She took her seat expressionlessly, sitting ramrod straight, her gaze fixed on the auction stage ahead.
As the auction progressed to intermission, Scarlett remained disinterested.
Until the auctioneer lifted the red silk covering a velvet tray, revealing that pearl necklace gleaming softly under the spotlights-
Scarlett’s pupils contracted sharply.
She remembered how her mother used to wear this necklace to evening galas, the pearls resting against her slender neck, gently swaying with her graceful movements, like captured moonlight.
“You want it that badly?” Jackson’s deep voice sounded close to her ear.
Without answering, Scarlett immediately raised her paddle. “Five million.”
“Six million.”
A sweet voice came from beside her. Lily smiled gently at Scarlett. “Sis, I’m quite fond of this necklace too. May the highest bidder win–you don’t mind, do you?”
Scarlett’s fingernails dug into her palm. “Eight million.”
“Ten million.”
“Twenty million.”
“Thirty million.”
The price skyrocketed to one hundred million.
Scarlett had exhausted the funds from selling her dowry, yet Lily continued to raise her paddle confidently, her face bearing a smile of absolute certainty.
“One hundred million going once,” the auctioneer looked toward Scarlett. “Miss Devereaux, would you like to increase your bid?”
Scarlett’s throat tightened.
She never imagined that one day she would beg anyone for anything, let alone for a necklace.
“Yes.” She forced out the word, turning to grab Jackson’s sleeve. “Jackson, lend me the money…”
20:56
Dumped the Ice Cold CEO for the Fake Dying Billionaire….. Revenge is Sweet!
Chapter 7
Her voice trembled. “This was my mother’s. I need it, no matter what.”
Jackson was visibly stunned.
He had never seen the proud, dazzling Scarlett humble herself this way.
“Please.” Scarlett’s eyes reddened, her voice barely audible.
Jackson’s hand moved toward his inner jacket pocket, about to pull out his black card-
“Jackson.” Lily suddenly clutched his arm, her eyes welling with tears. “I really love this necklace…”
She bit her lip. “This is the first time I’ve ever wanted something so badly. Please don’t help her.”
The air seemed to freeze.
Scarlett looked at Jackson, at this man who had once shielded her from the world.
His brow furrowed slightly, his gaze shifting between her and Lily.
After an agonizing silence, Jackson finally looked at Scarlett and spoke quietly: “Let her have it.”
Four simple words, weightless as air, yet they cut through Scarlett’s heart like a knife.
The gavel fell. “Sold! Congratulations, Miss Bennett!”
Scarlett stood motionless, her entire body cold.
She watched Lily accept the pearl necklace, saw her victorious smile, felt her nails digging so deeply into her palms hat blood trickled between her fingers onto the carpet. Yet she felt no physical pain.
This was Jackson’s first time seeing Scarlett like this.
Her eyes were rimmed with red, yet she stubbornly refused to cry; her lips were bitten white, yet she forced herself o stand straight.
For some inexplicable reason, a strange, bitter sensation welled up in his chest.
Jackson…” Lily leaned against him weakly. “I’m feeling a bit uncomfortable from my period. Could you get me a ›lanket?”
ackson hesitated momentarily before rising to leave.
Scarlett had completely lost interest in the auction.
she sat in her seat, ears buzzing, mind repeatedly flashing images of her mother smiling while wearing that pearl
necklace.
20:57
Dumped the Ice Cold CEO for the Lake Duino Hillionsira Pavenge to Sweet
Chapter 7
As soon as the auction ended, she intercepted Lily.
“Sell the necklace to me,” Scarlett’s voice was hoarse. “Name your price.”
Lily laughed softly. “Anything? What if I asked you to kneel?”
Scarlett’s entire body trembled.
She remembered her mother’s final words: “Scarlett, no matter what happens, always live with dignity.”
But now, she was about to abandon her last shred of dignity for a necklace.
“Fine.”
The word was practically forced through gritted teeth.
Red–eyed, Scarlett slowly began to bend her knee-
her.” Lily suddenly interrupted with a laugh. “Kneeling won’t help you.”
d that worthless necklace thrown to some street dog.”
e pulled out her phone, swiped a few times, and showed Scarlett the screen–a filthy stray dog with the
once–pristine pearl necklace, now mud–covered, hanging around its neck.
“Your mother’s belongings belong on a dog-” she leaned close to Scarlett’s ear, emphasizing each word, “after all,
whores and dogs–a match made in heaven.”
Scarlett’s pupils contracted violently.
Her entire body shook as her ears filled with a deafening roar, as if someone were hammering her temples with an
iron mallet.
Her mother’s pale face in her final moments flashed before her eyes, the elegant pearl necklace that once graced her
neck now…
“Say that again.” Scarlett’s voice was terrifyingly quiet.
Lily smiled triumphantly. “Whores and dogs–a match made in heaven. What, didn’t hear me clearly?”
Scarlett slowly raised her head, her eyes blood–red. “Which hand did you use to put it on the dog?”
“This one.” Lily raised her right hand mockingly. “Why, are you going to…”
Before she could finish, Scarlett grabbed a fruit knife from a nearby platter and drove it straight through Lily’s palm!
“AAAHHHHH!”
20:57
