Chapter 55
Serena
"Done?" Wesley's laugh came out strangled. "You're breaking up with me because—"
"My family never wanted me with you!" The words exploded out of Vanessa like shrapnel. "Do you think they were thrilled? Their daughter dating a man whose trust fund is locked tighter than a fucking vault? A grown man who needs permission to buy a car?"
"This is temporary!" Wesley's voice cracked with desperation. "When I turn thirty, I get full access. Everyone knows Great-Grandfather favors me. The inheritance—"
"Six years from now?" Vanessa's laugh was cruel. "I don't give a shit about money you might get in six years, Wesley. My family tolerates you for one reason: your last name. That's it. The Lawson name."
"I'm more than just—"
"Then prove it." Vanessa's voice dropped to something deadly quiet. "Right now. Get me eight hundred thousand dollars. Show me you're actually worth something beyond a surname."
Silence crashed down like a guillotine blade.
Wesley's face drained of color. His mouth worked soundlessly, hands trembling at his sides.
"I'll—" His voice barely made it past his throat. "I'll call someone."
His fingers shook as he scrolled through his phone, and I could see the exact moment he gave up on pride—shoulders curling inward, breath coming faster, like watching someone drown in shallow water.
"Uncle?" The word came out broken. "I need help. I need to borrow money."
My stomach dropped. Uncle.
But not Lance—Lance would never bail him out of something this stupid.
"Felix." Wesley's breathing was uneven. "Uncle Felix, I—there's something that came up. Something urgent." His voice tried for casual but came out strained. "I need to borrow some money. Just temporarily, of course—"
Silence. His jaw clenched, throat working as he waited for the interrogation, bracing for the humiliation of having to explain himself—
His entire body went rigid. "What?" The word came out strangled. "You're not even going to ask what for?" Disbelief cracked through his attempt at composure.
Whatever Felix said made Wesley's eyes go wide.
"Eight hundred thousand. That's what I need." He swallowed hard, the sound audible even from where I stood. "I know it's—I can pay you back, I swear—"
His face transformed. Shock gave way to disbelief, then something that looked horribly like gratitude mixed with shame.
"A million? You're sending a million?" His voice cracked completely. "Uncle Felix, I don't—thank you. God, thank you so much."
The second he hung up, he turned to Vanessa with an expression that made bile rise in my throat—pure, desperate worship. A beaten dog wagging its tail, hoping this time it wouldn't get kicked.
"He's transferring it. A million dollars. He didn't even hesitate."
Vanessa didn't smile. Didn't soften. Just thrust her card at the security guard with the casual cruelty of someone who knew exactly how much power she held.
"Try it now."
The guard swiped. Paused. Nodded.
"Five million, two hundred thousand available. You're cleared, Miss Holland."
Vanessa turned to face me, and the smile that spread across her face made my skin crawl. Not triumphant. Hungry.
"By the way," she said, her voice dripping false curiosity, "what exactly are you two doing here today?"
Wesley grabbed her arm, his voice low and irritated. "Vanessa, don't waste time talking to trash. Let's just—"
"Trash?" Vanessa's eyes gleamed as she yanked her arm free, turning on him with a sharp look. "Your trash ex-girlfriend seems to have gotten awfully clever lately." She looked back at me, head tilting. "Do you know what she said earlier? About lot number five?"
Wesley shook his head, confusion flickering across his face.
"The same thing we're here for." Vanessa's smile widened, vicious and delighted.
"What?" Wesley's face went slack. Then understanding hit like lightning. "Fuck! The Napoleon piece? The Coronation Moment: First Study?" His voice climbed. "The one gift that would make Arthur—"
"Exactly." Vanessa's gaze locked onto mine, predatory and cold.
I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face—slow, sharp, deliberately unbothered.
"Oh right. Five million, two hundred thousand." I let my gaze travel over Vanessa with deliberate slowness. "That's what you have to work with, isn't it?" I paused, then added sweetly, "I guess you'll need to go find a few more rich men willing to... sponsor you. Maybe if you collect enough names, you can scrape together a bid high enough to compete with mine."
The implication landed like a slap.
Vanessa's face flushed crimson, her hand coming up—palm open, aimed at my face.
"You BITCH—"
I was already moving, linking my arm through Chloe's and turning toward the entrance with unhurried grace.
"Enjoy the auction," I called over my shoulder. "I know I will."