Chapter 8
Cynthia’s lips had gone completely pale from how hard she was biting them, and her face was growing more ashen by the
second.
She had already returned most of her money to Alexander. If she kept bidding like this, she wouldn’t last another round.
With no other option, she quickly messaged Nathan.
“Nate… can I borrow some money? I promise I’ll pay you back as soon as I can!”
His reply came almost instantly.
“I’ve sent the card number to you. Password is your birthday. No limit. Use whatever you need. Between husband and
wife, there’s no such thing as paying back.”
His straightforward words made her eyes sting with tears. She quickly typed a response, one hand still raised with her
paddle to continue bidding.
“Don’t worry, I won’t use much.”
Nathaniel replied again, just as quickly, “I hope you do, Cindy. We can’t see each other yet before the wedding, but if you’re
willing to use my card, spend my money-I’m happy.”
Her cheeks flushed faintly at his message, but she steadied herself and raised the bid again.
The price skyrocketed to a number that made the whole room stir.
Morinne’s expression began to falter. She turned to Alexander with a conflicted look.
“Alex, I don’t have that much money left. I don’t think I can afford the bracelet. I’ll just give up.”
“You don’t need to,” Alexander said without hesitation. “I’ll buy it for you.”
Then he subtly gave a discreet hand signal to the auctioneer-indicating an absolute, winning bid.
Gasps echoed through the auction hall.
Cynthia stared at Alexander in disbelief. The paddle slipped from her fingers and clattered to the floor.
He recognized that bracelet. He had to. The Lowell and Aquil families had known each other for generations-he knew it
was her mother’s.
She had assumed he was simply observing, letting her and Morinne compete fairly.
She never imagined that in the end… he’d choose to help Morinne.
Even though Nathaniel had said she could spend as much as she wanted, Cynthia couldn’t bring herself to drain the
account.
After a long silence, she lowered her gaze. And gave up completely.
Her expression was pale and empty as she watched the auction attendant carefully present the bracelet to Morinne and finalize the transaction.
Morinne took it without the excitement she’d shown earlier. She turned it slowly in her fingers, expression indifferent. Then, with a light “Oops,” she accidentally let it fall.
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The crystal bracelet shattered into glimmering shards across the floor.
She glanced at it and wrinkled her nose. “Guess it really was a defective piece. Now it’s even worse. Oh well-forget it. I don’t want it anymore.”
With that, Morinne beamed and stood up, linking arms with Alexander as they left the room.
Only Cynthia remained, crouching on the floor, tears silently rolling down her cheeks.
She gathered the shattered pieces into her purse, each fragment feeling like a shard of her heart-splintered, broken, and full of scars that would never fully heal.
That night, alone in her room, she sat hunched over her desk, quietly trying to piece the bracelet back together.
But once broken, it was broken. Even with glue, it would never be the same.
She stared blankly at the fragments, so lost in thought that she didn’t hear the knocking on her door.
It wasn’t until the sound came again-and again-that she finally stood, dazed, and shuffled to open it.
When she saw the man standing there, she froze.
She quickly wiped at the corners of her eyes, trying to hide the tears.
“… Uncle Alex. Is something wrong?”
Alexander looked at her eyes-still rimmed with red-and paused. Then he handed her a card.
A crimson wedding invitation.
“I’m getting married,” he said.
Her gaze dropped to the names printed in gold.
Alexander Lowell & Morinne Ayla
For a moment, her mind went completely blank.
And then, strangely, she realized-She didn’t feel as crushed as she’d expected.
Once the shock passed, she could look at him clearly.
And with a calm voice, she simply said:
“Congratulations.”
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