Chapter 58 State a Condition
Nicholas's voice was ice-cold. The temperature between both parties instantly dropped to freezing.
I knew Nicholas was protecting me, so I kept quiet to avoid causing him trouble.
Edward's expression remained indifferent. "I'm personally very interested in all of today's auction items. I wonder if Mr. Harrington might consider attending next time instead?"
I was somewhat surprised. Edward would go this far for Sabrina?
I knew the Song family had money, but was a human shield really worth this much? Obviously, Edward must have known Sabrina was providing Rosewood family antiques and was helping her keep Nicholas and me out.
Once I entered and participated in the auction, there'd be proof of Sabrina stealing Rosewood family antiques. Since they were working together, they were grasshoppers tied to the same string.
What team spirit!
I looked at Edward with a certain appreciation.
The next second, Nicholas's frame blocked my view. I was pretty sure he did that on purpose, but I had no proof.
Nicholas's expression didn't change as he looked at Edward. "Mr. Johnson, I'll agree not to bid on anything. However, my friend and I—" He glanced down at me with a slight smile. "We came all this way. Why would we leave before it even starts?"
I looked away, avoiding eye contact with Nicholas.
When did I miss that his smile was this devastatingly attractive? Even exhausted, that face was criminally handsome. He was like a born king.
I struggled to shake those messy thoughts from my head and nodded in agreement. "Right. We came all this way, we might as well watch. You don't mind, do you, Mr. Johnson?"
Just then, the emcee's voice filtered through the walls from inside.
Nicholas ignored them and gentlemanly took my wrist, leading me inside.
"Catherine, you—"
Sabrina barely got a word out before being cut off. I turned back and shot her a provocative smile.
Sabrina stamped her foot and followed.
She shamelessly switched seats with whoever was next to me, leaning close to whisper in my ear. "How did you find out?"
"Guess."
Those two words again.
Sabrina's face darkened in frustration. She was losing it. "I was wrong! I shouldn't have said that to you before! Can you please just let this go?"
I turned and smiled at her. "Nope."
Sabrina choked, fuming helplessly beside me. She tried every trick to get me to leave. I ignored her completely, just waiting for the emcee to introduce the Rosewood family antiques so I could pull out my phone and record video.
Sabrina reached for my phone in desperation. Her hand had barely moved when I started to dodge, but a strong arm reached past my neck and caught Sabrina's troublemaking hand mid-air.
I finished recording my video.
Nicholas received the signal and forcefully shoved Sabrina's hand away—like he'd touched something contaminated. He wiped his hands with a wet wipe while looking at me. "Want to switch seats?"
"Thanks."
I didn't stand on ceremony.
With Nicholas as a barrier between us, Sabrina was forced to settle down. I perked up my ears to listen to the auction, still feeling a heavily resentful stare boring into me. I didn't react.
Scared now?
Sabrina, oh Sabrina—where was this panic when you were stealing?
Thinking about those Rosewood family people just made me feel tired. Sabrina's next move would probably be going after the Rosewood family's real estate, right?
And so far, not one of them had noticed anything suspicious. If I were still with the Rosewood family, Sabrina would've immediately framed me.
Wait! Framed?
An ominous feeling crept over me.
I turned my head—Sabrina had left her seat at some point.
"What's wrong?"
My anxiety must have shown because Nicholas immediately tensed up too.
I looked around. "Where's Sabrina?"
Hearing that, Nicholas instinctively turned back. From his reaction, I could tell he hadn't been paying attention to Sabrina at all—how would he know where she went?
The auction was nearing its end. Edward, who'd claimed he wanted everything, hadn't raised his paddle once. He sat not far from us.
Sabrina wasn't with him.
I couldn't help wondering—would Sabrina really ditch him and leave early?
In a flash, my suspicions crystallized.
"Nicholas, we need to leave now."
"Okay."
I was stunned. He wasn't going to ask why?
Meeting my questioning look, Nicholas seemed to read my mind. "You suspect Sabrina went to contact the Rosewood family, right?"
I nodded, completely shocked. He was that sharp? I hadn't said anything and he'd already figured it out.
"Let's leave first, then talk."
This time Nicholas didn't explain further. I hurried after him.
We'd just reached the middle aisle when Edward looked our way. This time he didn't try to stop us, but I saw him texting someone on his phone.
Damn it! These two were coordinating from the inside out?
I pressed my lips together but didn't slow down, following Nicholas toward the exit. I clutched the video I'd recorded, my mind a chaotic mess.
Countless scenes of Sabrina framing me flashed through my head like film reels. My palms broke out in a thin layer of sweat.
Sure, the Rosewood family had no evidence of me stealing antiques, but with Sabrina's accusations already planted in their minds, they'd never believe my side of the story.
My head crashed into the back of the person in front of me. I gasped in pain.
Before I could ask what was wrong, Nicholas—who'd suddenly stopped—grabbed my hand and pulled me into a corner alcove.
"Shh!" He pressed his index finger to his lips, signaling me to stay quiet.
A few seconds later, Michael's obnoxious voice echoed from the entrance. "Sabby, you're saying Catherine stole antiques from home to auction them off before she left?"
"That's right, Michael. Right here at this auction house. I saw it with my own eyes!"
"Where is she?"
"Should still be inside. We'll confront her face to face in a minute!"
Michael let out a cold laugh. "Knowing her personality, she probably won't admit it even if we catch her red-handed. But that's fine—I brought Jason's camera today. You can secretly record her ugly behavior. Last time Catherine got us arrested and had people spread rumors about me online. This is the perfect chance to get some payback. This time, I'm going to completely destroy her reputation!"
Sabrina's tone was casual. "Don't worry, Michael. DI might even fire her over this!"
The siblings hurried past, clearly having already planned how to leave me speechless in front of everyone.
If they really recorded this and posted it online, the Rosewood family would never let me go. What would it take to satisfy them then?
I smiled bitterly. The answer surfaced in my mind immediately.
[Catherine, just come back and keep testing drugs for Sabby, and we'll take down the trending topics.]
But I'd worked so hard for so long—why should it all go up in flames?
"Don't worry. I'm here."
Nicholas's large hand settled on my head, radiating a reassuring strength.
"Catherine, you don't need to fear anyone."