The auction staff carefully placed the first item, a set of blue-and-white porcelain tea ware, onto the display platform as the spotlight illuminated it.
All eyes in the room turned to the exquisite set of porcelain.
“This lot is an 18th-century Chinese tea set, brought to Europe by a French explorer. It carries the legacy of cultural exchange between East and West. The starting bid is half a million dollars,” the auctioneer announced with a smile, addressing the audience.
Miranda’s gaze darted between the tea set and Vivienne, her expression thoughtful. She knew Vivienne’s personality well-competitive and prideful, especially when it came to her.
It was the perfect moment to teach her a small lesson.
Miranda raised her paddle first. “Six hundred thousand.”
She was certain Vivienne would bid against her-it was in her nature. And given Vivienne’s earlier frustration, she would undoubtedly try to retaliate.
Sure enough-
“Seven hundred thousand!” Vivienne’s bid came swiftly, without hesitation.
Got her.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved Miranda’s lips. Her voice remained calm as she raised her paddle again. “Eight hundred thousand.”
“One million!” Vivienne shouted, her tone sharp.
Broad frowned, leaning closer to her. “Don’t get carried away,” he warned quietly.
But Vivienne wasn’t listening. Her focus was entirely on Miranda. All she wanted was to outbid her.
“One and a half million,” Miranda said, her voice still composed.
The bid startled the crowd; it was well above the tea set’s actual value.
Whispers began to ripple through the room.
“That porcelain set isn’t worth $1. 5 million!”
“True, but Eric Wilson will pay for it. It’s nothing to him.”
“She’s so lucky! He’ll do anything for her.”
The murmuring only fueled Vivienne’s determination.
“Three million!” she yelled, her voice almost a roar.
She turned to Miranda, her expression defiant. “Come on, Miranda. Let me show you that even with a man’s support, you still can’t beat me!”
Vivienne was convinced that Eric Wilson wouldn’t waste that much money on Miranda, even if it was a trivial amount for him.
All eyes, including those of the elegant auctioneer, shifted to Miranda, waiting for her response.
But then-
Miranda lowered her paddle.
“I’m out.”
“Three million, going once. Three million, going twice.”
Bang!
“Sold for three million!” The auctioneer’s gavel struck down, sealing the deal.
The room buzzed with low murmurs again.
“Three million for that tea set? Absolutely insane.”
“It’s beautiful, but it’s not worth that much.”
“Exactly. Three million is way above market value!”
Miranda turned to Vivienne with a faint smile. “Congratulations, Vivienne. The tea set is yours.” She paused, sighing softly. “I really liked it too, but three million… that’s just beyond my budget.”
Her voice was sincere, tinged with regret, as if she truly felt disappointed.
Vivienne’s face froze. Her fingers dug into the paddle, gripping it tightly. Only then did she realize-she had been played.
The three million dollars didn’t hurt her financially, but the humiliation of being outmaneuvered by Miranda stung deeply.
Her jaw tightened as she clenched the paddle so hard her nails dug into her palm.
Beside her, Broad’s expression darkened. While the money wasn’t significant to him, Vivienne’s impulsiveness irritated him.
Eric, standing near Miranda, feigned concern. “Don’t feel bad, darling. If you see something else you like, I’ll make sure to win it for you.”
Miranda smiled playfully and winked. “Deal.”
Their exchange, light and casual, further aggravated Vivienne. She took a deep breath and looked away, trying to suppress her emotions and prevent herself from doing anything foolish.
Broad, on the other hand, was equally annoyed by Miranda and Eric’s apparent closeness.
Still, he knew he needed to focus on the auction for now. Miranda could wait. He was confident that, when the time came, no one would be able to take her from him.
The auction continued.
Miranda didn’t bid again, instead sipping champagne as she watched the wealthy attendees argue passionately over rare collectibles.
Vivienne remained unusually quiet, her earlier rashness leaving her subdued. She dared not act recklessly again, fearing another humiliation at Miranda’s hands.
Broad, however, couldn’t keep his eyes off Miranda. His emotions churned as he watched her, radiant and confident-more dazzling than ever.
He had thought she would fall apart after leaving him. Instead, she had flourished.
Especially with Eric by her side, her confidence and charm seemed even more striking, stirring a vague sense of regret within him.
Eric noticed Broad’s lingering gaze and smirked faintly. He raised his glass in a mocking toast toward Broad.
Broad responded with a cold, indifferent look, his grip tightening on his paddle.
The earlier items were merely appetizers. The real event was about to begin.
As the evening progressed, the auction reached its climax.
“And now, for tonight’s grand finale,” the auctioneer announced solemnly.
The lights dimmed, and the staff carefully unveiled a painting, placing it on the display platform. A spotlight illuminated the artwork.
Miranda’s expression shifted. Her gaze sharpened.
“This is the final masterpiece of the late renowned artist Elizabeth Grant-Versailles Twilight. As her last work, it encapsulates the essence of her life’s style and holds immense value for collectors,” the auctioneer declared.
After a brief pause, he announced the starting bid: “Two million dollars.”
The room fell silent.
Broad’s eyes locked onto the painting, his expression resolute.
Eric glanced at Miranda, his tone light. “Well, let’s begin.”