All the frustration boiling inside her suddenly morphed into resentment.


    If it weren’t for this wretched woman, she would’ve married Frank long ago.


    Elissa, throughout the entire evening, barely even bothered to look up. These kinds of events had never interested her, but she still managed <i>to </i>carry herself with ease.


    When someone came by to greet her, she responded with a polite smile and a few pleasant words. If no one approached, she scrolled through her phone or flipped through the glossy auction catalog, killing time.


    Before long, the auctioneer stepped onto the stage and the event officially began.


    The first item up for bid was a rare antique painting from the 19th century, with a starting price of a million dors. Marcia’s eyes lit up–items like this could easily be resold for a hefty profit.


    She was about to whisper something to Frank, but he nced at Elissa instead, his voice gentle, “Do you like it?”


    Truthfully, Elissa didn’t care at all. But when she caught the hungry gleam in Marcia’s eyes, a memory shed through her mind–one of that jade pendant. Suddenly, she changed her mind. “Yes. I do.”


    Barely a few exchangester, the price had already climbed to three million. Frank raised his paddle. “Five million.”


    A hush fell over the <i>room</i>.


    Who in their right mind jumped the price by two million in a single breath?


    A few determined bidders tried <i>to </i>rally, pushing the price higher, but in the end, it was Frank who imed the painting–for eight million.


    Elissa turned her head just enough to catch Marcia’s eyes, red with anger, and a small, satisfied smile curled on her lips.


    The angrier Marcia became, the more certain Elissa felt.


    That jade pendant hadn’t simply fallen into Marcia’s hands by chance. Marcia was the one who’d shed her favorite dress, put tacks in her little shoes, and stolen the pendant in the first ce.


    And now, Elissa had no intention of letting her get what she wanted so easily.


    11:12


    Bitch.


    Marcia was seething. Elissa dared to provoke her right in front of Frank.


    The next few auction items were nothing special.


    Then, a hundred–year–old ginseng root was ced on the stage, and Elissa’s eyes brightened.


    The paintings and antiques were just to spite Marcia, but this ginseng–she genuinely wanted it. Her mentor’s birthday wasing up, and this would make the perfect gift. He would love it.


    The starting bid was one hundred thousand–not out of her reach.


    Elissa was the first to raise her paddle. “One hundred and twenty thousand.”


    She hadn’t consulted Frank, making it clear she intended to win it herself.


    Marcia hadn’t even cared about the ginseng at first. Herbal remedies didn’t mean much to her. But she wasn’t about to pass up a chance to humiliate Elissa–and besides, what nerve Elissa had, spending over a hundred thousand of the Atwater family’s money on some root!


    Marcia tugged Frank’s sleeve, her voice sweet and intive. “Frank, I want that ginseng. Hickey’s been feeling weak since his injury…”


    She turned, feigning innocence as she looked at Elissa. “Elissa, could you let me have it? Don’t fight me for this one, okay?”


    Elissa almostughed.


    She was the first <i>to </i>bid, yet somehow Marcia twisted it to sound like Elissa was the one stealing from her.


    Elissa lowered her gaze, ready <i>to </i>let it go, when Frank suddenly raised his paddle.


    “Three hundred thousand.”


    “Elissa, you don’t really need this, do you? Just let Marcia have it. I already got you the painting. You can take turns, all right?” he said, trying to y peacemaker.


    Elissa only smiled,


    Before they’de, he’d promised to make it up to her, said he’d get her whatever she wanted tonight. Now<i>, </i>he was urging her to step aside.


    As if she hadn’t heard, Elissa called out, “Three hundred and ten thousand.”


    <b>213 </b>


    11:12


    “Do you really have to do this?” Frank frowned, genuinely confused. He’d already spent eight million on the painting for her–wasn’t that enough?


    Elissa nodded. “Didn’t you say I could have anything I wanted tonight?”


    He was the one breaking his promise.


    “But Marcia said she wants it for Hickey’s health. Are you really going to fight her and a child over this?” Frank pressed, raising the bid. “Four hundred thousand.”


    “Four hundred and ten thousand,” Elissa answered instantly, a wry smile on her lips.


    “Yes, Frank. I am.”


    Chapter <b>115 </b>