“But I don’t have an invitation.”

Jessica hesitated. “The invitations for this auction were sent out a month ago. It’s not easy to get one now, but if you want…”

Her meaning was clear: Freya should ask Matteo for help.

Around 9 p.m., after parting with Jessica, Freya returned to Matteo’s villa. She found him already home, working in his study. Knowing he disliked her being near his study, Freya stayed in the bedroom, reading until he finished.

Around 1 a.m., Matteo returned to their room. Seeing him, Freya put down her book. Matteo noticed her gaze and calmly asked, “Is there something?”

Freya didn’t beat around the bush. “I heard there’s a charity auction in two days—”

Matteo elegantly removed his tie, glancing at her. “You want an invitation?”

“Yes,” Freya replied.

“Got it.” He said this and headed to the closet, then to the bathroom to shower.

Freya was surprised by his ready agreement, but reassured nonetheless. It was late, so she put down her book and went to bed. Matteo was still showering, and she quickly fell asleep.

The following evening, after leaving Cole, Freya returned to the villa. Matteo wasn’t home, but Isabella was. Seeing Freya, Isabella immediately clung to her, begging for a delicious meal. Freya agreed.

After dinner, the butler found Freya. “Madam, someone just dropped this off for you.”

Freya opened the package: the invitation to the charity auction. Matteo had gotten it for her—two invitations, in fact. But since he’d sent them, did it mean he wouldn’t be coming home tonight?

Just then, her phone buzzed twice. Two messages from Jessica. Freya opened them and froze. A screenshot from Raven’s posts: a photo of Raven smiling sweetly against a fireworks display, captioned, “The fireworks festival tonight was beautiful.” Several couples were visible in the background; it was clearly a romantic setting. Raven’s joyful expression was unmistakable—she was with Matteo. He hadn’t come home because he was on a date with Raven. And he hadn’t even brought Freya.

Freya looked at the message calmly, though puzzled. She sent Jessica a message:

[Did you follow Raven?] Otherwise, how would she have a screenshot of Raven’s posts?

[I have a friend who knows her. She mentioned it, so I asked her to send me a screenshot.]

Jessica didn’t mention that her friend was deeply envious of Raven. Almost everyone in their circle knew Raven and Matteo were together, and that Matteo adored her.

Thinking about the extra invitation, Freya messaged Jessica, asking if she wanted to attend the auction. Jessica excitedly agreed: “Yes, we must go!”

That evening, Matteo didn’t come home—Freya had guessed as much. He was out with Raven, enjoying a romantic night. Since Matteo wasn’t returning, Freya slept alone.

The next day, Freya and Jessica dressed and headed to the auction. Their outfits weren’t extravagant, but both women were stunning. Upon entering the auction hall, they attracted much attention. Jessica, a regular at auctions, was recognized by many. It was Freya’s first time, and her presence with Jessica sparked curiosity about her family. They took seats in the middle-back section.

A few minutes before the auction was to begin, a stir erupted in the front row. Freya and Jessica looked. When they saw who it was, Freya froze.

Jessica said, “It’s Matteo and Raven… They’re here too.” She turned to Freya. “Did you know they’d be attending?”

Freya shook her head. “No.” She hadn’t expected him. He hadn’t told her he’d be there. After the last banquet and tech exhibition, Raven’s social standing had risen considerably. When they appeared, many people turned their attention to her.

“At the last banquet, President Wilson spent more than three million on her outfit. Now, this outfit seems to cost no less.”

“Not to mention the diamond jewelry; just her dress is a masterpiece from world-renowned designer Imme Evans. Everyone knows that in the past decade, she’s only designed three dresses a year, each worth over two million.”

“Last time, it was more than three million, and this time, it’s probably in the same range. In just these two occasions, President Wilson has spent tens of millions on her. He’s really willing to splurge on her.”

“Indeed.”