"Asset verification complete."

Everyone stared intently at the screen. After the latest deductions, the account balance showed a zero balance. Laughter erupted throughout the room.

"I thought she had something up her sleeve, but it turns out she's just crazy!"

A sneer tugged at the corner of Damian's mouth. Susan was laughing so hard that tears welled in her eyes.

The host made a hand gesture. "Sorry, Ms. Whitmore, you are disrupting the order. Please leave the venue. Thank you for supporting this auction. Security!"

"Wait," I said, still seated. Then, I lowered my head and glanced at my watch, tapping my index finger against the armrest in rhythm with the ticking clock.

After three taps, I made a beckoning gesture. "You may proceed with a second asset verification."

"Eleanor, do you think we have time to entertain a lunatic?" someone scoffed in annoyance.

The host had already lo

Before I could react, someone suddenly grabbed the back of my collar with force, and I was slammed hard onto the ground.

"Let go!" I struggled fiercely, but then I heard a sharp crack from my wrist.

Pain shot through my entire body. Gritting my teeth, I looked up to see that Damian's bodyguards had appeared out of nowhere, pinning me firmly to the floor.

When I struck Damian earlier, he hadn't ordered them to intervene. Susan had only taken a single slap, yet he allowed them to treat me like this.

"Does it hurt?" Damian helped Susan back to her seat. When he bent over her, worry filled his eyes.

Susan covered her face and shook her head. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at me. 

"Damian, please don't blame Eleanor. She only lashed out because she was desperate. As long as you're okay, that's all that matters..."

Damian stiffened. He straightened up and walked over to me. A

I swallowed the tightness in my throat, clenched my fists in silence, and raised my head to look at the host. The fourth photo appeared on the screen shortly after.

"Item No. 4. Starting bid: two million dollars."

"Damn, I like this one. 15 million dollars!"

"20 million dollars!"

"25 million dollars!"

"Lock it in," I said. All eyes immediately turned to me.

The host's smile was beginning to falter. "Ms. Whitmore, please do not disrupt the order. If you continue, we will have to ask you to leave."

I replied coldly, "I'm not causing a disruption. I said I'll take it, and not just this one. I intend to claim all 365 photos and videos tonight."

The host exchanged a glance with the audience, and laughter broke out across the room. Even Susan couldn't hold back a soft snort, resting her head playfully on Damian's shoulder.

Damian's gaze turned unusually gentle, and for the first time, the coldness in his expression seemed to melt ever so slightly.

"She's lost her mind. Three hundred sixty-five items would cost at least 18 billion dollars. She didn't have that kind of money even before she went bankrupt."

"Who else but Mr. Tucker would even dare say something like that?"

It took the host several seconds to recover his professional smile. "Ms. Whitmore, in the previous round, you exhausted all of your assets. You are not qualified to place this bid."

"Now, who was it that just bid 25 million dollars?"

"25 million dollars, going once!"

I grabbed the water glass from the table and flung it forward. It shattered loudly at the host's feet, making him jump back in alarm. Then, I stared at him coldly.

"I said I'm taking it. Can't you understand?"

"Eleanor!"

Someone grew impatient. "You've played along for three bids already. You're broke now. Stop pretending!"

"Fake bids come with consequences. We're showing you respect by bidding on your photos. Don't be ungrateful."

Even the host could no longer maintain his smile. "Ms. Whitmore, if not for Mr. Tucker, you wouldn't even have been allowed to enter, let alone place a bid. If you continue causing trouble, don't blame us for having security escort you out."

I narrowed my eyes. "Who said I don't have money?"

Damian glanced at me without changing his expression. Everyone froze in surprise.

"Stop joking. This may be a private auction, but do you think our asset verification is a joke? We know exactly how much money you have."

I turned to the host. "As long as I still have funds, I'm allowed to place a bid, correct?"

"You are, but—"

"Reverify my assets," I interrupted him.

The room fell silent as everyone exchanged uneasy glances. Even Damian furrowed his brows ever so slightly. I pulled the microphone a little closer. 

"What? Are you afraid to play?"

"Fine, verify all you want. If we're going to play, I want you to be convinced."

On the big screen, all my photos were quickly withdrawn, replaced by my account balance.

The host took his place once more.

"Bidder 38, second round of asset verification."

All eyes were locked on the numbers flashing across the screen. Tension crept into every face, no matter how composed they tried to appear. Whispers broke out across the room.

"How is she so calm? Could she still have money?"

"No way. Mr. Tucker has already shut down every one of Whitmore Group's partnerships behind the scenes. Who in this circle could have more influence than him?"

"Has she lost her mind, putting on a show like this? Or is she actually hiding something we didn't see coming?"

"Asset verification complete."

Everyone stared intently at the screen. After the latest deductions, the account balance showed a zero balance. Laughter erupted throughout the room.

"I thought she had something up her sleeve, but it turns out she's just crazy!"

A sneer tugged at the corner of Damian's mouth. Susan was laughing so hard that tears welled in her eyes.

The host made a hand gesture. "Sorry, Ms. Whitmore, you are disrupting the order. Please leave the venue. Thank you for supporting this auction. Security!"

"Wait," I said, still seated. Then, I lowered my head and glanced at my watch, tapping my index finger against the armrest in rhythm with the ticking clock.

After three taps, I made a beckoning gesture. "You may proceed with a second asset verification."

"Eleanor, do you think we have time to entertain a lunatic?" someone scoffed in annoyance.

The host had already lost his patience. He waved a hand dismissively. "Take her away and throw her out."

Just as he finish

Chapter 5