I secured it at a reasonable price, and as I stood to leave, Christy’s saccharine voice called out from the front row, brimming with mischief, “Auntie, why leave after bidding on such a small piece? The best treasures are saved for last! You really shouldn’t miss the finale collection—it’s a true masterpiece!”
Her clear, sweet tone turned heads, drawing attention to me. Christy’s triumphant smile glimmered as if she had won a battle.
I mirrored her smile calmly. At eighteen, one should be bold, radiant, and unafraid. No wonder Patrick is captivated.
Even I couldn’t help but admire such a vibrant, youthful girl.
Patrick affectionately patted her head, signaling her to quiet down.
Then, out of curiosity, he turned to see who had caught the attention of his beloved.
The moment his eyes landed on me, his expression faltered—cycling rapidly through surprise, guilt, and anger.
It was the first time I’d ever seen someone wear such a peculiar mix of emotions all at once.
The room was filled with familiar faces, all part of Patrick’s social circle—old acquaintances who had once greeted me warmly at countless gatherings.
Christy’s crisp voice made it impossible for Patrick to ignore me.
Under the gaze of everyone, he had no choice but to gesture for someone to lead me to the seat beside him.
Patrick gave a slight nod toward Christy, motioning for her to take the empty seat in the back row. She stood up angrily, her eyes burning with tears.
“I don’t want to! We agreed tonight…”
“Go sit in the back! Christy, I’m not asking again!”
Christy bit her lip tightly, struggling to hold back her tears.
I gently placed my hand on Patrick’s arm.
“Forget it. Don’t let her feel wronged. I’ve already bought something I like, so there’s no need to stay here any longer.”
Patrick frowned, his tone sharp with dissatisfaction.
“You are my wife. She’s just an assistant. What right does she have to feel wrong?”
The word "assistant" clearly cut deep into Christy’s pride. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stormed to the back row, sitting with a huff.
Patrick took my hand firmly, refusing to let me leave. He insisted I stay.
I could feel Christy’s gaze burning into my back, but I chose not to turn around.
It wasn’t until the finale that Patrick successfully bid on the top yellow diamond necklace, just as he had planned.
Christy smiled triumphantly, turning toward him expectantly.