Chapter 209

"Next on the auction block is a rare 1990s floral bodycon dress with vintage appeal and significant collector's value." The auctioneer's voice cut through the murmuring crowd. "Opening bid is set at five hundred thousand dollars."

"Five hundred fifty thousand!"

"Six hundred thousand!"

"Seven hundred thousand!"

Within moments, the bidding soared past one million dollars.

Evelyn Carter saw her chance. "One point five million!" Her clear voice rang out across the ballroom.

The crowd hesitated when they recognized the Kingsley heiress, their bidding paddles lowering in deference.

But then Nathan Sterling raised his paddle with deliberate slowness. "One point eight million."

His first bid of the evening - and it was against his ex-wife.

Gasps rippled through the audience. "Is Nathan seriously competing with Evelyn?"

"Ex-husband versus ex-wife - this just got interesting!"

"I didn't pay enough for this popcorn..."

Evelyn's fingers tightened around her paddle. She hadn't anticipated Nathan's interference. Without hesitation, she countered, "Two point two million."

Nathan didn't even blink. "Three million." His jaw was set, eyes fixed on the vintage dress with unsettling intensity.

Truth be told, he'd come specifically for this piece. It had once belonged to the Sterling family - part of Margaret Winslow's bridal trousseau before being pawned during Sterling Enterprises' early financial struggles.

After weathering the crisis, Nathan had spent years trying to reclaim it, only to discover it had been donated to a museum. Tonight was his first real chance to bring it home.

"Four million." Evelyn wasn't backing down either.

This dress would be the showstopper for her upcoming fashion exhibition.

"Six million."

The bids escalated rapidly, neither party showing any hesitation as if millions were mere pocket change.

"Eight million."

"Ten million."

"Fourteen million."

When the price hit twenty million, Nathan finally turned to study Evelyn's expression. Her entire focus was on the dress, eyes alight with something deeper than professional interest - a visceral longing that gave him pause.

"Mr. Sterling? Your bid?" The auctioneer prompted.

Nathan's fingers flexed around the paddle. After a weighted silence, he set it down.

"Twenty million going once... twice... Sold to Ms. Evelyn Carter for twenty million dollars!"

Evelyn exhaled sharply. She'd paid quadruple the dress's appraised value, but it was finally hers.

The audience buzzed with speculation. Had Nathan conceded so easily? Or were lingering feelings behind his withdrawal?

Nathan gave nothing away, his expression shuttered as Evelyn rose to complete her purchase.

Harrison Whitmore fell into step beside her, unaware that Nathan had also stood to follow.

At the payment counter, they found Bianca Delacroix looking distressed as she pleaded into her phone. "Jayda, please - just three million as a loan. I'll repay you next month, I swear."

Her desperate tone suggested the answer wasn't favorable. The struggling actress's facade was crumbling spectacularly.

What a pitiful performance. The woman was clearly out of her depth pretending to be something she wasn't.