The charity fashion party auction was underway. Emma Johnson ended her conversation with Scarlett Martinez, only to be pulled aside by Olivia Davis.
"I think she's got her eye on your husband. Are you sure you want her on the cover of your magazine? If you let her get close to him, it won't end well for you."
Even an outsider like Olivia could see it. How could Emma not? But she truly didn't care.
"She's just the cover model for my magazine's first issue. Besides, the shoot is in our studio. How would she ever run into Liam?"
"I'm saying, just in case. In case."
Olivia stared at Emma, seeing she remained completely unmoved. Her expression screamed frustration, like she was watching a friend walk into disaster.
Hadn't she learned enough from what happened with Isabella Miller and Noah Taylor? Now she was married. If something like that happened again, it wouldn't just end with a breakup.
Did Olivia have to spell it out?
Emma couldn't tell Olivia the truth—that her marriage to Liam Williams was nothing but a contract. They looked like husband and wife, but if Liam actually "strayed," she had no right to object.
This wedding was a sham.
Even if Liam dated several women at once, she had no grounds for jealousy.
"Alright, don't worry. If he wants to cheat, tying him up with a rope wouldn't stop him. Let's go sit down. The auction's about to start."
Emma took Olivia's hand and led her to sit next to Liam. They were at the front table, while Scarlett sat at the second.
The charity auction officially began. Scarlett put up her first piece of fashion for bidding, and everyone competed fiercely. What was worth only a few hundred dollars sold for two hundred thousand.
Rich people were truly willful. Beyond Scarlett's star power, it seemed even a toothbrush she used would be valuable—if she ever auctioned it, of course.
Finally, the auctioneer brought out a stunning pink diamond necklace. It seemed to match Scarlett's pink evening gown perfectly.
Several wealthy businessmen started bidding for the beautiful necklace, hoping to gift it to their goddess.
The starting price of one million quickly climbed to six million. The auction was heating up.
"Wow! What a gorgeous necklace. I wonder who'll be lucky enough to wear it. Look at all those bosses bidding. They're probably planning to give it to Scarlett after the auction, right?"
Olivia sighed and whispered to Emma.
"Yeah, it's really beautiful."
Emma was captivated too, but the sky-high price meant she could only admire it.
That necklace was worth years of hard work for her. An average wage earner would have to sell everything they owned to afford it.
But Emma thought that even if she became rich someday, she wouldn't waste money like this. Jewelry—she had a few nice pieces. There was no need for such extravagance.
"Ten million."
Just as Emma and Olivia were sighing, Liam's voice suddenly rang out.
Emma turned her head and stared at him in surprise. She thought, CEO, I know you have money, but this is the first time I've seen you so reckless. Rare.
"Ten million once. Ten million twice. Ten million three times. Sold! This necklace belongs to Mr. Liam Williams of Pinnacle Corporation."
The auctioneer finalized the pink necklace's ownership.
Scarlett looked at Liam. Even though she knew it was unlikely, she couldn't help hoping he would give the necklace to her.
But reality was always cruel. When she saw Liam gently fasten the pink diamond necklace around his new wife Emma's neck, Scarlett felt the applause around her like mockery, laughing at her daydream.
Why could such an ordinary woman win her senior's affection? Scarlett had worked so hard for years, finally becoming a goddess, yet the God of happiness never favored her.
It was so unfair.
As Scarlett watched Emma being gazed at by Liam with such gentle eyes, jealousy burned through her entire body.
Emma Johnson. She would remember this.
"This necklace is too expensive. Are you sure you want to give it to me?"
In the car, Emma felt like the ten-million-dollar necklace around her neck was a burden. Liam had given her jewelry before, but given their real relationship, this necklace felt like a hot potato. She didn't know what to do.
"It's just a necklace. Wear it if you like, put it in a jewelry box if you don't. I've given it to you. I won't ask for it back." Liam's tone was indifferent.
Emma thought, you might not care about ten million, but I do. Still, she knew about Liam's male chauvinism. There was no way he'd take it back.
Forget it. She'd keep it for now. When she left a year later, she'd return it to him secretly.
Emma, like any woman, couldn't resist the allure of sparkling diamonds. But she wasn't the type to take advantage of others.
She wasn't the kind of woman who got lost in fairy tales, believing good fortune would just fall into her lap. Even with Liam beside her, she knew the reality clearly.
Dreams she hadn't had as a teenager were even less likely now.
"Are you sure you want Scarlett Martinez as your magazine's cover model?"
As he drove back to their apartment, Liam asked Emma.
"Of course. She's the hottest movie star right now. Even if she's a diva, I'll make her the cover model for this issue. Why do you ask?"
Emma looked at him curiously.
"I'm worried she'll make things difficult for you. But I don't think you care."
"Don't worry. I won't take her words to heart. Stars always have some issues. It's normal."
Emma was doing everything for the magazine's sake, so she naturally overlooked Scarlett's little flaws.
"Alright. Since you insist, I won't say anything more. As long as you think you can handle it."