Elena Monroe drove to pick me up. I didn't even glance at Elena Monroe and got straight into Tessa Lane's car instead.
Tessa Lane was beautiful and incredibly funny. The whole drive, she tried to cheer me up, but I couldn't manage even a smile.
"Sebastian, feeling down?" Tessa Lane gently took my hand and asked. "There's an auction today. Let me take you. Once we're there, bid on whatever you want. I'll pay for everything."
I said coldly, "Why the generous act? You're just spending my family's money anyway."
"Don't patronize me," Tessa Lane said. "In the Sinclair family, Elena Monroe isn't the only prodigy here. I've been investing overseas these past few years. I've made quite a fortune, so spend freely. Your wife can take care of you just fine."
She finally made me laugh. "Then I'm going to make you go broke today."
We drove to the auction. The auction was buzzing with energy, filled with celebrities and society's elite. Rumor had it the most coveted item tonight was a men's watch called End of Time. The face was crystal clear, each detail meticulously carved from blue diamonds. I collected luxury watches. This extraordinary timepiece, I had to have it.
But the moment I sat down, Elena Monroe led Dylan Monroe into the auction hall. The smile on my face froze instantly. I had a sinking feeling. Dylan Monroe would definitely compete with me for End of Time.
Sure enough, the moment End of Time was presented, Dylan Monroe raised his paddle. But he quickly noticed I was raising mine, too. So after hesitating for a few moments, he reluctantly lowered his paddle with a wounded expression.
"Oh, you want End of Time too?" Dylan Monroe forced out a smile. "Then I won't take it. I can't compete for something you want."
After saying this, he lowered his eyes, looking like he'd suffered a terrible injustice.
Elena Monroe's expression immediately turned cold, her gaze at me filled with even more disgust. "Dylan, you have me. You don't need to endure this. If you want something, fight for it. I have the money to cover you."
Without waiting for Dylan Monroe's response, Elena Monroe raised her paddle. "One hundred million."
The entire auction hall fell silent. More than a few heiresses gasped, terrified by the astronomical figure. Stunned, everyone began whispering among themselves.
"What's going on? Isn't Elena Monroe Sebastian Sinclair's foster bride? Why is she buying such an expensive watch for another man?"
"And the watch she's buying is what Sebastian Sinclair wanted. Isn't this just slapping him in the face in front of everyone?"
"Sebastian Sinclair is so pathetic. An heir to a fortune, being stepped on by his own foster bride."
"This woman really has no respect for Sebastian Sinclair."
I silently clenched my fists. Since childhood, I'd been spoiled and adored by my father. But now Elena Monroe had turned me into a laughingstock. To be humiliated like this by the woman I once chose. Shame crept through me inch by excruciating inch.
I was so furious. I made the torch signal, because no one could outbid me once I raised the torch.
"Mr. Sinclair has raised the torch." The auctioneer was ecstatic. "Congratulations to Mr. Sinclair for successfully winning End of Time."
In that moment, the weight crushing my chest finally lifted. But when it came time to pay, the organizers told me my card had been frozen.
"That's impossible," I insisted. "My card has no limit. No amount can freeze it."
I told them to try again, but the card still wouldn't process.
That's when Tessa Lane stepped forward with a mischievous expression. "Honey, didn't I say I'd pay today? Use my card." She smiled as she handed it over.
But her card wouldn't process either.
"How can this be?" Tessa Lane frowned. Her face showed disbelief.
Below the stage, murmurs rippled through the crowd. Some even laughed out loud.
"Did the Sinclair family go bankrupt? Can't even come up with a hundred million."
"Why raise the torch if you don't have the money? Absolutely humiliating."
Countless mocking voices pierced my ears. My face burned crimson.
Elena Monroe, sitting below the stage, had finally seen enough of the show. She stood up leisurely. She pulled out a black bank card and handed it to the staff. "Use my card."
This time, the payment finally went through. The organizers handed End of Time to Elena Monroe, and Elena Monroe, in front of everyone, fastened End of Time around Dylan Monroe's wrist.
In that moment, I truly became the biggest joke in the entire auction hall.
"That scheming witch," Tessa Lane cursed under her breath. "Our cards couldn't process. It had to be Elena Monroe's doing. She's a top-tier hacker. I saw her open her laptop earlier. She definitely hacked our accounts. That's why our bank cards froze and wouldn't process."
My eyes burned red. My heart throbbed violently. So that's what happened. Elena Monroe had deliberately humiliated me after fastening End of Time on Dylan Monroe.
Elena Monroe's beautiful peach blossom eyes swept coldly toward Tessa Lane. "If you don't have the means, don't try to show off."
Then she turned her gaze to me, her voice flat as she said, "You should have gotten in my car."
I laughed coldly. "But your car already had a passenger."
With that, I turned and walked away, never looking back at Elena Monroe again.