“Vera, have youpletely lost your shit?“<b>] </b>


    “That bnce is drier than the Sahara!“”


    Everyone was cracking up.[]


    Aria pointed at me, telling the auctioneer:]]


    “She’s disrupting the auction! Throw her ass out!“]]


    “Toss her! Toss her!”


    Others joined the chant.[]


    Security rolled up their sleeves, ready to move in.[]


    “Hold up!”


    I shouted, then walked over and whispered something in the auctioneer’s ear.[]


    His eyes lit up brighter and brighter, then he cleared his throat:[]


    “Miss Bet still qualifies to participate. The auction continues.“[]


    I sat back down gracefully while everyone stared in confusion.[]


    People were muttering, but they trusted the auction house’s integrity.[]


    This might be an underground auction, but it was backed by Mr. Quinn<b>–</b>a guy who had both sides of thew in his pocket. Everyone knew him, and nobody dared cross him.]


    In the end, I won the snow lotus for eighteen million.


    Aria side–eyed me, still convinced I was bluffing.]


    The next item was a sapphire ne.]


    Aria was totally into it and jumped right in.[]


    “Two million!“]


    I smiled andzily raised my paddle.]


    “Ten million.”


    The crowd collectively gasped.]


    Starting bid was one million–I’d just gone ten times over.


    100


    “Vera, has all this drama fried your brain?“]]


    Aria pointed at me, screaming.]


    I gave her the most casual look.


    “Fairpetition. Put your money where your mouth is and bid.“[]


    Aria’s chest heaved with rage before she turned to Damien with tears in her eyes.[]


    Damien rubbed his temples and spoke to me like I was a child having a tantrum:[]


    “You made Aria cry, and now I have to spend forever cheering her up.“[]


    “Vera, there’s a limit to how jealous you can act.“[]


    actuallyughed out loud. “Damien, we’re divorced now. Stop ttering yourself.“]


    “I’m gorgeous and loaded–there are plenty of guys hotter and more sessful than you dying to get in my bed.“]


    Damien’s body went rigid, his dark eyes boring into me with dangerous intensity.]


    Aria sensed something was wrong and bit her lip viciously, looking like she wanted to tear me apart.]]


    I chuckled softly. The real show was just getting started.]


    From that point on, anything Aria set her sights on, I’d snatch up at ten or a hundred times the price.[]


    Aria caught on quick and started deliberately driving prices sky–high, knowing she couldn’t win.[]


    By the time the auction ended, I’d racked up five hundred million in winning bids.


    The astronomical sum had everyone practically choking on their own spit.


    “Oh Vera, what are you gonna do about all that debt<b>?</b><b>“</b>]


    Aria was absolutely certain I couldn’t pay up.[]


    She sounded so concerned, but her eyes sparkled with pure malicious glee.]]


    Underground auctions had an unwritten rule.[]


    Skip out on payment and they’d hack off your limbs, dump you in the red–light district to beg for scraps.[]


    “Mr. Thorne, maybe I should sell my shares back to help Vera pay this off.“]


    Aria made a big show of reaching for her bank card<b>, </b>but Damien pressed her hand down.[]


    “Aria, your only w is being too soft–hearted.“[]


    “But some people won’t appreciate your kindness–they’ll just bite the hand that feeds them.“[]


    <b>49.2</b><b>% </b>


    Damien shot me a cold look after he finished.[]


    I red right back without flinching.


    The auctioneer walked over with the bill in hand.]


    Everyone stared at me with a mixture of schadenfreude, pity, and anticipation.[]


    Aria’s grin kept getting wider.[]


    She couldn’t wait to see me break down crying when I couldn’t pay.]


    Lost in her happy fantasy, Aria didn’t even notice the auctioneer had stopped right in front of her.]


    “Miss Sterling, please sign this bill.“||


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