Elodie’s POV~
Sienna was wearing a blue satin gown that shimred under the lights like water. The fabric clung to her in all the right places, and her jewelry that were diamonds, probably, sparkled so brightly I could see them from where I sat.
She looked like she’d stepped out of a magazine.
And everyone noticed.
The whispers around us grew louder as Sienna and Dante took their seats. Not just in the front row but dead center of it.
The absolute best seats in the house.
"The center of the first row... God, can you imagine? That’s reserved for the elite."
"They’re definitely going to spend big tonight. I an, just look at her."
"Stop. You’re making jealous. So people just live on a different level."
Cara leaned in close, her voice low and tight. "They’re sitting in the first row, but they gave us seats in the back..."
She didn’t need to finish the sentence.
I knew what she ant.
Dante had gotten the invitations. But he’d made sure Sienna had the best seat in the house. And ? I was tucked away in the middle-back section like an afterthought.
Like I didn’t matter.
Because I really don’t.
I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat and kept my face neutral. "It’s fine."
"It’s not fine—"
"Cara." I looked at her, my voice steady. "I’m here to buy a gift for my grandmother. That’s it. I don’t care where I’m sitting."
And I ant it.
Or at least, I was trying to.
Cara looked like she wanted to argue, but she bit her tongue and turned back to face the front.
"Doesn’t Dante even know where we’re sitting?" she muttered. "He hasn’t even looked back here."
I didn’t answer.
Because of course he hadn’t.
He hadn’t looked for at the banquet. Hadn’t acknowledged at the tech exhibition. Why would tonight be any different?
I was used to it by now.
The host stepped onto the stage, his voice smooth, and the room fell silent.
I pulled out the auction catalog I’d studied earlier and flipped through it one more ti.
There were two items I was interested in: a set of erald jewelry and a piece of embroidered art. Both were beautiful. Both felt like sothing my grandmother would love.
Which one I’d bid on would depend on how the night unfolded.
The auction started, and I kept my paddle down, watching carefully as items ca and went.
Dante and Sienna hadn’t bid on anything yet either.
I told myself I wasn’t paying attention to them.
But I was.
Then, about twenty minutes in, I saw Sienna’s hand go up.
She was bidding on a diamond bracelet.
It was a delicate one, but modern, designed by so internationally acclaid artist. The kind of thing a young woman would wear to show off.
The kind of thing Dante would buy for her.
The starting price was $200,000.
Sienna raised her paddle. "$400,000."
Soone else countered. "$500,000."
I watched as Sienna leaned in close to Dante, whispering sothing in his ear. He nodded.
Then she raised her paddle again, her voice ringing out clear and confident across the hall.
"One million."
The room went silent for a beat.
Then the whispers exploded.
"One million?* For that?"
"It’s not even worth half that."
"She must really want it."
Cara’s jaw dropped. She turned to , eyes wide. "Is she serious?"
I didn’t answer.
I just sat there, staring at the back of Sienna’s head, watching as she smiled up at Dante like he’d just handed her the world.
And maybe he had.
Because a million dollars was nothing to him.
Not when it was for her.
The auctioneer’s voice cut through the noise. "One million, going once—"
No one else bid.
"Going twice—"
Still nothing.
"Sold! To the lady in blue for one million dollars."
Applause rippled through the room, people looked enviously at Sienna.
As for Sienna? She bead, turning to Dante and kissing his cheek.
And I felt sothing crack inside .
Not break. Just... crack.
Because I’d never had that.
The bracelet was beautiful, I’d give it that. Those diamonds were delicate and set in white gold, the kind of thing that would catch the light every ti she moved her wrist.
But one million dollars?
For that?
Even at $500,000, it was overpriced. But Dante didn’t care about the value. He cared about making sure no one else could have it. Making sure she got exactly what she wanted.
So he threw down a million like it was pocket change.
The room buzzed with shock and admiration, whispers rippling through the crowd.
Cara was practically vibrating beside . "I can’t believe it," she hissed, her voice tight with disbelief and maybe a little envy.
I didn’t say anything. I just watched as Sienna’s face lit up, as she turned to Dante with that radiant smile, as he looked at her like she’d hung the moon.
The auction moved on.
I tried to focus. Tried to keep my eyes on the catalog, on the items I actually ca here for.
But then another piece ca up.
An antique vase. One of Ming Dynasty, or sothing close to it. It was beautiful, it was the kind of thing collectors went crazy for.
And Sienna raised her paddle.
The starting bid was $700,000.
Most people were bidding in incrents, $70,000 here, $150,000 there.
But when Sienna’s paddle went up, her voice rang out clear and confident.
"One and a half million."
Half the room went silent.
The other half started whispering again.
But not everyone was intimidated.
A voice cut through the murmurs, smoothly, almost like it was amused. "Two million."
I turned to see who it was.
A young man. He looked striking with hair, sharp jawline, a kind of face that belonged on a magazine cover. He looked relaxed, almost entertained.
Cara leaned in. "That’s Rex Hardin."
I nodded, filing the na away.
Sienna hesitated, glancing at Dante like she was asking permission.
I watched her face carefully. She wanted that vase. Really wanted it.
And then I rembered.
Mrs. Brown, Sienna’s grandmother, collected antiques.
Of course. Sienna wasn’t bidding for herself. She was bidding for her grandmother.
Dante nodded.
Sienna raised her paddle again. "Five million."
Rex laughed, actually laughed and countered without missing a beat. "Eight million."
Sienna’s confidence faltered. She leaned in close to Dante, whispering sothing I couldn’t hear. Probably telling him to let it go. That it wasn’t worth it.
But Dante shook his head.
And Sienna raised her paddle again.
"Ten million."
Rex’s grin widened. "Twenty million."
The room went dead silent.
Even Cara gasped beside .
Sienna’s brow furrowed, and she turned to Dante again, her voice barely audible. "How about... we forget it?"
Twenty million was insane. Even for soone like Dante.
But Dante just smiled at her. Soft. Reassuring.
"It’s fine," he said, loud enough for those nearby to hear. "Didn’t you say your grandmother likes it? Just bid for it."
Sothing warm and sweet flickered across Sienna’s face. She looked at him like he’d just promised her the world.
And she raised her paddle.
"Twenty-five million."
Rex didn’t hesitate. "Thirty million."
Then he turned slightly, his voice projecting across the room with easy charm. "President Bellini, our elderly family mbers love this kind of thing. Could you do a favor and give so face here?"
Dante glanced over at him, although his expression remained polite.
"Sorry, Hardin," he said smoothly. "But my family also has elderly mbers who appreciate these things."
My family.
Those words hit like a slap.
He was talking about Mrs. Brown. Sienna’s grandmother.
But he’d called her his family.
Like the Brown family was already his own. Like Sienna was already his wife. Like they were already bound together in every way that mattered.
I felt sothing twist painfully in my chest.
Because he’d never said that about my family.
Not once.
Not when my grandmother had invited him to dinner. Not when my uncle had tried to include him in family events. Not when I’d begged him, begged him, to just show up and pretend to care.
He’d never called the Miller family his family.
But he’d call the Browns his without hesitation.
Cara’s hand found mine under the table again, squeezing hard.
I didn’t look at her. I couldn’t.
Because I was too busy watching Sienna raise her paddle one more ti, her voice steady and sure.
"Fifty million."
The room erupted.
Reviews
All reviews (0)