As they sat down, Zaria caught sight of Natalie heading towards them. She had a megawatt smile as she pointed at the seat on the other side of Zaria. "Is this seat taken?"

"No." Zaria smiled and the two hugged.

"I haven't seen you in a while." Her jovial mood was contagious as she circled the table to kiss Isabella on the cheek. "Hey Izzie."

"Now here's one person who knows how to express their love for me." Isabella hugged her and made Zaria laugh. So, her love language was to be called Izzie. She would take note of that.

"Is there anything you like? I'm here for pretty much anything that catches my eye." Natalie was speaking a little too fast and Zaria found it odd. What had her in such a good mood?

It was only when she studied her face and caught sight of her eyes that dulled for an instant that she understood the situation. Natalie was not in a good mood. She was trying to hide whatever was depressing her by appearing overly jovial. She was doing quite a convincing job at it. When her gaze met Zaria's, she flashed a smile and anyone who saw her would think she was living the most blissful part of her life.

The auctioneer started to introduce the items and interrupted Zaria before she could confront Natalie. Deciding to ask her about it later, she looked at the items that were being introduced and made a mental note to try for a few of them.

However, she quickly realized that it was naive of her to have thought of it. As soon as it was time for any of the items to be bid for, figures would start flying around like money was nothing but mere numbers to the aristocrats in the hall. Some of the prices that closed the bids made her jaw drop.

Forty million dollars for a dress?! Were they insane? It had previously belonged to a retired international superstar but still. She soon realized that it was not about the item being worth the price; it was more of a business battle.

No one wanted to be outbid by their rival and they kept raising the prices just to vex their competitors. They were donating the money to charity anyway, so they didn't think it mattered. However, there wasn't anything she liked enough to be willing to spend such ridiculous amounts of money.

She was pretty much a spectator most of the time, raising her paddle once in a while so she wouldn't look awkward, but forfeiting once the prices rocketed. She was starting to get bored when the second-last item was presented.

It was a watch once worn by the last emperor of The Olphirian Empire, before Olphire became a republic. It was not the exaggeratedly grand titles given to the watch or its age, but its beauty that attracted Zaria to it. She audibly gasped when its image illuminated the large screens of the bidding hall and that was not out of place because no one could sit still.

The watch had a perfect line of diamonds embedded on its straps. Even from the screen, it was evident that they were rare diamonds, and even less attainable now since so many years had passed. The face was also gorgeously crafted and giving it a starting price would be doing it injustice. The starting price was left open for the bidders to decide what they felt it should be worth. This was what attracted most of the men to start firing off figures like their paddles were on fire.

Zaria raised her paddle this time, ready to take the watch home. It would look good on someone she knew and she was not ready to give up… until the prices reached seven figures and dangerously neared eight.

Lucy and Isabella were yet to give up, battling the men who didn't want to be looked down on for chickening out. At this point, she would never afford it even if she sold everything she had. So she silently stopped bidding.

Isabella saw her disappointed expression and patted the back of her head. "You like it, don't you? I'll get it for you." She gave a gentle smile and continued raising her paddle.

Zaria patted the back of the elderly woman's hand with a smile. "It's okay. It's not worth it, I don't like it that much anyway." She lied for Isabella to stop.

The truth was, she didn't want to snatch something that Lucy wanted. The latter looked eager to win it and in the entire hall, Isabella was probably the only one capable of outbidding her.

In the end, Lucy won after offering enough money to purchase a company. She had previously thought that the watch was for Zeus but now she doubted that. It had to be for someone else. She wondered whether the lucky man was Theodore.

"Do you like the queen's crown too?" Isabella asked, having misinterpreted her smile as interest for the last time.

"Of course not." She shook her head. She would have to sell her life to gain something she might not even wear once in her life. What was the use of attaining it only to make it a closet decor? Isabella laughed, then she turned and glanced at the entrance when she caught sight of something.

Zaria followed her gaze as did Natalie, and they saw Alyssa slip in with her lover, barely bothered by their late arrival. They found a seat and prepared their paddle as if there was anything left for them to bid.

"Urgh. I was starting to think that she was dead. Why didn't the heavens make my wish come true?" Isabella groaned and Zaria laughed.

"Don't say that." Otherwise, she might end up being the first suspect if anything were to happen to Alyssa.

No one seemed bothered by the pair of late comers as they prepared for the bid to start and started firing off numbers.