His Final Betrayal Was My First Move Chapter 06

His Final Betrayal Was My First Move Chapter 06

Victoria’s provocation was like a drop of hot oil in a boiling pot. The atmosphere in the auction hall ignited. The guests’ whispers merged into a low buzz as every eye focused on the sudden confrontation.

Several foundation board members standing near Griffin looked uneasy. One older trustee, Mr. Harrison, stepped forward and spoke to him in a low, urgent voice. “Griffin, calm down. This is far beyond a personal entertainment budget. And don’t forget who you are. Amelia is here.”

His words were a clear warning, implying what an inappropriate scandal it would be to spend recklessly on Daphne in such a public setting.

But Griffin couldn’t hear a word of it. He didn’t even glance at Mr. Harrison. He only gazed at Daphne, a fire burning in his eyes, eager to prove himself.

“I won’t let you down,” he said, his voice low but heavy with promise.

Daphne’s lips curled into a victorious smile. Victoria, looking like an enraged bull, only grew more disdainful.

The foundation assistant beside me went pale. She grabbed my wrist, her voice trembling.

“Mrs. Whitaker, you have to stop him! The necklace’s estimate is already far above tonight’s donation limit. If he touches the foundation’s reserve funds… that’s misappropriation!”

My heart sank.

Of course I knew the consequences. The Whitaker Family Foundation’s reputation was built on flawless financial trust. A single blemish could trigger a catastrophic audit.

Although I had already decided to let him go, I couldn’t just stand by and watch him destroy everything he had worked for, and possibly face legal jeopardy, for another woman.

I took a deep breath and pushed through the crowd, preparing to walk toward the man who was already blinded by desire and pride.

“I wouldn’t waste your breath if I were you.”

A voice blocked my path. At some point, Daphne had left Griffin’s side. She stood before me, leisurely, as if she were the hostess of the evening, her eyes full of a smile that saw right through me.

“You don’t actually think he’ll listen to you, do you?” She looked me up and down, her tone flippant. “Amelia, do you still not understand your place?”

She leaned closer. Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, laced with poisonous pride.

“Do you know what he’s done for me? In college, I casually said I liked an antique Porsche parked on the street. Without a word, he used his trust fund to buy it and was grounded by his father for the entire summer. After graduation, he got into a fight for me at the Somerset Club, and his membership was suspended for a year. To me, he will always be that boy willing to burn down the world for me. And you…” She paused, the smile at the corner of her mouth deepening. “You’re just a safe, respectable, trouble-free wife for when he needs to catch his breath. A substitute. Do you understand?”

Every word was an ice-tipped needle piercing my heart.

I forced myself to meet her boastful gaze and asked coldly, “If he loves you so much, what about you? Since you know he’ll lose his mind for you, why won’t you stop him when you know he might be misusing public funds?”

Daphne looked as if she had just heard the funniest joke in the world, her expression a mask of classic Boston-socialite contempt.

“Why would I stop him?” she retorted, a cruel light flickering in her eyes. “Don’t you think it’s interesting to watch a man abandon his principles for you, charging forward like some out-of-control hero? Since I’ve decided to take him back, of course I want him to prove that he loves me enough to give up everything. This is a good test, isn’t it?”

She glanced at me with disdain. “Of course, you wouldn’t understand. Griffin would never fight that desperately for you.”

Her words landed like boulders, sinking my heart to the very bottom. A thousand retorts rose to my throat, only to die as silence.

Seeing my pale face, Daphne seemed to think it still wasn’t enough. She suddenly reached out and plucked my iPhone from my clutch.

“Since you still refuse to give up, I’ll prove it to you one more time.” She unlocked the screen, found Griffin’s number, and handed the phone to me. “Call him now. Tell him you have food poisoning and are in the emergency room at Mass General. Let’s see if he’ll give up this auction for me because of you.”

The cold phone pressed against my palm. The name “Griffin” on the screen stung my eyes.

Under Daphne’s urging gaze, I pressed the call button.

Beep.

Beep.

The long rings sounded unnaturally clear in the noisy auction hall, each one chipping away at my last illusion.

Finally, the call connected.

“Make it quick,” Griffin’s voice came through, sharp and impatient. In the background, I could hear the auctioneer’s rising bid call. “I’m at a critical moment. Don’t bother me.”

He hung up before I even had a chance to speak.

Listening to the dial tone, watching the screen slowly go dark, my hand dropped weakly to my side.

I looked down at my simple black dress. I was no longer the woman who needed jewelry and gowns to play “Mrs. Whitaker.”

An unprecedented lightness washed over me.

I lifted my head, a relieved smile curving my lips. I said only two words to Daphne.

“You won.”