Chapter 38
At the auction, the auctioneer moved through the early lots with practiced elegance. Neither Asher nor Drake showed interest until the pink diamond necklace appeared.
“Opening bid at £400,000,” the auctioneer announced with polished precision.
Drake immediately raised his paddle. After several rounds, the price reached £600,000, with most bidders dropping out.
“£620,000,” Drake called.
The auctioneer gestured elegantly. “£620,000. Shall we try £650,000?”
Asher raised his paddle with casual indifference.
“£650,000. Do we have any further bids?”
Drake shot Asher a venomous glance before bidding again. A subtle war unfolded between them, the price climbing steadily.
At £700,000, Drake remained resolute. The necklace would be worth every penny if it secured Sterling Industries' investment. The old saying rang true—you had to spend money to make money.
“£750,000,” Asher countered smoothly.
“£800,000,” Drake snapped.
As Asher moved to bid again, Thalia touched his arm. “Let it go. It’s not worth it.” The necklace was barely worth half its current price, and she preferred the sapphire piece coming up later. There was no point in a petty bidding war with Drake.
Watching from beside Drake, Sienna smirked triumphantly at Thalia. Clearly, her new man didn't value her enough to continue.
Later, in the ladies' room, Thalia was applying lipstick when Sienna sauntered up.
“My, my, how quickly you found a replacement,” Sienna's reflection sneered. “Though Drake just spent £800,000 on a necklace for me, while yours couldn't be bothered. But then,” she studied Thalia through the mirror, “you’re hardly worth the investment, are you?”
Thalia finished her lipstick with steady hands. “Best of luck with that,” she said simply, turning to leave. Sienna’s words were meaningless, like a small dog yapping in the distance.
Days later, at the gala at Alexander Sterling's estate, luxury cars and elite guests filled the driveway. Beyond social climbers like Drake, many industry leaders had come specifically to meet Thalia—valuable connections for her legal career.
Thalia and Asher arrived early. Alexander, striking in his white dinner jacket, greeted them at the main entrance.
“Finally, cousin!” he embraced Thalia warmly. “More stunning every time I see you.” He turned to Asher with a playful grin. “Never thought I’d be calling you brother-in-law. Come on, call me ‘brother’ just once.”
Asher’s only response was an arctic look.
“So cold!” Alexander laughed. “How does my cousin tolerate you?”
“Cold?” Thalia’s eyes sparkled. “He’s perfectly warm with me.”
“Save the romance for after the engagement,” Alexander groaned theatrically.
After some light conversation, Thalia and Asher entered the ballroom. The ground floor was already filling with guests, most unfamiliar to Thalia. Asher was immediately surrounded by people hoping to catch his attention.
When a foreign couple needed to discuss an important project with Asher and Alexander, Thalia gracefully stepped aside. “Go ahead. I’ll entertain myself for a bit.”
She had barely settled onto a sofa when Mrs. Clarke approached with pearl earrings.
“Miss Winters, you forgot these when you left. Your stepmother asked me to bring them.”
“Oh!” Thalia touched her bare earlobes. “How careless of me.”
“Shall I help you with those?” Mrs. Clarke offered warmly, her touch imbued with the same maternal care that had comforted Thalia through her mother’s death.
A familiar voice cut through the moment. “Well, well. Thalia Winters.” Margaret Ashcroft, Drake’s mother, stood there with Sienna. Her eyes moved between Thalia and Mrs. Clarke's uniform with calculated disdain. “So your mother’s a servant? How… illuminating.”
“No, madam, you misunderstand,” Mrs. Clarke quickly protested, distressed at causing Thalia potential embarrassment. “I’m the Winters’ housekeeper.”
Margaret’s laugh was brittle. “Oh, darling, no need for pretense. We all saw that touching little moment with the earrings. How… quaint.”
Sienna covered her mouth, giggling. “No wonder you’re embarrassed. I’d simply die if my mother was a servant.”