He Thought I Loved Him, I Only Loved His Face Chapter 07

He Thought I Loved Him, I Only Loved His Face Chapter 07

After that birthday, Rowan seemed to change.

He still spent most of his time with Piper. But now he came home almost every day.

Even when they didn’t speak, he found reasons to be in the same room as Maya. Always there. Lingering.

One day, after Rowan left, Maya noticed a document he’d brought home.

An auction house catalog.

One of the listed items was a glass snow globe.

That snow globe. Caleb had planned to make it for her. A gift from his own hands.

Inside it, a tiny blue gem was engraved with their initials.

She never knew how it ended up at an auction house.

Caleb never told anyone about the gift. It was meant to be a secret between them. No one else knew its history.

Maya looked at the photo in the catalog. Her vision blurred.

That snow globe. She had to have it.

She changed and rushed to the auction house.

Rowan and Piper were already there.

Rowan looked surprised to see her.

Before anyone could speak, the auction began.

They took their seats. Piper leaned against Rowan’s shoulder like she was his real wife.

The hall was heavily air-conditioned.

Rowan worried Piper might get cold. He slipped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

“Don’t catch a chill.”

Piper let him fuss, her voice sweet and coaxing. “Rowan, you promised me. Today, whatever I want, you’ll bid for it.”

Rowan’s voice was low. Tender. Devoted.

“Have I ever broken a promise to you?”

Piper’s red lips curved. Smug.

Maya paid them no attention. Her eyes were locked on the stage.

Finally, the snow globe came up.

Opening bid: one million dollars.

Maya raised her paddle without hesitation. “Two million.”

She was determined.

A million was already reasonable for this piece. Two million pushed it near the ceiling. Most buyers wouldn’t go higher.

She didn’t expect Piper to want it too.

“Rowan, I like this one too.”

The words barely left her mouth before Rowan raised his paddle.

“Three million.”

Maya’s heart clenched.

She knew if this turned into a battle of resources, she couldn’t beat Rowan. She raised her paddle anyway.

“Four million.”

Neither would back down. The price climbed to ten million.

Maya was out of money.

If she kept pushing, she would lose.

But that snow globe meant everything to her.

She softened her voice. She looked at Rowan with something close to pleading.

“This snow globe. Let me have it. Please. I really want it.”

The first time she’d ever asked him for anything.

A flicker of softness crossed Rowan’s eyes.

Piper cut in immediately.

“But I really like it too. If I can’t have it, I’ll always think about it.”

The softness vanished.

Rowan’s brow tightened. He made the unlimited bid gesture.

It meant he would outbid anyone, no matter the price, until he won the piece.

Maya had no hope left.