Wife by Day, Boss by Night

Across the room, Max had just upped the ante to a staggering 2 billion dollars.

Natalie's hands trembled at the mention of that astronomical figure, and she was sure in her heart that Brian was determined to win that diamond, but Max seemed hell-bent on denying him the satisfaction.

She went backstage and immediately found Dave. Without hesitation, she grabbed him and hissed, "Dave! Make Max back off!"

But Dave stood his ground, simply staring back at Natalie with a soft tone, "He's testing the waters to see how deep Brian's love for you is. If he can't win a stone for you, what future can you possibly have?"

"He's already signed over estates worth billions to me!" Natalie shot back, her voice laced with frustration, "If you don't believe me, I'll take pictures and show you when I get home!"

Whether Max or Brian would win the diamond, to spend such an absurd amount of money on a stone seemed ludicrous to Natalie!

She knew a few billion might be chump change to someone like Max, but that didn't make it okay! The thought of wasting that money stung her!

She couldn't imagine everyone losing their minds just because one person did.

When Natalie returned to Brian's side, he had raised the bid to 2.2 billion.

Max had yet to respond.

"What were you up to?" Brian inquired, glancing at Natalie, his voice low.

"Needed a bathroom break," she lied, pursing her lips slightly.

Natalie's gaze stealthily flicked to where Max was seated opposite them, noticing Dave had gone over to talk to him.

She caught Max's eyes before hastily looking away, grabbing an orange from the table and peeling it with agitated fingers.

Would Max stop?

Brian watched Natalie peeling, orange rinds scattered all over the table.

"Want some?" Natalie asked, noticing his gaze. She offered him a segment of the orange.

Brian's eyes held a complex expression as he looked at her for a few seconds before accepting the orange slice with his teeth.

The auctioneer was already counting down.

Brian chewed on the orange slowly, his gaze drifting back to Max's seat, which

was

empty.

2.2 billion, sold!" The auctioneer's voice trembled with excitement.

The sale price had smashed global records for the highest single diamond transaction, sure to send shockwaves everywhere the following day!

To Brian, 2.2 billion was only a number, a mere tenth of his liquid assets. He wouldn't have cared if that mysterious bidder had driven the price to 10 billion.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

But something was off about Natalie tonight.

Not far away, Gracia watched Brian and Natalie stand, her face cycling through shades of

green.

As Brian turned to leave, he glanced at Gracia, who trembled with rage.

He had humiliated her once again in front of everyone, treating he and the Howards as if they were mere playthings manipulated at his whim!

The elites of Streamville would have a new juicy story to gossip about, mocking Gracia for her delusions of grandeur.

Brian had disregarded her for Natalie, treating her as a disposable toy!

What crushed her the most was the realization that even as a toy, she lacked the dignity br being played with Brian had never laid a finger on her, showing no interest in her body!

She would have settled for even a single instance of desire from him, but there

was none,

not even once!

She wasn't even worthy of being a laughable toy! What on earth did Brian see

her as?

Beside her, the Howard family's butler sank into a heavy silence.m Brian's boldplay tonight would have unimaginable consequences.