As the auction began, Jovan bid against me on every item I favored.
Eliana, however, was even more brazen; she tripled the price in a single breath.
“Five million!” Her eyes locked on mine in challenge. “Louis, still want to bid?”
Gasps rippled through the room.
That antique vase was worth barely two million.
I lowered my paddle with quiet finality and stood, ready to leave.
A message flashed onto my phone.
[If you want to be the Anderson family’s son-in-law, you’d better learn to bow your head. In your current state, you’re not even worthy of being my lover.]
I stared at the screen for two seconds before blocking the number for good.
I hadn’t expected that three days later, I would cross paths with Eliana again at the mall.
Jovan’s eyes lit up the moment he saw the leather shoes in my hands.
Eliana caught on instantly. “Jovan, want them? I’ll buy them for you.”
The store clerk stepped forward, her tone apologetic. “Miss, I’m very sorry. This pair was reserved by Mr. Briones three months ago; it’s the only pair of this limited edition in the entire city…”
“I said.” Eliana’s voice suddenly rose, her eyes slicing toward the clerk, “I want these shoes right now.”
I slammed the black card onto the counter. “First come, first served, Eliana doesn’t even understand the most basic rule?”
Eliana’s hand shot out, yanking my wrist, her nails almost digging into my skin. “Louis, must you go against me on everything?”
Her voice dropped, sharp and cold. “The more you act like this, the more ridiculous you look. If you want to marry me, just say it. Why bother with these games?”
I pulled my hand free with force. “You think far too highly of yourself.”
Turning to the shop assistant, I said evenly, “Please wrap it up for me now.”
The shop assistant took my card with visible unease, while Eliana’s face darkened into something dangerous.
Seeing her expression, Jovan quickly clung to her arm. “Eliana, forget it. I don’t want it anymore…”
“No.” Eliana snatched the shoe box straight from the assistant’s hands. “In Roseville, there’s nothing I can’t get.”
With that, she dragged Jovan away without a single glance back.
The next morning, an ornate gift box appeared on my office desk.
As soon as I untied the ribbon, a foul metallic scent hit me. Inside was a pair of black leather shoes, stained with something ominous, with strands of hair tangled around the heel.