Signed, Sealed, Scandalous

Chapter 8

The auctioneer presented one item after another. At first, Lily Wilson hesitated, too cautious to raise her paddle.

But soon, anything that caught her eye, anything she showed even the slightest interest in, was swiftly purchased by the Kingsley brothers. Their extravagant spending drew envious glances from the crowd.

"The Kingsley brothers are so devoted to Lily. I wish I were in her place."

"Remember how obsessed they were with Sophia Sterling? Everyone thought she'd end up marrying one of them!"

"Who could've predicted this? Ditching the heiress for the housekeeper's daughter, Sophia must be humiliated."

Sophia ignored the pitying looks directed her way. She silently counted the lots, waiting for the final item.

At last, the auctioneer carefully presented a bracelet, detailing its historical significance. Sophia's grip tightened around her paddle.

This bracelet had been her father's token of love to her mother. No matter the cost, she had to win it.

"Starting bid, thirty million!"

"Forty million!"

"Fifty million!"

"Sixty million!"

Bidders dropped out as the price soared, leaving only Sophia and a handful of determined competitors.

Lily, noticing Sophia's desperation, batted her lashes and sighed. "That bracelet is stunning. I wonder how it'd look on me?"

Instantly, the Kingsley brothers sprang into action.

"I'll get it for you!"

"One hundred million!"

"One hundred fifty million!"

"Two hundred million!"

Sophia's heart sank. They knew what this bracelet meant to her.

When it had gone missing years ago, she'd been inconsolable. The brothers had even sketched its design, vowing, "Sophia, don't cry. We'll find it, no matter the cost. It will come back to you."

Now, those promises were a cruel joke.

The bids climbed to an unthinkable sum, one and a half billion. Sophia checked her funds. Even with her inheritance, she'd need loans to keep up.

Then Ethan Kingsley made a gesture that silenced the room: sky lantern. It meant he'd outbid any offer, no matter how high.

Sophia's hope shattered. She'd lost.

When the bracelet was handed to Lily, she gazed adoringly at Ethan. "You won this for me. Will you put it on me?"

Liam and Noah protested.

"Lily, I could've bought it! He just moved faster!"

"Ethan, name your price. Let me put it on her!"

They shoved their cards at him, bickering.

Then,

Crash.

The bracelet slipped from Lily's fingers, shattering on the floor.

Sophia's heart broke with it.

"Oops," Lily said sweetly. "How clumsy of me!"