"Ma''am, Mr. Everhart was worried you might feel bored at home. There''s a lively atmosphere here, so he asked me to bring you out in person. If you see anything you liketer, just raise your paddle. Don''t worry about the money."
Gwh nodded, took her number, and found her seat.
By nine o''clock sharp, the auction hall was packed-standing room only.
Looks like she wasn''t the only one looking for a distraction tonight.
She had no idea what they''d be selling. Sitting up straighter, stretching her neck
to see, she was just about to check her phone when Leonie called. Gwh declined the call and looked over at Hans.
"Could you bring Leonie here, too?"
Hans frowned slightly, but Gwh''s requests weren''t up for debate-his only job was to obey.
"Of course."
Just thinking about Leonie gave Hans a headache.
Gwh texted Leonie, letting her know she was at the auction and that Hans would fetch her. After that, there was radio silence-Gwh guessed Leonie was probably off freshening up and changing clothes.
The auction officially began. The first item up waspiszuli—a deep blue stone that made Gwh''s eyes widen in surprise.
This was the precious pigment artists used to make ultramarine paint, expensive as gold.
Even Gwh herself had only managed to buy a tiny scrap of it two years ago, made the old-fashioned way, and had hardly dared use it since.
But the chunk the auctioneer held up now was twice asrge as hers. For a painter, this was pure treasure.
"Eighty thousand," the auctioneer started.
Someone immediately called out, "One hundred thousand!"
Before Gwh could even lift her paddle, the room had erupted into a frenzy.
That color-what artist wouldn''t be dazzled?
No wonder Hawthorne wanted her here. It turned out everything up for sale was exactly her taste.
Hans arrived with Leonie just then, sliding into the seat beside Gwh.
"Is this the one you''ve got your eye on, ma''am?"
Gwh hesitated. The price was climbing too fast.
It wasn''t even her own money, and for paint-even one as rare as this-shelling out over a hundred thousand felt a bit much. She stilt had some left at home, and
ve
honestly, if she bought this, she''d probably just stick it on disy and be afraid to use it.
While she wavered, Hans noticed the longing in her eyes.
"One hundred and ten thousand-" the auctioneer called.
Gwh couldn''t bring herself to bid, but Hans raised his hand without missing a beat. "One hundred and twenty thousand."
The room fell silent.
In the corner, Connor narrowed his eyes. When he spotted Hans and the woman next to him-Gwh-his blood ran cold.
That voice...he''d thought it sounded like Gwh''s.
So it really was her. But there was a man by her side. Connor remembered her saying she was married now. Was this her husband?
Or maybe he was reading too much into it—maybe the man wasn''t with her at all.
But just then, the man leaned in to whisper something in Gwh''s ear. Connor was too far away to hear, but Gwh''s face shifted into a look that was half reproachful, half delighted-an expression you couldn''t fake.
"You really didn''t have to spend so much," Gwh murmured.
Hans replied in a low voice, "Mr. Everhart''s instructions were clear. If you want it, you get it. Money''s not an issue."
Gwh had thought thepis was the highlight, but each new item up for auction was more tempting than thest.
Her head spun with
possibilities she wanted to buy everything. But with Hans watching her like a hawk, she was afraid to
even let her gaze linger too long on anything, or he''d be raising that paddle again.
She reached out to stop him. “Hans, let''s just wait until I''m sure about something before you bid."
At this rate, no amount of money would be enough.
Leonie nudged her and said, "Rx, my uncle has more money than he knows what to do with. Just enjoy yourself."
Gwh stayed quiet. She knew everyone spoiled her, but she simply wasn''t the type to spend recklessly.