Chapter 123

Marissa chuckled, glancing at Paisley. "Kayla's certainly proving useful," she mused. The question hung in the air: how would Paisley react to the accusation of a fake bid? Marissa doubted Paisley’s claim. "Thirty-three million dollars? And she lives in that neighborhood?" Marissa recalled picking up Grayson from Paisley’s unremarkable house.

Kayla’s challenge ignited a firestorm. Whispers erupted. "Faking a bid? Impossible! Look at her, sitting with those kids…"

Diana, calmly observing, intervened. "All bidders underwent financial verification, Ms. Vanderbilt. Were you unaware?"

Kayla froze. She hadn’t known this was an auction until arriving with Marissa to meet Nion. She looked at Marissa, a silent question in her eyes.

Marissa offered a strained smile. "I knew, but I didn't expect Ms. Sutton to qualify. A misunderstanding, I thought."

Reassured, Kayla refocused on Paisley.

"Ms. Vanderbilt," Paisley said gently, "if you don't raise your bid, the painting is mine."

Kayla startled. "Forty million!"

"Forty-five million."

"Fifty million!"

"Fifty-five million!"

The auction hall fell silent, the only sounds Paisley’s and Kayla’s escalating bids, and the auctioneer’s increasingly breathless pronouncements.

Kayla was stunned. She hadn’t anticipated this. Fifty-five million was pushing her limits. Her disposable income was limited to pocket money and yearly dividends. Desperation clawed at her. She looked at Marissa, silently pleading for help. If I keep going, I'll need Dom's help. Marissa can talk to him, right?

Marissa, sensing her plea, knew she couldn't promise anything. She and Dominick weren't married; she couldn't ask him for money on Kayla's behalf. Regret washed over her. Kayla’s impulsiveness, and Paisley’s unexpected wealth, had caught them both off guard. She met Paisley's gaze, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within her.

"Well, Ms. Vanderbilt?" Paisley’s tone was light, as if fifty-five million was insignificant.

The auctioneer’s voice rose. "Fifty-five million dollars once… twice… fifty-five…"

Kayla gritted her teeth. "Sixty million!" The words were a desperate throw, the absolute maximum she could afford. She watched Paisley anxiously.

A gasp rippled through the crowd. Sixty million dollars for Nion’s painting? No one had predicted this.