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Chapter 40:

Jaxton subconsciously glanced at Dayna, a hint of doubt flickering in his eyes. Nerves twisted inside Dayna. The last thing she wanted was to tarnish her image in front of him, but she also didn’t want to give Amelia the chance to attend the auction.

In a desperate act, Dayna dug her nails into her thigh, summoning tears just as Amelia’s voice cut through the moment. “Dayna, are you about to cry again? You got involved with my fiancé, yet I haven’t even cried. What do you have to cry about p>

Now, Dayna didn’t know whether to cry or not.

With Amelia’s sharp words, everyone nearby recalled the recent scandal. In an instant, the crowd’s attention fell on Jaxton and Dayna.

Low voices swirled around Jaxton. His glare bore into Amelia, sharp enough to wound.

He knew exactly what she was doing.

She wanted to humiliate him.

People might only call Jaxton a playboy, but the stares aimed at Dayna brimmed with harsh judgment. With every passing second, the crowd’s chattering swelled. Insults hung in the air. Dayna’s tears finally broke free.

Every part of her wanted to shout that she was the one Jaxton truly loved. Amelia, never truly wanted by Jaxton, was the one forcing herself into their relationship.

Before Dayna could defend herself, she spotted Jaxton striding into the auction house, rage in every step. Forgetting the crowd, she rushed after him.

With Jaxton and Dayna gone, Davin moved quickly to Amelia’s side after Wyatt’s discreet nod. Pearl Bay Auction House had a private passage for Wyatt, and when Amelia followed Davin through, Wyatt was waiting for her at the elevator.

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗋ies 𝗒𝗼u 𝘸𝗈𝘯’𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝗍 𝗱о𝗐𝘯 𝘰n

Stepping inside, Wyatt met Amelia’s gaze, his mood shadowed. “No one told me the Morrison family was invited. I’ve already made the call. They’ll be kicked out p>

If not for Amelia, Wyatt would have ended her engagement to Jaxton long ago.

“There’s no need to send them away. Let them bid. At least the money will go toward charity. They might be shameless, but their money has no faults,” Amelia said.

“Fine, if that’s what you want, I’ll do as you say,” Wyatt replied.

Watching Amelia’s calm expression, his anger faded on the spot. Not missing a beat, Davin pulled out his phone and sent a message to the auction house’s manager.

The auction was held on the first floor, but the true VIP seats were in private rooms on the second floor. Relaxing on a plush sofa beside Wyatt, Amelia enjoyed a sweeping view of the hall through the glass.

A glance downward revealed Jaxton and Dayna seated in the very back row. Apparently, Dayna had managed to soothe his temper; the two were chatting and laughing now.

Only when the auctioneer’s voice rang out did Amelia turn her attention to the stage. Back when Katrina had been alive, the Flynn Group had poured money into struggling communities each year. Because of this, Amelia had always taken a genuine interest in charity events. Even though her finances were stretched thin these days, she still wanted to contribute what she could.

Disappointment crept in as the auctioneer introduced the first lot: a gaudy golden bracelet dripping with pink diamonds. Amelia winced; it was tedious.

While she privately cringed, Dayna suddenly offered one million for the piece. The bracelet was worth at most five hundred thousand, yet Dayna opened at one million, drawing everyone’s attention and whispers about who the naive bidder was. Basking in the sudden focus, Dayna couldn’t help but smile to herself. The embarrassment she’d suffered at the entrance was still fresh, and she believed this was her chance to redeem her reputation. With a public gesture of charity, she thought people would see her as kind.

Caught off guard for a second, the auctioneer quickly collected himself. His wide smile returned as he said, “Such generosity from this lady! On behalf of the children you’ll help, thank you. One million—does anyone wish to go higher p>

“Two million p>

Bids from the second floor drew the crowd’s eyes up to the private room where Amelia and Wyatt sat.

Amelia glanced at Wyatt, eyebrows raised in confusion.

“You seemed interested in the bracelet,” Wyatt said.

He hadn’t really noticed the auction item at all. He had only seen Amelia’s eyes linger on it and, on a whim, decided to place a bid.

A small pause later, Amelia replied, “I don’t go for stuff like that p>

“Three million p>

Dayna had no clue that Wyatt was her competition. In her mind, the mystery bidder was deliberately trying to make things difficult for her. What else could explain such a wild price jump over a simple bracelet?

“Five million!” Davin called after receiving a signal from Wyatt.