Chapter 23
How could Suzanne have called out that amount?
Even Christine was stunned, instinctively taking a step back. She tugged at Seline’s sleeve and whispered, “10.5 million dollars? It’s not worth it, Seline. Why don’t we just let this go?”
Seline gritted her teeth, clutching her handbag so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
No! She absolutely couldn’t lose to Suzanne, that bitch!
She raised her head, her gaze burning with determination as she declared, “Sixteen million dollars!”
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. No one had expected Seline to continue bidding, let alone push the price so absurdly high. Their eyes shifted from her to Suzanne, waiting for a reaction.
“She really is from a wealthy family.”
“The Yateses are rich and powerful. I suppose sixteen million is nothing to them.”
“She’s impressive, but… isn’t this a bit excessive for a bracelet?”
The murmur of admiration mixed with doubt filled the air. Meanwhile, Seline looked at Suzanne with triumphant arrogance.
Suzanne curved her lips into a faint smile and casually withdrew her hand from the glass countertop. With a hint of amusement, she said, “Alright. I don’t have as much money as you, so you can have it.”
Though her words sounded like an admission of defeat, her expression told a different story. She was smiling—no, smirking—as if she had already won.
Seline’s smugness vanished in an instant.
Something wasn’t right.
She had gotten carried away. Suzanne never had the money to begin with!
That bitch had only been provoking her with that bid, and Seline had fallen for it. She had been so desperate to put Suzanne in her place that she hadn’t stopped to think. And now…
“Sixteen million dollars for a bracelet?” someone whispered. “Even if you’re rich, that’s just reckless spending.”
“Yeah. People with real wealth know how to manage their money. This is just foolish.”
Seline’s expression twisted. The admiration in the crowd’s eyes had turned to mockery.
She clenched her fists, the sharp pain of her nails digging into her palms keeping her grounded.
This was supposed to be her moment of triumph. She was supposed to be the one humiliating Suzanne, but instead… she was the one being called a fool!
Meanwhile, Christine remained oblivious to the shifting atmosphere. She linked arms with Seline and grinned. “Wow! Seline, you’re amazing!”
She threw a disdainful look at Suzanne and sneered, “I told you, she doesn’t have money. She was just pretending to compete with you! What right does she even have?”
Seline’s body stiffened.
Did Christine have a brain? How could she still be boasting about this?
Before she could scold her, Suzanne stepped forward, her gaze calm and composed. “I really don’t have sixteen million dollars. I can’t afford it.”
The words were simple, yet they cut deep.
At first, the emerald bracelet had caught her eye, but upon closer inspection, she had noticed its imperfections. She had been ready to put it back before Seline and Christine arrived. And now, after everything, the bracelet belonged to Seline.
Suzanne sighed dramatically, then looked at Seline with mock concern. “Seline, are you alright? You look a little pale.”
Seline felt like she was about to explode. She wanted nothing more than to slap the smug expression off Suzanne’s face, but they were in public. She had to maintain her composure.
Suzanne took a step closer and smiled warmly. “I’m heading to the other counters. Would you like to join me? If you liked that game, we can try bidding again.”
The sales associates from the nearby counters immediately perked up, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Seline gritted her teeth. “Suzanne!”
With a playful chuckle, Suzanne patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t forget to pay, my dear sister. You’re a Yates, after all. If you don’t buy the bracelet now, won’t it embarrass Dad?”
Seline was seething. Every fiber of her being screamed in frustration.
She had walked into Suzanne’s trap, and now, she had no way out.
