Turns out it''s just their own people inting the prices."


    She didn''t bother to hide her bias against Aurora.


    Then, before she could finish, a deep, cool voice cut through the room:


    "Eight hundred thousand."


    Abby froze.


    Even Ste couldn''t help turning toward the source of the bid.


    It was none other than Haynes O''Brien.