chapter60

Without another word, she bumped the bid straight up to fifty million.

The whole room went wild. Fifty million? For that tiny pair of antlers?

Juna burst out laughing. Lyds, looks like Box Three is really set on going up against you tonight."

Lydia barely reacted, just nodded coolly and upped the bid by another ten million.

Everyone waited, sure that Box Three would keep fighting. But there was nothing but silence. Then the system's voice rang out: "Box One at sixty million, going once. Box One at sixty million, going twice. Box One at sixty million, sold!"

Lucinda was furious. She swept her arm across the coffee table, knocking snacks and teacups to the floor.

Paige looked embarrassed. "Sorry, Lucinda. I didn't plan on buying anything tonight, so I only brought three million."

There was a strict entry rule for this place. You couldn't even get in without a card loaded with at least one million. That was just the price of admission.

Lucinda knew she couldn't compete. She grumbled, "If I'd known, I would've brought more cards. Who would've thought a pair of antlers could sell for that much?"

"We can look for something else, right? There are plenty of herbs good for health too," Paige offered.

Lucinda thought it over. That was really all she could do now.

Lydia claimed her Golden Antlers, swiped her card, and left without a backward glance.

Sandy was so shaken she couldn't stand to stay any longer. She tugged at Soren's sleeve and said she wanted to go home.

Soren noticed how upset she looked and wrapped an arm around her waist. "If we can't get the antlers here, we'll find something at an herbal shop."

Sandy nodded, thinking to herself that no matter what, she needed to get on the old lady's good side. "Alright, Soren. Let's go."

They were almost to the parking lot when Sandy suddenly spotted a familiar, icy figure.

She froze. "Lydia, what are you doing here?"

Lydia had just split up with Juna and was heading for her bike. She'd picked a quiet, out-of-the-way spot to keep things low-key, but somehow she'd still run into Sandy and Soren the last people she wanted to see.

Her brows pinched together. She didn't even acknowledge them, just walked right by as if they were invisible.

Soren hadn't seen Lydia in ages. He remembered her as someone who always looked stern-stricter than any dean at school. Plus, she always treated him like he was just part of the furniture, so he had never really paid her any attention.

However, right now, he couldn't help noticing how much more striking she'd become. Her features were sharp and bright, her vibe unique and magnetic. She looked like she'd stepped right out of a movie. No, she's even more dazzling, more unforgettable.

Sandy caught Soren staring at Lydia's retreating figure. Her hands curled into fists. She called out, "Lydia, where's that guy you were with? Why aren't you together?"

The question made Soren's expression shift. "She has a boyfriend?"

Sandy nodded. "Yeah, Soren, you didn't know? Her boyfriend looks like some rich boy. They were really affectionate. My parents were worried she'd made a bad choice and tried to talk to her, but that guy just insulted our whole family and said we were crazy."

She made it sound like Lydia was just some gold-digger, hooking up with a rich guy as his side piece.

Just as Sandy finished, Lydia suddenly turned around. In a blink, she was right in front of her. A sharp smack rang through the empty parking garage.

Sandy clutched her cheek, unable to believe it, her voice rising. "You hit me?" Another slap, even harder.

Sandy's cheeks stung and burned, her ears ringing, and she tasted blood at the corner of her mouth.

Soren hadn't expected Lydia to be so ruthless. He pulled Sandy into his arms and shouted, "Lydia, are you out of your mind? I know you're jealous of Sandy, but you can't just hit her like that!"