They Called Me a Gold Digger, So I Dethroned Them All Chapter 03

The auction was packed with Vellmont’s elite, the air heavy with expensive perfume.

I wore a minimalist dark gray cashmere coat and took a seat in the farthest corner.

Around me, socialites gathered in small groups, their hushed gossip carrying through the room.

“Did you hear? That emerald necklace up for auction tonight was originally supposed to be a gift from Hollis Redgrave to Blythe Wetherell. A symbol of their love.”

“That’s nothing. Hollis even made Blythe give up her custom couture gown so that little country girl could wear it.”

“She’s spent years pretending to be some high-society princess, and now she’s been upstaged by a girl from the middle of nowhere. How embarrassing.”

Their cruel words stung like needles.

I kept my back straight and my chin slightly raised, holding my champagne glass without the slightest tremor.

Even if I was the laughingstock of the entire room, no one was going to find fault with my composure.

The auctioneer’s voice rang out across the hall.

“Next, we have one of tonight’s featured pieces: a vintage Cartier emerald necklace, with an opening bid of $1.1 million!”

The necklace appeared on the massive screen, its gemstones glittering under the lights.

Hollis sat in the front row, with Maisie nestled against him in the poorly altered ivory gown.

Without hesitation, he raised his paddle.

“One point four million.”

A collective gasp swept through the room.

Maisie covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes glistening as she looked at Hollis.

“Hollis, that’s way too expensive. I can’t possibly accept something like that…”

He turned toward her, his expression so tender it made my heart ache.

“It’s a reward for getting into college, and something to mark the start of your new life. You deserve the best.”

Tobin Kersey immediately joined in.

“Now that’s how you do it, Hollis! Funny how certain people who never stop talking about designer labels can’t even afford to raise a paddle tonight.”

Countless eyes turned toward me.

Contempt, mockery, pity. Every look fell on me like a spotlight.

I tightened my grip on my glass, a chill spreading through my chest until it felt as though my heart had been submerged in ice.

Three months ago, Hollis had shown me the designs for that very necklace. He’d told me the emeralds would look perfect against my collarbone.

And now he was casually giving it to a girl he considered so much more deserving.

“Two point one million.”

A cool, even male voice suddenly cut through the noise from the back of the room.

Everyone turned.

Stellan Arkwright sat in the shadows, an auction paddle held between his long fingers, his expression indifferent.

Hollis looked momentarily taken aback. He turned toward Stellan, managing to maintain his polished smile.

“Mr. Arkwright, I didn’t realize you were interested in women’s jewelry.”

Stellan didn’t even lift his eyes. His voice was as cold as the first frost of winter.

“Someone in my family has a thing for emeralds. Figured I’d put in a bid.”

Hollis’s brow furrowed slightly before he raised his paddle again.

“Two point six million.”

Stellan’s expression didn’t change.

“Four point three million.”

The entire room drew a sharp breath.

At $4.3 million, the price had soared well beyond what the emerald necklace was worth.

Hollis’s fingers tightened around his paddle, and for the first time, his carefully maintained composure began to slip.

Maisie went pale and quickly tugged at his sleeve.

“Hollis, please don’t bid any higher. It’s too expensive. I don’t deserve a necklace like that…”

Hollis took the opportunity to back down. He gave her hand a gentle pat and lowered his paddle.

“Impressive, Mr. Arkwright. If someone in your family has their heart set on it, I certainly wouldn’t want to stand in the way.”

The auctioneer’s hammer came down.

The necklace belonged to Stellan Arkwright.

By the time the auction ended, a light rain had begun to fall.

I stood at the foot of the convention center steps, waiting for my rideshare as the icy wind stung my cheeks.

A Mercedes-Maybach pulled up in front of me.

Hollis was behind the wheel. As the window rolled down, I saw Maisie sitting in the passenger seat, his custom-tailored suit jacket draped over her shoulders.