47 An Heirloom’s Ransom
“rifty–five million, Charlotte’s voice rang out through the hushed auction room, her paddle raised high.
The crowd gasped collectively The auctioneer’s professional mask slipped for a moment, revealing genuine shock before he composed himself
“Fifty–five million to paddle seventy–one, he announced, his voice slightly unsteady
Do I hear sixty million?”
I stood frozen, the blood draining from my face. Fifty million was all I had–all Sebastian had loaned me. The jade bracelet that had adorned my mother’s wrist, the last physical connection to her memory, was slipping through my fingers right before
my eyes.
Ivy’s smile widened, no longer bothering to hide her satisfaction behind her façade of
illness.
What’s wrong. Hazel?” she whispered, loud enough for only me to hear. “Can’t afford
It anymore? How sad.”
Her words snapped something inside me. I wouldn’t let her win. Not this time. Not with my mother’s bracelet.
“Sixty million. I called out, raising my paddle with a confidence I didn’t feel.
Vera gasped behind me, grabbing my arm. “Hazel! What are you doing? We don’t have
that much!”
Signored her, keeping my eyes locked on Ivy. If she wanted war. I’d give her one
The auctioneer nodded. “Sixty million to paddle twenty–eight. Do I hear sixty–five?”
Alistair bent down to whisper urgently in Ivy’s ear Even from where I stood I could see The conflict on his face. He knew exactly what this bracelet meant to med told him
Countiess times over our six years together. Yet here he was, enabling lvy’s gruelty
Charlotte hesitated, looking to ivy for direction. My stepsister gave a slight bod, and
wie’s pandle went up again
Sixty–five million” she called
Murmurs spread through the auction house What had started as a standard lot bad transformed into the spectacle of the evening. People were turning in their seats.
phones discreetly recording the unfolding draina.
“Sixty–five million to paddle seventy–one, the auctioneer continued smoothly, clearly enjoying the unexpected bidding war Do Thear seventy million?”
Vera rugged frantically at my arm. “Hazel, stop! This is insane!
But I wasn’t listening. All I could see was my mother’s face the day she gave me that bracelet–her eyes bright with tears as she pressed it into my palm
“This has been in our family for generations,” she’d told me. “No matter what happens. this connects you to your heritage, to me, to all the women who came before us.
Less than a year later, she was gone. The bracelet had been the only thing my father hadn’t managed to take from me–until I’d been forced to sell it to pay for my mother’s
medical bills.
“Seventy million,” I declared, my voice steadier than I felt.
Alistair stood up abruptly. “Ivy, this has gone too far. You know what that bracelet
means to her
For a moment, something like uncertainty flickered across Ivy’s face. Then she glanced at me, and her expression hardened.
It’s just a bracelet,” she said loudly enough for nearby attendees to hear “I don’t understand why she’s making such a fuss. If it meant that much to her she shouldn’t have sold it in the first place:
The casual cruelty of her words made several people gasp. She knew exactly why I’d sold it–to pay for the medical care my father had refused to cover after he abandoned
us for her mother.
Charlotte raised her paddle again. “Seventy–five million.
The room felt like it was spinung I was already hfteen million beyond what could
tually pay. Each bid was digging me deeper amo a hole i had no way to climb out of “De I beat eighty million? the auctioneer prompted, looking directly at me
Everything in me screamed to stop, but Ivy’s smug expression fueled something reckless inside me. I couldn’t let her win. I couldn’t let her take this last piece of my
mother from me.
“Eighty million,” I said, raising my paddle one final time
Vera’s hand fell away from my arm in defeat. The entire room had gone silent, all eyes darting between me and Ivy’s proxy.
Charlotte looked uncertainly at lvy, who was whispering frantically with Alistair. Their heated exchange was barely contained, his face flushed with anger, hers stubborn and
determined.
The auctioneer watched them with keen interest. “Eighty million going once…”
Ivy suddenly pushed Alistair’s restraining hand away and whispered something to Charlotte, who shook her head in apparent disbelief.
“Eighty million going twice…”
Charlotte reluctantly raised her paddle. “Eighty–five million.”
The crowd erupted in shocked whispers. The bracelet’s estimated value had been five to seven million at most. The bidding had reached absurd proportions, fueled entirely by our mutual hatred.
My heart pounded in my ears. I had nothing left to give–no more money, no more leverage. Just empty determination and desperation.
The auctioneer looked at me expectantly. “Do I hear ninety million?”
Lopened my mouth, not sure what would come out, when a deep voice spoke from behind me.
“One inundred million
The crowd gasped as heads swiveled to identify the new bidder. I turned slowly
Already recognizing the voice that had haunted my dreams for weeks
Sebastian Sinclair stood at the back of the room, tall and imposing in a perfectly tailored dark suit His face was expressionless as he held up his paddle
One hundred million to paddle number four the auctioneer announced, unable to hide his excitement. “Do I hear one hundred and five million
Ivy’s face had gone completely white. She clutched Alistairs arm, whispering frantically, Charlotte shook her head firmly, refusing to raise her paddle again.
“One hundred million going once.. going twice. The auctioneer paused dramatically, scanning the room. “Sold to paddle number four for one hundred million dollars!”
Relief crashed over me like a wave, followed immediately by confusion and panic Sebastian had just spent one hundred million dollars on my mother’s bracelet–after already loaning me fifty million that I now had no way to repay
The crowd burst into applause as Sebastian made his way smoothly through the room toward the payment desk. Ivy’s glare could have melted steel as she watched him pass.
I felt rooted to the spot, torn between gratitude and humiliation. What would he want in return for this? What had I gotten myself into?
Vera squeezed my hand. “Breathe, Hazel. Just breathe.”
Minutes later, Sebastian approached me, a small velvet box in his hand. Without a
word, he opened it, revealing my mother’s jade bracelet nestled inside.
I believe this belongs to you,” he said quietly, extending the box.
My hands trembled as I reached for it. “I can’t repay you. Not for this.
Sebastian’s dark eyes held mine. I’m not asking you to.”
“Why would you do this?” I whispered, confusion and suspicion warring with gratitude
His lips curved into a subtle smile. “Perhaps we should discuss that somewhere more private
As he spoke, I became aware of the many eyes watching us, including ivy’s venomous
glare from across the room Whatever Sebastianes motives, whatever price he might eventually demand, he had helped me reclaim a piece of my heart
I closed my fingers around the box, feeling the weight of both the bracelet and my new
debt to Sebastian Sinclair
“Yes” Lagreed softly. “We definitely need to talk
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