Chapter 2

The moment I raised my eyes, I collided with the bottomless blackness in Carter's gaze.

He was a man of power, and when I caught him in the act, there wasn’t even a flicker of emotion on his face.

He calmly slipped the photo under the pillow, his long fingers methodically tucking the bulge back into his trousers. Within seconds, he was the same composed, detached figure I was used to— as if the man moments ago, lost in the throes of passion, had never existed.

I couldn't help but sneer. “Finished already? Not afraid you'll suffocate? Want me to help?”

Carter’s expression didn’t change. He leaned back slightly, creating distance between us. “Is there something you need from me?”

He was always like this. He could be consumed by desire for Emma’s photo, but when facing me, he acted like a priest, untouched and pure.

My nails dug painfully into my palm, and the thought of Emma’s innocent face only made the irony worse— she had neither the figure nor the looks to compare to mine, yet everyone bought into her act of purity.

It didn’t matter. I, Mia, had the pretty face, the money, and the body. From this moment on, I would no longer tolerate anyone who didn’t like me.

“There’s an auction tomorrow. You’re coming with me,” I said coldly, without turning back.

Carter frowned. “I remember I requested two days off...”

“I heard Emma is going too,” I replied, not sparing him a glance.

A brief silence followed, then came his low reply: “Alright.”

My heart pricked, a small needle of pain. As expected, mention of Emma and all his principles went out the window.

Don’t worry. Soon, I’ll personally send him to Emma’s side.

The next morning, as I stepped out of the villa, I saw Carter already waiting by the car. His black suit accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, the morning light casting a golden halo over his stern profile.

Normally, I would have flirted with him on purpose, pretending to stumble into his arms or whisper teasingly in his ear.

But today, I climbed into the car with a neutral expression, not sparing him a second glance.

Carter seemed surprised, glancing at me briefly before turning away, silently settling into the passenger seat. The car headed toward the auction house, and I stared out the window, not bothering to find an excuse to strike up a conversation like I usually did. The silence in the car was so thick, I could hear our breathing.

The auction took place at one of Boston’s most upscale hotels, with crystal chandeliers as bright as daylight, the air filled with the mingling of perfume and gossip from the city’s elite.

As I entered, I spotted Emma ahead.

She wore a white dress, her golden curls cascading down her shoulders, chatting happily with several socialites, looking as innocent and harmless as ever.

Carter’s gaze immediately shifted. Though he stood behind me, fulfilling his duties as my bodyguard, I could feel his attention was fully consumed by Emma.

“Mia!” Emma spotted us and immediately ran over, wrapping her arm around mine in a friendly embrace. “What a coincidence, you’re here for the auction too?”

I coldly pulled my arm away. “Don’t touch me.”

Emma’s eyes immediately welled with tears as she looked at Carter with a hurt expression. “Carter, I just wanted to get closer to Mia...”

Carter’s brow furrowed slightly, his gaze toward me filled with restrained disgust.

Emma seized the opportunity to pull at his sleeve. “Carter, remember when I had a fever and wanted a cheesy steak sandwich? You braved the heavy rain to bring it to me in the middle of the night? I’ve been sick ever since, so I never got the chance to thank you properly.”

Carter’s sharp features softened for a moment. “It was nothing. Just passing by.”

Just passing by? I laughed bitterly to myself. He’d been gone for five hours that day, returning soaked to the bone. And this was what he called “passing by”?

“Well, you still have to let me treat you to dinner!” Emma sweetly insisted.

This time, Carter didn’t refuse. “Then I’ll leave it up to Emma.”

“Let’s invite Mia too!” Emma suddenly feigned surprise. “Oh, Mia, you look so haggard. I thought I was the one who’d been sick...”

I interrupted coldly. “Are we close? The daughter of a mistress should mind her own business.”

Emma’s face turned pale, and Carter’s frown deepened.

Just then, the auctioneer’s voice interrupted the awkward confrontation. I couldn’t be bothered to deal with Emma any longer and walked straight to my seat. I was about to marry into the Jones Family, but simply having money wouldn’t be enough. I needed some valuable jewelry to avoid being looked down upon.

The first lot was brought up — a pigeon-blood ruby necklace, starting at one million.

Without hesitation, I raised my paddle. “Two million.”

To my surprise, Emma raised her paddle as well. “Three million.”

I glanced at her, and she smiled at me. “Mia, I also like this one. You wouldn’t mind letting me have it, would you? After all, Dad’s allowance to you doesn’t seem to be as much as mine.”

I sneered inwardly. Not just less, but way less. Growing up, Eric gave Emma five million a month as pocket money, while I only had five hundred. If it weren’t for my mother’s inheritance, I might have starved by now.

But things were different now. I had one hundred billion.

“Four million.” I raised my paddle again.

Emma seemed taken aback, but she gritted her teeth and increased her bid. “Four and a half million.”

“Five million.”

“Five and a half million.”

After several rounds of bidding, Emma’s face grew darker. “Mia, where are you getting all this money from? Aren’t you afraid you can’t pay for it?”

“Ten million.”

I doubled the bid, meeting her gaze with a mocking smile. “Funny, I’m starting to think you’re the one who won’t be able to pay now.”

Emma’s face alternated between green and pale, and whispers spread among the guests around us. The auctioneer politely asked, “Emma, will you raise your bid?”

“Wait a moment.” Emma hurriedly took out her phone.

After a moment, her face paled even more. It was clear that Eric had refused her.

I smiled faintly. It was the most normal thing for him to refuse. He had given me one hundred billion, and there was no money left for his precious daughter to show off.

Just as the tension reached its peak, a well-dressed man suddenly appeared in the center of the room, announcing loudly, “He bought the lot outright!”