Chapter 75

Chapter 75

"Not for sale? What do you mean by that?"

Richard's face darkened as he stared at Ellie, clearly annoyed.

Ellie felt a wave of grievance wash over her. She bit her lip and said, "I really love this watch. I came here specifically to bid on it. Just because Charlotte wants it doesn't mean I have to give it up, does it?"

As she spoke, tears started rolling down her cheeks.

"The engagement went to my sister, and so did the position of Bliss Group heir. Why does she have to take away even a watch from me now?"

Ellie's crying grew louder.

Many of the socialites who had come out from the auction heard her, and seeing what was happening, they began whispering among themselves.

"Isn't that Ellie? Mr. Brown's adopted daughter."

"I heard she was supposed to marry into the Davis family, but then Charlotte came back and took the engagement from her. The Davis family probably looked down on her for being adopted and just dropped her."

"If she's already that pitiful, why is Charlotte still trying to take the watch Ellie won at the auction?"

"Right? Even if it belonged to someone important, Ellie bought it fair and square. Who says she has to hand it over? So overbearing."

The people around them felt sorry for Ellie and started speaking up for her one after another.

Ellie cried even more pitifully, clutching the box tightly in her arms. "I'm sorry, Charlotte. I don't want to sell it to you. I just want this watch."

Charlotte slowly furrowed her brow, her eyes darkening.

This was an antique men's watch. She was a hundred percent sure Ellie didn't want it because she liked it. Somehow Ellie had found out the watch mattered to her and had shown up early at the auction to snatch it away.

Charlotte walked up to Ellie step by step.

"I'm not trying to take the watch by force. Name your price."

Ellie's eyes flickered as she glanced at Richard standing behind Charlotte.

Name a price?

Easy for her to say.

What if she told Charlotte to hand Richard over?

She'd never agree in a million years.

Ellie's eyes flashed with contempt, then quickly shifted back to her helpless, pitiful look. "I'm sorry, I don't have any conditions. I just want to keep this watch as a keepsake. Please don't push me, okay? My heart is bothering me right now."

As she said this, she swayed forward and then stumbled back, as if she might faint at any second.

Charlotte almost laughed out of irritation at the performance.

She narrowed her eyes coldly. "Fine. If you want it that badly, keep it."

Charlotte turned and walked away.

Richard was about to step forward and push further, but she grabbed his arm.

"Let's go. I don't want it anymore."

"But..."

"It's fine. I don't want it anymore."

Charlotte got straight into the car, her expression grim.

Richard shot Ellie a cold glance and moved to get in after her.

"Mr. Davis..."

Ellie rushed forward and blocked his way, her eyes full of nervous caution.

Richard frowned, his patience thin. "What is it?"

"You clearly wanted to help Charlotte get that watch. Why didn't you talk to me? Do you really... hate talking to me that much now?" Ellie looked hurt, her eyes red and brimming with tears.

To anyone watching, it looked like Richard had led Ellie on and then abandoned her.

Richard lost all patience. He looked at her blankly and shot back, "You knew that watch belonged to William, and you still refused to give it to Charlotte. What is there for me to say?"

"I didn't know it was Mr. Smith's! And the watch was already up for auction. I bought it through the proper channels. Do I really have to give it to her?" Ellie rushed to explain herself, tears streaming down her face.

Richard couldn't be bothered. "Whether you did it on purpose, you know the answer yourself."

With that, he got in the car and they drove off.

Ellie stood there alone, clutching the box, her face pale.

She murmured under her breath, "Richard, I'll make you see that not choosing me was a mistake. I won't let Charlotte have an easy life. Everything she wants, everything she has — I'm going to take it all for myself."

......

In the car.

Richard kept glancing at Charlotte's expression. "Why didn't you keep pushing her for it? That was something your grandfather left behind."

"I know."

Charlotte tugged at the corner of her mouth, her eyes carrying a cold edge of mockery. "But didn't you see how she was crying? Everyone around us felt sorry for her. If I'd stayed, she would've played the victim in front of everyone. Why would I give her what she wanted?"

The more she pushed for the watch in front of everyone, the more Ellie could spin it as Charlotte trying to take it from her.

And she had no proof that Ellie had deliberately gone after William's keepsake.

Richard's gaze turned dangerous. "Want me to find someone to get it back another way?"

"No. If she wants to pull this kind of thing on me, she's going to pay for it. I'll make her hand that watch over herself. Let's talk about it when we get home."

Seeing that she was in a bad mood, Richard didn't say anything more.

When they got back, Ellie returned not long after — empty-handed, with no sign of the watch anywhere.

Charlotte glanced at her and said nothing.

Ellie carefully walked over to her side, her eyes instantly going red. "Charlotte, you're not still mad at me, are you?"

"Mad about what?" Helen looked over, curious.

Ellie's eyes reddened, and she was just about to speak when Charlotte cut her off.

"Mom and Dad mentioned you have a heart condition. You're not feeling well, right?"

Ellie was caught off guard. She hadn't expected Charlotte to bring that up out of nowhere. She hesitated, then nodded with a weak smile.

"I really am not as healthy as you. I've been frail since I was little. I've been nothing but trouble for the family."

"Don't say that." Helen's heart ached at those words. "You have a heart problem and we didn't even know. We've been neglecting you all this time. We'll find you a good doctor and get you properly treated."

"No need to look for one — I already have someone in mind." Charlotte opened her laptop and pulled up a contact.

"He's a top specialist in cardiac surgery, and he's made some remarkable breakthroughs in heart-related research. Just send him Ellie's medical records and he'll know exactly how to treat her."

Ellie's face shifted. She quickly shook her head. "That's not necessary, Charlotte. You don't have to go to all that trouble!"

"It's no trouble at all." Charlotte raised an eyebrow, a faint challenge in her eyes. "How could anything involving you be trouble? Heart disease is serious. Let a specialist take a look — he might be able to put together a treatment plan for you right away."

The more Charlotte pushed for the watch in front of everyone, the more Ellie could spin it as Charlotte trying to steal it from her.

Ellie panicked even more, swallowing hard. "Really, it's fine. The doctors here have already examined me..."

"It's okay." David chimed in, gently coaxing her. "Let her bring in a specialist to take a look. Who knows — your heart condition might actually be curable."

Charlotte hit send on the email.

So she wants to mess with her by taking  watch?

Let's see just how long Ellie can keep up this little act.