Chapter 193

Morgan's POV

"And now, for our final item of the evening—the spectacular 'Blue Heart' diamond necklace."

The auctioneer's voice snapped me back to reality. I'd been lost in a daydream of what life might have been like with my biological famil. The fantasy dissolved as I remembered why I was here.

Under the spotlight, the deep blue diamond necklace sparkled with an almost supernatural brilliance. A high-definition camera captured its details, projecting them onto massive screens throughout the auction hall. The pendant—a teardrop-shaped sapphire surrounded by diamonds—hung from a delicate platinum chain that looked almost too fragile to support its weight.

"This exquisite piece was reportedly commissioned by Jonathan Wallace for 'the love of his life,'" the auctioneer continued. "Custom designed as an engagement gift for Elizabeth."

Beside me, Liam frowned, his gaze fixed on Robert and Olivia seated in their VIP section across the hall.

"How is this being auctioned under Olivia's name?" he whispered, his voice tight with controlled anger. "She's provided documentation, but that necklace belonged to Mom."

I studied his profile—the strong jawline that matched the photos I'd seen of our father, the intensity in his eyes that reminded me of my own reflection. Despite our limited time together, the family resemblance was undeniable.

"She... Mom... she never sold it to anyone, right?" I struggled to say the word "Mom," my tongue feeling heavy and awkward around it.

Liam's expression softened as he noticed my discomfort. "No, absolutely not. Mom loved that necklace because Dad designed it specifically for her. It was her most treasured possession."

I glanced toward the private box where Jonathan sat, observing the proceedings with cool detachment. I was surprised to hear that he'd designed the necklace himself. I had always assumed men like him—super-industrialists with empires built on other people's labor—only designed cost-cutting measures and profit margins, or perhaps innovative ways to extract every last drop of productivity from their employees. Yet he'd created something beautiful.

"So this means any documentation the Montgomerys have proving ownership is forged," I said carefully, watching Liam's reaction. I wanted to trust him, needed to trust him, but trust didn't come easily anymore.

Liam's eyes widened as understanding dawned. "That's why you still came even knowing Dad would be here! You're not just after the necklace—you're after the Montgomerys!"

I hadn't planned to reveal this much, but Liam's quick grasp of the situation encouraged me. "Yes," I lied, though my goal was actually both—the necklace and evidence of the Montgomerys' crimes. I didn't want the necklace falling into anyone's hands, even Jonathan's. "You know what they did to me. I really want to catch them red-handed. I need those forged documents they used."

Liam chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "Get them to bid over $950, and we can have them arrested for fraud—at least a year behind bars."

I rolled my eyes at his cold joke. The starting price for the necklace was forty million dollars. A year or two for fraud wasn't my goal either—I wanted justice for my mother's mysterious death and my ruined life. But I only needed Liam to convince our father I meant no harm.

"So..." I adopted a pleading tone I hadn't used since childhood. "Do you think you could talk to, um, our father about letting me have that necklace? Please?"

I was surprised when Liam immediately nodded. I'd prepared a list of arguments, ready to negotiate, but his quick agreement caught me off guard.

The auctioneer announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, we'll now begin our 'final minute' for the Blue Heart necklace."

This was the procedure for high-value items—after announcing the starting price, bidders had sixty seconds to consider their strategy before the first bid would trigger a rapid succession of competing offers.

If no bids were placed during this critical minute, or if no one met the reserve price, the item would be declared unsold.

My mind raced through the possibilities. Olivia probably wanted the item to go unsold, which would allow her to keep both the forged documents and legitimate possession of the necklace. I wanted to win it at the lowest possible price. And Jonathan... his intentions remained a mystery.

If Jonathan and the Montgomerys weren't adversaries, my position would be significantly weakened. I wasn't sure Liam could help me then.

"Forty million dollars for the one-of-a-kind Blue Heart!" the auctioneer called out.

I gripped my paddle tightly, careful to keep my expression neutral. Thank God Ethan had arranged for us to have a second-floor box. From here, I could observe everything while remaining somewhat hidden from the other participants.

I glanced toward Jonathan's box. Liam had entered it just as the auctioneer announced the starting price, following my instructions to distract or convince our father during the "final minute."

Jonathan barely acknowledged Liam's presence. He sat calmly in his armchair, a cold smile playing at the corners of his lips.

My heart sank. I'd been naive to think such a simple strategy would work against Jonathan, a super-industrialist whose family assets equaled half the market value of the capital city. I'd have to bid strategically—wait until the last few seconds and hope for a reasonable price.

The "final minute" ticked down. The room grew tense with anticipation. I stood, preparing to make my move.

Then Jonathan raised his paddle.

"One billion," he said, his voice husky yet clear—the first time I'd ever heard it.

I felt like someone had sucked all the oxygen from the room. One billion dollars? For the first bid? My body froze while my mind raced in disbelief. This wasn't just an auction bid—it was a declaration of war. I studied Jonathan's face, searching for clues to his motivation. The strong jaw, the calculating green eyes that matched mine—genetics had certainly done its work. But what was his game?

His expression remained maddeningly opaque, revealing nothing beyond a cold determination that sent a chill down my spine.

Suddenly, Jonathan sat upright, no longer lounging with crossed legs. His expression changed from confidence to surprise.

Liam looked equally shocked, turning toward the entrance of the private box where a new figure had appeared.

Catherine stood in the center aisle, holding a paddle. She wore a pale blue Chanel dress with a matching hat, looking every inch the society matron.