Chapter 194

Chapter 194
Catherine's POV

"One billion," Jonathan's husky voice resonated through the auction hall.

I watched my daughter's face from across the room, noting how Olivia's expression brightened with unmistakable joy at Jonathan's astronomical bid. My heart sank. This foolish, foolish girl. After all these years, she still doesn't see what's happening right in front of her.

She doesn't understand that Jonathan and Morgan aren't just after the necklace. They want the forged ownership documents Olivia created—proof of her crimes that could send her to prison for years. Even Robert seems blind to the danger, too paralyzed by fear of Morgan's revenge to think clearly anymore.

I studied my daughter's delicate profile, the perfect nose and sculpted cheekbones that had graced so many magazine covers. Twenty-some years of privilege and education, and what had Olivia learned? Not wisdom or strategic thinking—merely how to play helpless before men, how to weaponize vulnerability. Nothing of the Astor family's legendary cunning or resilience. Not a single drop of my blood seemed to flow through her veins.

"1.1 billion," I announced calmly, raising my paddle. Another wave of murmurs swept through the crowd. Let them talk. I'd never cared much for the opinions of others, especially not these Hollywood sycophants who would kiss Robert's ring one day and stab him in the back the next.

My thoughts drifted back to three years ago, when I lost control after learning that Robert had an illegitimate daughter, confessed to my own crimes, and was subsequently detained. My family—the Astors—had arranged my escape. The same family who had practically disowned me when I chose to marry Robert Montgomery, believing he wasn't good enough for our bloodline.

The Astors had black market connections stretching back generations. They were obsessed with bloodlines and legacy, more than they ever cared about the law. When they heard I'd been arrested, they pulled strings I didn't even know existed. I remembered my father's words on the phone: "You might have married beneath you, Catherine, but you're still an Astor. We take care of our own."

I hadn't spoken to him since, and now I never would. He died last year.

The crowd's chatter receded as Jonathan's voice rang out again. "1.5 billion."

I held my paddle higher. "1.6 billion."

I could see Jonathan's face harden from across the room. He hadn't expected resistance. Especially not from me—a woman who, as far as the world knew, had no access to this kind of wealth.

"Two billion," Jonathan announced, his voice cutting through the stunned silence.

My hand trembled slightly as I held up my paddle again. "2.1 billion." I gripped my champagne flute tighter in my other hand to stop the shaking. The cool glass against my palm grounded me.

I knew what I was doing. By appearing publicly at this auction, I was guaranteeing my re-arrest. Whatever escape route my family had engineered before wouldn't work again, not with the Wallace family's influence and Morgan's newfound wealth arrayed against me.

This was my last play, my final chance to protect Olivia—and perhaps teach her the most valuable lesson I could offer.

From my position, I noticed movement near Morgan's private box. Liam slipped inside, his tall frame unmistakable even from a distance. I couldn't hear their exchange, but their body language told enough. Morgan seemed distressed, almost doubled over in her seat.

The siblings conferred urgently, Liam nodding several times before glancing toward Jonathan's box. He straightened up, leaned down to whisper something in Morgan's ear, then stepped back with a resolute nod.

Morgan seemed to gather herself then, her posture transforming from vulnerable to determined in seconds. She stood, composed and regal, as Liam positioned himself behind her chair like a sentinel. She took a deep breath and raised her paddle, her voice clear and confident as she called out her bid.

"2.2 billion."

That's when I saw it—the bracelet on her wrist. My grandmother's bracelet.

My grandmother had been the respectable one in the Astor family, building legitimate businesses when my grandfather and father were expanding their less savory enterprises. When she discovered what direction the family was taking, she left, taking two-thirds of the family fortune with her. I hadn't seen or heard from her since I was a teenager.

But there was Morgan, wearing my grandmother's signature piece—a custom-designed white gold and sapphire bracelet that never left her wrist.

The strength drained from my body. If Morgan had connected with my grandmother, if she had access to that fortune... there was no way I could outbid her. The remaining Astor wealth I had access to was substantial, but nothing compared to what my grandmother had taken.

I lowered my paddle, suddenly aware of a new calculus. The higher I pushed the price, the worse it would be for Olivia. Every billion I added to the final sum would add years to her potential sentence. If the documents showed she had defrauded a buyer of two-some billion dollars... I couldn't bear to think of it.

Jonathan looked at me across the room, a question in his eyes. He, too, seemed to realize that Morgan had entered the game with resources none of us had anticipated.

The auctioneer looked between us, his gavel hovering. "2.2 billion going once..."

I kept my paddle down.

"Going twice..."

Jonathan also remained still, perhaps understanding as I did that we were now playing a different game entirely.

"Sold! For 2.2 billion dollars to Ms. Phoenix!"

As the gavel struck, I heard the distant wail of police sirens. I set down my champagne flute and straightened my jacket. At least I would be arrested looking my best.

The officers would be here within minutes. I had expected this from the moment I decided to attend the auction. What I hadn't expected was to see my grandmother's bracelet on Morgan's wrist. How had that happened? Had my grandmother found Morgan during her recovery? Was that the source of Morgan's mysterious wealth?

I watched as Robert finally noticed me, his face paling when our eyes met across the room.

The sirens grew louder.