Chapter 108 That pent-up humiliation in Penelope's chest curdled instantly into hatred. If not for this bitch, she would have married Caleb long ago without a single hitch. Throughout the evening, Sydney hardly lifted her head. She had never cared for these kinds of occasions, yet she carried herself with effortless composure. When someone approached, she greeted them with a polite smile and a few well-chosen words. When no one did, she scrolled through her phone, idly flipping through the auction catalog. Before long, the auctioneer stepped onto the stage, and the event officially began.
The first item was a Victorian-era painting, prized as a collectible, with a starting bid of 2 million dollars. Penelope's heart itched. A piece like this could be resold for a hefty profit. Just as she leaned toward Caleb to whisper, she caught him lowering his gaze to Sydney instead. "Do you like it?" he asked. Truthfully, Sydney could not care less. But when she noticed the eager gleam in Penelope's eyes, she thought of that pendant. Her answer shifted in an instant. "I like it." Within a few rounds, the bidding had climbed to 6 million dollars. Caleb raised his paddle.
"10 million." The room fell silent. Who in their right mind jumped 4 million dollars in a single bid? Even so, a few stubborn bidders pushed the price higher. In the end, the painting landed with Caleb for 16 million dollars. Sydney tilted her head just in time to see Penelope's face flush crimson with fury. The corner of her lips curved into a smile. The angrier Penelope grew, the more certain Sydney became. That pendant had not passed through a stranger's hands before reaching her.
Penelope herself had been the one who had cut up her princess dress, stuffed nails into her shoes, and stolen her pendant all those years ago. And with that certainty, Sydney loathed the idea of letting her have even a moment of satisfaction tonight. 'Bitch.' Penelope nearly went mad. 'How dare Sydney provoke me like this before Caleb.' The next few items were unremarkable. Then an old wild Sengra root, more than 100 years old, appeared on the stage. Sydney's eyes lit up. Antiques were just to spite Penelope, but she truly wanted this root.
Alan's birthday was coming up, and he would love a gift like this. The starting bid was only 20,000 dollars, well within her means. Sydney raised her paddle first. "25,000." Not asking Caleb meant she intended to win it on her own. At first, Penelope hardly cared. It was just a root, useless to her. But she could not pass up a chance to humiliate Sydney. Besides, Sydney spending more than 20,000 of the Hampton family's money on a root was laughable. She tugged gently on Caleb's sleeve, "Cal, I really want this root.
Ever since Timmy's accident, his health has been fragile." Then she turned toward Sydney, all sugar and reason. "Syd, would you mind letting me have this one? Don't fight me for it." Sydney almost laughed. She had raised her paddle first, yet somehow Penelope twisted it into Sydney being the one fighting. Sydney lowered her gaze. She had no intention of wasting her breath-until Caleb suddenly lifted his paddle. "60,000." "Syd, you don't need this. Let Penny have it. I already bought you the painting earlier. How about you two take turns, hmm?" 'So diplomatic.
So careful to keep the balance,' Sydney thought. She only smiled. Before they left the house, he had promised to apologize, saying that he would buy whatever she wanted tonight. And now he asked her to step aside. She ignored him and raised her paddle again. "65,000." Caleb frowned, baffled. "You have to do this?" He had already shown enough sincerity, spending 16 million dollars on a painting for her. Yet she refused to back down. Sydney nodded. "Didn't you say I could have whatever I wanted tonight?" He was the one breaking his word. "But Penny said she needs it to help Timmy recover.
Are you really going to fight with a child?" Still confused, he bid higher. "S0,000." "$5,000." Sydney barely paused before she smiled faintly. "That's right. I'll fight."