Two million

Elizabeth POV.

I've learned a bit about jewelry identification.

The pink diamond necklace that was being auctioned on the stage was, based on my experience, visually estimated to have a maximum value of around one and a half million dollars, which was the price Jason had bid for earlier.

But Orlando surprisingly raised the price to two million, and it was clear that it was a money-losing deal.

As Orlando's fiancée, albeit in name only, I felt I needed to remind my "partner" of this.

"Orlando, this necklace isn't even worth two million," I whispered as I leaned closer to Orlando.

Orlando didn't respond to me right away. After a moment, I heard him say, "I didn't want to buy it."

He paused and went on to add, "I'm just trying to jack up the price a bit."

He sounded so casual as if he was just discussing with me how the weather was today.

That's when I noticed Jason give me a hard stare, a look that seemed to hate my guts.

I subconsciously scowled. Jason must think that I made Orlando do that.

"Two million, does anyone else want to raise the bid?" The host shouted excitedly.

But he paused for just a second, and then eagerly began to enter the countdown.

"Two million, once."

Everyone held their breath, especially me.

Orlando was just trying to jack up the price with the intention of not making it easy for Jason to take the shot.

I'm guessing he's trying to teach Jason a lesson again, but what if Jason gives up on the auction?

He had spent two million on a necklace worth a maximum of one million three hundred thousand dollars and lost a full seven hundred thousand dollars in such a short period of time, straight away.

Doesn't Orlando worry at all?

But I was worried, after all, the war between Orlando and Jason had been started entirely by me.

"Two million twice."

The host raised the wooden hammer high in his hand with an excited smile on his face, as if he couldn't wait to auction off the necklace.

"Two million ..."

"Two and a half million!"

The room was abuzz.

As the host counted down the final seconds, Jason suddenly held up the sign in his hand, interrupting the countdown.

I could see that Jason looked grave as if he was making up his mind of some sort.

It seemed that the necklace was very important to him, otherwise, he wouldn't have insisted on raising the price even though he knew it was too high.

"Two million eight hundred thousand."

At that moment, Orlando spoke again, his tone so calm that it didn't waver.

It took a lot of courage and guts to raise the price by $600,000 in one go.

I was instantly a little afraid to look at the man next to me again, always feeling an invisible pressure emanating from him that made it a little impossible for me to catch my breath.

The host looked around the room and asked loudly, "Two million eight hundred thousand dollars, is there any more bids, please? If not, the necklace will belong to Mr. Grant!"

Obviously, he didn't think anyone would be willing to raise the price again.

Because of the value of the necklace itself, two million eight hundred thousand was already a very high price.

"Wait a minute!" Jason suddenly held up the sign in his hand. His brow furrowed, "Three million."

Looks like he'll take this necklace!

"Excuse me, Mr. Grant, are you still raising your bid?" The host asked politely as he rushed Orlando.

Orlando seemed to laugh a little and said lazily, "No addition."

His voice was desperately two cold, like the solemn pronouncement of God judging sinners.

But just those two words cost Jason a million and a half.

The scene was once again abuzz with excitement.

Everyone could already see that Orlando was deliberately jacking up the price.

When I saw Jason's cheeks flush with anger, I suddenly felt pathetic for ever being myself.

In all the time Jason and I had been together, he knew my mother was seriously ill and needed a surgery bill, but never offered to help me.

Even when I was at my most wretched, all he did was cheat on me with Kyra at the apartment instead of worrying about me.

Now, he'd rather spend an extra million and a half on a necklace and just frown on it.

This shows that I am not even a necklace in his mind.

Of course, I don't feel sad or sorry, but rather more glad that I recognized him for what he was and no longer have anything to do with him.

"Let's go."

Orlando suddenly reached out and stopped me around the waist and led me off the auction floor.

It wasn't until I walked to the front of the hotel and the night breeze brushed my cheek that my thoughts returned to reality.

I tilted my head slightly to look at this man next to me, my nominal husband.

Suddenly, I wanted to cry a little because of the way he was taking sides with me.

In this cold and desperate world, no one has ever been so protective of me except my mother ...

The lights slowly lit up the bustling city.

By now, I was sitting in the car and it had been almost fifteen minutes since we left the hotel.

I couldn't resist peeking at Orlando again as the limo drove through an intersection.

This is the third time I've peeked at him.

The side of his face was delicate and perfect, the corners of his lips pursed slightly, clearly showing off his hard jawline.

The expensive bespoke suit wrapped tightly around his body, and through the suit jacket and shirt, I could still feel the noble and mature masculine aura emanating from his body.

"You've peeked at me three times, are you in love with me?" He suddenly turned his head to look at me, his eyes staring straight at me.

The sudden stare-down made my breath catch.