Tessa called out. “Xylia.”
Xylia turned instinctively at the sound of Tessa’s voice.
65 vouchers.
Tessa walked over with Sadie trailing behind. Sadie kept her head down, ncing uneasily at Joshua standing nearby.
Tessa <b>shot </b><b>a </b>mocking smile at Joshua, who <b>was </b>standing next to Xylia.
“Xylia, let me give you some advice. You’ve been married to Connor for years, and your kid is already six. If you keep messing around, and people find out, it’ll be a real disgrace!” <b>Tessa </b>said.
Xylia smiled and shot back, “You’ve been freeloading off our family for ages as a widow, and you don’t seem to mind the shame, so who are you to lecture me?”
Her offhandment almost made <b>Tessa </b>snap.
Tessa hadn’t expected Xylia to talk back. In the past, Xylia never argued with her.
Back <b>then</b>, no matter what Tessa said or did, Xylia would just put up with it.
But now, Xylia had grown a sharp tongue–she’d snap back at anyone without a second thought.
When Sadie saw Tessa getting called out, she dropped her shy act and shot daggers at Xylia<b>. </b>
“You’re the one fooling around outside, <b>and </b>you’ve got the nerve to <b>talk </b>about Tessa? If your brat wasn’t always. hanging onto her, she wouldn’t have to go over to your ce to look after him. Instead of being grateful, you’re running your mouth like this?” Sadie snapped.
Tessa grabbed Sadie’s arm. “Sadie, don’t say <b>that</b><b>.” </b>
She then turned to Xylia. T’m not with the Ford family anymore. I only went over to help when Sonny was sick. Rx, Xylia, my heart’s with Qadir. Breaking up your family isn’t even on my radar.”
Sadie watched Tessa, so devoted to Qadir, and couldn’t help but feel a stab of pity.
Her re at Xylia grew sharper and colder.
The auction hall was getting lively, and Sadie nced around the luxurious hall before shooting Xylia a look full of contempt.
“You’re nothing but <b>an </b>impostor, riding on Tessa’s coattails to get the life you <b>have </b>now. If it weren’t for her, you wouldn’t even be allowed through the door at an event like this. So what exactly makes you so <b>cocky</b>?” Sadie scoffed.
Tessa suddenly remembered something and let out a mockingugh. “I heard Connor froze your secondary card. So, Xylia, are you actually here to buy <b>something</b>, or just here to window shop and see how the other half lives?”
9:51 Fri, Sep <b>12 </b>
Xylia didn’t feel like wasting any more words on them.
She nced at Joshua. “Let’s go.”
Joshua just nodded and followed her over to a seat off to the side.
55 vouchers
Sadie was about to step forward to stop Xylia, but Joshua turned and gave her a cold, piercing look.
That look <b>stopped </b>Sadie dead in her tracks.
She felt like her blood had turned to ice under his <b>gaze</b>.
She didn’t snap out of it until Joshua and Xylia were already gone.
Her heart started pounding like crazy.
‘Man, this guy’s not just handsome–he’s got that boss energy. Honestly, he’s kind of irresistible, Sadie thought.
“Sadie, let’s go.” Tessa said, tugging her along.
Tessa dragged Sadie over, and they took the seats just behind Xylia and Joshua.
Sadie sat directly behind Joshua, her eyes glued to him.
Joshua’s expression grew colder by the second, his hands clenched into fists on his knees–he could barely stop himself from kicking Sadie away.
Xylia noticed Sadie’s not–so–innocent stare and nced at Joshua.
“Let’s switch seats,” she suggested.
Some of Joshua’s anger faded when he caught the worry in Xylia’s eyes.
He nodded, and the two of them swapped seats.
Sadie shot Xylia a re that could kill.
Just then, the auctioneer stepped up to the podium, and the auction officially kicked off.
Joshua was only there because Aaron had sent him on a mission.
Aaron and Eliza were off traveling abroad, and just yesterday, Aaron messaged Joshua, making it clear that no matter what, he had to win that ss cup set at the auction.
When the ss cup set hit the block, Sadie caught Joshua raising his paddle. Her eyes darted slyly, and she copied him, lifting her own paddle with a little smirk.
“150 thousand dors going once,” the auctioneer called out.
<b>Joshua </b>immediately raised his paddle again. “180 thousand dors.”
“180 thousand dors from this gentleman. Any more bids?” the auctioneer asked.
Sadie didn’t even hesitate–she shot her paddle up. “195 thousand dors!”
She knew Joshua was just a regr working guy. Honestly, it was a miracle he even got into a ce like this. If he was willing to drop serious cash on a ss cup set, he must really want it–maybe even enough to spend all his savings.
“If I win this ss cup set and give it to him, he’ll totally be impressed <i>by </i>me!‘ Sadie thought, her heart racing with excitement.
With that in mind, she raised her paddle even higher, determined to outbid everyone.
Sadie didn’t even give Joshua a chance to speak–she blurted out, “300 thousand dors!”
“300 thousand from thisdy. Any higher bids?” the auctioneer called out.
With no further bidding, he called out, “300 thousand going once, 300 thousand going twice…”
Joshua just frowned and sat back, not bidding anymore.
Xylia nced at Joshua. “Why’d you stop? Did it go over your budget?”
Joshua nodded. “My boss said if it goes over 300 thousand, I should just let it go.”
“So, if you don’t get it for him, is he gonna be mad?” Xylia asked.
Joshua shook his head.
He knew if he didn’t win the ss cup set, Aaron would definitely nag him about it.
Honestly, he could’ve just gone all out and outbid everyone with his family’s money, but he didn’t want to reveal his true background in front of Xylia <b>over </b>something like this.
It just wasn’t worth it.
Xylia finally felt relieved.
*300 thousand, third <b>and </b>final call. Sold!” the auctioneer announced.
Sadie had won the ss cup set, and her face lit up with a huge grin.
She kept sneaking nces at Joshua, already picturing how thrilled he’d be when she handed him the ss cup setter.
“Maybe he’ll be all over me tonight!’ she thought, her heart racing with excitement.
The next item up for auction was the painting by Laurel.
It was Springtime in Jupiton–a stunning piece showing Jupiton in all its spring glory–skyscrapers reaching for the clouds, streets packed with people and cars, every inch painted with insane detail. The scroll was
9:51 Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>12
nearly 6.5 feet long, and Laurel had poured half a year into it.
Z 66 vouchers<b>. </b>
“This Springtime in Jupiton is a work by Laurel Schultz. Starting price: 30 thousand, the auctioneer called
60 thousand, Xylia called out, raising her paddle before anyone else.
No one else in the room seemed to care much about the painting.
Back when Laurel was young, this was her one true masterpiece. But as the years went by and new artists kept. appearing, her fame faded into obscurity.
Now, after all these years, almost no one even remembered her name.
If Laurel still had her old reputation, there was no way this painting would start at just 30 thousand.
“60 thousand going once, 60 thousand going twice… the auctioneer called out.
“150 thousand.” Tessa suddenly raised her paddle.
She leaned forward, <b>giving </b>Xylia a pointed look.
“This is the only painting my grandma ever left behind. As her one and only granddaughter, it should belong to me,” Tessa dered.
“Xylia, you’re not even family by blood. Even if Grandma doted on you, you’re not her real granddaughter. You have no right to her legacy,” Tessa sneered.
Xylia clenched her fists.
Ever since Tessa moved back in with the Schultz family, Laurel <b>had </b>been the only one who ever showed Xylia any real kindness.
Xylia could still remember Laurel gently patting her head, saying. “This isn’t your fault, sweetheart. You don’t have to apologize to anyone. No matter <b>what </b>anyone else says, I’ll always be your grandma.”
She wasn’t about to give up.
Xylia raised her paddle. “180 thousand<b>,</b><b>” </b>she called out, her voice steady.
Tessa immediately shot back, “210 thousand<b>.</b>”
Xylia didn’t hesitate. “240 thousand,” she countered, her eyes locked on Tessa,
Tessa’s voice rang out, sharp and determined. “300 thousand<b>!</b>”
No matter how high Xylia bid. Tessa was hot on her heels, never letting up.
Now the price had hit 300 thousand, and Xylia was tapped out–that was all she had.
She was dying <b>to </b>raise her paddle again, but she was t broke.
55 vouchers
“Come on, Xylia, keep bidding! Connor froze your card, right? Out of <b>cash </b>already?” Tessa taunted with a smirk.
“Guess fate’s finally stepping in. You have no right to Grandma’s painting. You stole my life for years–now I’m taking it back, <b>piece </b>by piece,” Tessa sneered.
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