Chapter 7 Chapter 7
— One hundred thousand!
— Two hundred and fifty!
— Five hundred!
— Eight hundred thousand!
— One million!
The bidding intensified.
Each bid was higher than the last.
Rosana lowered her head, feeling the guests' stares—each one like a needle pricking her skin.
She knew that when she returned home, she would face Daniel's wrath.
And Nísia...
She was motionless, her hands trembling under the table.
At the back of the hall, Adam couldn't help but smile.
“Boss...” he whispered, lowering his voice. “Your father turned green with embarrassment. Just look at him.”
Katherine didn't answer.
She didn't even look up.
She just moved her thumb calmly, making her little snake grow bigger and bigger — devouring everything in its path.
The bidding continued to rise.
“One million five hundred thousand,” announced a clear, deep male voice.
The entire room fell silent.
Katherine's little snake collided with the wall again and died on the screen. Only then did she raise her eyes, fixing them directly on the back of João Pedro Arbex's head.
Adam was speechless.
“President... João Pedro... this... does he really want this perfume that much?”
Katherine didn't answer.
She calmly raised the pad:
“Two million.”
All eyes turned to her.
The same girl again.
The mood in the room changed—surprise, admiration, curiosity.
Nísia, biting her lip, felt her heart tighten.
Those looks should be hers—not her cousin's, whom she despised.
Then João Pedro raised his sign.
“Three million.”
Katherine smiled. A short, ironic, provocative smile.
“Four million.”
The audience was stunned.
It's just perfume... it doesn't make sense!
They thought João Pedro would back down.
But, with the same impassive tone, he raised the paddle again:
“Five million.”
The silence that followed was thick.
You could hear everyone breathing.
Everyone understood that the dispute was no longer about perfume — it had become personal.
That's when Katherine suddenly stopped.
She didn't raise the sign again.
The auctioneer's hammer echoed:
“Sold for five million to Mr. João Pedro Arbex!”
Adam turned to her, perplexed.
“Boss... you're very mean.”
She never intended to buy the perfume — she just wanted to provoke João Pedro.
And the most absurd thing: he knew.
And yet he jumped into the pit she dug.
Adam simply couldn't understand that game.
Katherine, however, stared motionless at João Pedro's neck.
In her eyes, a rare gleam — curiosity.
The auction ended without incident.
Katherine paid for the pearl earrings, took the item, and left.
They walked to the parking lot.
Suddenly, she stopped. Her ears perked up, her eyes narrowed.
“President, what's wrong?” Adam asked.
She gave him a calm look.
“Go to the supermarket across the street and buy me some food.”
Adam left quickly.
Alone, Katherine looked up—someone had appeared on the corner.
A man approached with impeccable posture.
“Miss, the gentleman wishes to see you. Please come with me.”
They led her to a black Rolls-Royce.
The driver opened the door respectfully.
“Miss, please.”
Katherine smiled slightly—maliciously, insolently, provocatively.
“If you have something to say, say it. You only have five minutes.”
The man inside the car didn't move.
His jaw was clenched, veins bulging in his temples—clearly furious.
Katherine gave him a quick, indifferent glance.
And began to walk away.
At that moment, the car door opened, and Daniel Lutz stepped out with a stern expression on his face. There was not a trace of paternal affection in his eyes—only coldness and judgment.
He looked his stepdaughter up and down and said sarcastically,
“Don't you even take the initiative to greet your father? What kind of manners did your mother teach you?”
His voice was calm but sharp as a blade.
Katherine smiled, displaying a cold and insolent charm.
“Father? You?”
The light and disinterested tone she used made Daniel's eyes flare with anger. He suppressed it with difficulty, trying to appear controlled.
“Who is that blond guy you're hanging out with?” he asked, his voice rising. “He doesn't seem like a good influence.”
You're using your mother's money to support him, aren't you?
Katherine replied indifferently:
“Yes. I'm supporting him.”
Daniel's face turned blue.
“Shameless!”
His deep voice, full of scorn, echoed through the parking lot.
Katherine lifted her chin, smiling coldly.
“What does it matter to you?”
Daniel took a step forward, his gaze fierce.
“In the eyes of others, I am your father. Your shameful actions embarrass me!”
Katherine replied with pure lightness:
“Have you ever taught me or helped me with anything in the last decade?” She smiled bitterly. “My father? Do you think you deserve that title?”
Daniel was speechless for a few seconds, choked with rage, until he managed to speak:
“I knew you would amount to nothing!”
Katherine shrugged.
“If a child receives no education, it's the father's fault. I became this way thanks to you.”
Daniel's lips trembled; anger left him speechless.
Katherine sighed wearily.
“Let's not waste time talking about father-daughter affection. I have none for you. And in the future, don't bother me unless it's really necessary.”
She turned to leave, but Daniel fired back:
“Where did you get the money to bid at the auction?” He narrowed his eyes.
“I know exactly how much your mother left. It wasn't much. So where did you get it?
Katherine smiled, a small smile full of contempt.
”Oh, so that's what it was. All right. I can tell you. That money... I earned it.
Daniel let out a dry, angry laugh.
“You? You earned thirty million? An uneducated country girl like you? Ridiculous! Her education was wasted on you. How are you going to face her in the underworld?!”
Katherine became serious—cold as ice.
“The one who got married the day after the funeral... that wasn't me,” she said firmly. “So, of course I can face her.”
Daniel's face turned completely red.
Losing his patience, he took a checkbook out of his pocket, writing something as he spoke, spitting out the words like poison:
"Since your mother left you in the care of the Arbexes, you'd better stay there and obey. From now on, don't tell anyone you're part of the Lutz family.
Much less in front of my daughter. The less people know about our relationship, the better. For all intents and purposes, I don't exist as your father!
He tore off the check and handed it to her.
“This money is enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life. Take it. Consider it my mercy and justice.”
Katherine looked down at the envelope.
She didn't check the amount.
She just took it between her fingers—and tore it up.
The paper fell apart into strips that flew away in the wind.
She looked up, calm, impassive.
“Who do you think you are? As if I need your money. Save it for your retirement.”
Without looking back, she turned and walked away.
Daniel Lutz stood there, motionless, consumed by rage—staring at the floor covered with pieces of the check he once believed had value to her.