Chapter 5
Just then, Jessie suddenly spoke up, feigning sympathy as she interrupted everyone, “Oh, come on, gentlemen, that’s enough. Can’t you see Nicole’s about to cry? She’s still a woman–she has her pride. You keep pushing her like this, and of course, she’s going to force herself on stage. Honestly, I kind of get where she’s coming from.”
Jackson let out a soft laugh.
“She treats you like this, and you still speak up for her? You are a little fool.”
The others jumped in to flatter her as well.
“Oh, look at Ms. Krueger–that’s what a true lady from a prestigious family looks like. We’ve been saying this all along: Mr. Stainbrook never should’ve married Nicole just because he felt sorry for her. That moment of weakness cost him a perfect match with Ms. Krueger.
“Good thing it’s not too late. Kicking that bastard child of a whore to the curb is the best decision he’s ever made.”
I looked down from the auction stage, scanning every face in the crowd until my gaze settled on Jessie’s smug expression.
I let out a sharp, scornful laugh. “A lady? You call her a lady? Since when did a true lady shamelessly seduce someone else’s husband with zero regard for decency or morals? As far as I’m concerned, she’s
filthier than any prostitute.”
Jackson’s voice turned cold as he threatened, “Nicole, I’m warning you
watch your mouth.”
Chapter $
11
I let out a bitter laugh. I believed him, of course.
All this was just because I’d stolen the spotlight from Jessie by buying back something that had rightfully belonged to my mother. And for that, Jackson had set up this whole elaborate scheme to humiliate and destroy me.
What more would he do in the future? I didn’t even want to imagine.
But it didn’t matter anymore, because whatever feelings I had left for Jackson had completely died.
The love I once felt has burned into the fuel keeping me standing here today. Whatever else he had planned, he couldn’t hurt me more than this.
I turned back to the hostess holding the card reader and gave a faint smile. “Well? What are you waiting for? Go ahead. Run the check.”
The beeping of the POS machine echoed in the room. The auction hall, once filled with laughter and sneers, fell completely silent.
Every pair of eyes was fixed on the screen, anticipation gleaming in their expressions, just waiting for a hilariously pathetic number to appear.
But slowly, the hostess’s condescending look turned into one of shock.
I bit my lip and clenched my fists to keep my hands from shaking. Fighting back the sting in my eyes, I looked up and asked quietly, “Well? What’s the result?”
She didn’t say a word for several seconds, then nervously glanced at the auctioneer, silently asking for help.
The auctioneer leaned over to look at the screen. His previously lazy,
Chapter 5
disinterested eyes widened with disbelief. A beat later, he snapped his head toward Jackson.
“Mr… Mr. Stainbrook…”
Jackson immediately sensed something was off. His brows furrowed instinctively.
“What? Is the number too low to announce?”
He gave a dismissive chuckle. “Come on, don’t spare my feelings. Everyone here knows I’m not that petty.”
The crowd chimed in gleefully, “Exactly. We’ve been friends with Mr. Stainbrook for years. Just say it.”
They were still brimming with smug excitement, ready to watch me fall flat on my face.
