Exposed on the Spot

Natalia quickly composed herself, adopting a pitiful expression. Her voice, laced with innocent grievance, carried through the room: "Sister, what do you mean by that? This necklace was clearly the token of love Father gave to Mother. How could it possibly have anything to do with your mother? If you like it so much, I can give you other jewelry, but could you not make a scene here?" 

Katie sighed softly, her tone gentle yet tinged with reproach. "Selina, I know you've always been fond of the 'Eternity of the Stars', but the necklace has already been donated. How could we take it back now? There's so much jewelry at home—aren't you satisfied yet?" 

Their synchronized act quickly shifted the crowd's perception. The onlookers began to regard Selina with increasing disdain. 

"Is the eldest Miss Clark really so unreasonable? Someone donates something, and she wants to snatch it back?" 

"I used to think Katie was holding onto the first wife's belongings, but it turns out it's Selina who's causing trouble. What a vile personality!" 

James's face turned an alarming shade of red, and he nearly slammed the table in fury. Pointing at Selina, he barked angrily: "The 'Eternity of the Stars' was my love token to Katie! Everyone in the family knows this! If you keep making a scene, get out immediately!" 

"Love token?" Selina asked, her tone laced with disbelief, as though she had just heard the most ridiculous joke. She swept her cold gaze across the room, her voice calm but cutting: "Mrs. Bryant, are you absolutely sure this necklace is yours?" 

Though Selina's voice wasn't loud, Katie's eyes flickered for a brief moment, betraying her unease. The crowd didn't notice this subtle shift, assuming instead that Selina was being unreasonably persistent. Their expressions grew more scornful. 

Sensing the opportunity, Katie leaned into the performance, letting a few tears spill from her eyes as she choked out: "Of course it's mine! Selina, is there anything I haven't given you when you've asked? Being a stepmother isn't easy, but I've always tried my best to treat you well. Why can't you be happy? Why would you accuse me like this?" 

Selina's lips curved into a mocking smile. She saw through Katie's manipulative ploy and knew she was deliberately digging a pit for her to fall into, hoping to destroy her reputation through public opinion. 

"Enough!" James roared as he stood abruptly, his face flushed, and his trembling finger pointed at Selina. His voice thundered, a mix of guilt and rage. "This is not the place for your tantrums! If you don't mind embarrassing yourself, I mind! The only reason I'm letting this slide is for Natalia's sake, but you will shut up right now!" 

A glimmer of triumph flickered in Natalia's eyes. With a faintly victorious smile, she feigned magnanimity, her tone placating: "Sister, I understand you're upset, but please don't disrupt the auction any further. Why don't you go home and rest?" 

Selina chuckled, the sound low and cold, sending chills through the air. Her gaze swept over the people before her, her heart growing colder with every moment. 

How shameless. If this was how they wanted to play, then she wouldn't hesitate to rip the facade away. 

Striding to the stage, Selina acted before anyone could stop her. She grabbed the necklace from the display and placed it directly under the projector for everyone to see. Her voice, clear and resolute, echoed through the room: 

"This 'Eternity of the Stars' necklace was custom-designed thirty years ago by my mother through Turner Jewelry Group. It's a one-of-a-kind piece." 

Bending slightly, she pointed to the base of the necklace projected on the screen. A sharp smile tugged at her lips. "Engraved on the platinum setting is the name 'Victoria.' Mrs. Bryant, you just claimed this necklace as your own, didn't you? Then explain why it's engraved with my mother's name. Or have you, perhaps, changed your name?" 

The room erupted in chaos. 

"What? The necklace has a name engraved?" 

"Oh my God, isn't 'Victoria' the name of Mr. Clark's first wife?" 

Natalia's mind buzzed, her face drained of color as her fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. Katie stood frozen, her complexion ashen as her gaze fixated on the screen displaying the name in clear detail. 

How could this happen?!

"There really is a name!" someone exclaimed. "Wasn't Victoria Adams Mr. Clark's late wife?" 

"So Mr. Clark gave his deceased wife's necklace to his mistress as a love token? That's just…" 

James's face turned an even deeper shade of red, the veins on his neck visibly throbbing. He never anticipated that the necklace would harbor such damning evidence. Clenching his jaw, he let out a cold, forced chuckle, his voice rasping like rusty iron: "And what if it was hers? Victoria was my wife, so her belongings are mine! If I gave them to Katie, what's the problem? You… you insolent girl! All you know how to do is cause trouble!"

Hearing James's words, murmurs rippled through the crowd below.

"Well… if you think about it, after Victoria passed away, her belongings would have stayed in the Clark household. James giving them to his second wife isn't technically wrong." 

"Legally, no, it's not. But morally? Giving away a first wife's keepsakes… that's just too much." 

Selina cast a brief, detached glance at Natalia, who was lowering her head, tears shimmering in her eyes. The corner of Selina's lips curled into an even colder smile. Playing the victim? Fine. Let's see who plays it better.

Lowering her gaze, Selina's voice suddenly softened, trembling as if on the verge of tears. "But I've never received anything of my mother's. Father, why did you give her things to someone else? I came to the auction today without even a decent piece of jewelry to wear, while my sister casually donates a necklace worth 60 million…" 

Gasps filled the room as a wave of astonishment swept through the crowd. Their gazes shifted back to Natalia, this time laced with doubt. 

"She's right. The younger sister has grown up in luxury, using the first wife's belongings, while the eldest daughter has nothing. That's unbelievably unfair." 

James's entire body trembled with rage. Slamming the table, he roared, "Her things are mine! She's dead! What more do you want?" 

Tears welled up in Selina's eyes, shimmering with grief. Her voice quivered with heartbreak. "I have nothing left. You didn't even bring me to this auction, Father. You only brought your second wife and her daughter, leaving me behind deliberately. I know you don't like me, but I didn't think you'd use my mother's belongings to curry favor with others." 

She paused, her voice dropping lower, each word cutting like a knife. "I once asked my sister privately if I could have the necklace back, but Mrs. Bryant told me it was hers and accused me of trying to take what wasn't mine. Father… do I really not even deserve the right to exist?" 

"Shut up!" James's vision blurred as rage and humiliation nearly caused him to black out. Pointing a shaking finger at Selina, he struggled to speak, but the whispers from the crowd drowned him out. 

"Giving a late wife's keepsakes to a mistress? That's absolutely heartless." 

"Didn't Mr. Clark pretend not to recognize Selina at the door earlier? I thought she was just causing trouble. Now it's clear—he didn't want her to expose the truth." 

"Those two women not only took over the first wife's things but also smeared the eldest daughter's reputation. The irony is disgusting." 

Selina lowered her gaze, brushing away her tears with trembling hands. Her voice, hoarse with emotion, filled the room. "Father always says I'm not as kind as Natalia. And he's right. She uses things stolen from me to donate to charity, so of course, she looks nobler than me." 

The hall fell silent, Selina's trembling voice echoing in the void. Many of the socialites in attendance glanced at her with sympathy and even sorrow. 

"Mr. Clark's favoritism is bad enough, but letting an illegitimate daughter trample over the eldest's grief? That's disgraceful." 

"This poor girl… The Clark family's eldest must've been pushed to the brink by them."

The event, meant to glorify Natalia, had entirely shifted in tone.

James's face flushed a deep red as shame and fury churned within him. His lips moved, but no words came out, overwhelmed by the disapproval of the crowd. Anger and humiliation tightened around his throat, leaving him dizzy. 

Why was everyone blaming him? What was wrong with favoring Natalia? She'd been by his side since she was little—wasn't it natural to love her more? Besides, Natalia was better than Selina in every way. Wasn't this bias justified? 

No. He couldn't let Selina steal Natalia's spotlight. Everything he had worked so hard to build over the years couldn't be ruined by this countryside daughter. 

On the other hand, Natalia felt her fury boiling inside. This wretch! Who does she think she is, humiliating me like this in front of everyone? 

But she couldn't afford to lose control now. Taking a deep breath to compose herself, Natalia raised her head, tears streaming down her face, looking every bit the aggrieved innocent. Her voice quivered, a mix of sobs and sincerity. "Sister, I truly didn't know this necklace was Mrs. Adams's keepsake. There are so many pieces of jewelry at home. When Father gave it to Mother, he probably didn't notice. If we'd known, I'm sure Father wouldn't have done it." 

She paused, her voice breaking, her words full of pleading innocence. "But now, the necklace has already been donated to charity. The proceeds will go toward helping children in impoverished mountain regions. Sister, do you really want to take it back? Please, show some compassion and let this go." 

Each word painted Natalia as blameless and virtuous, while subtly casting Selina as cruel and selfish. 

Selina's lips curved into a faint smile, her gaze filled with mockery. Clever. Natalia's words left her no room to retreat. If she pursued the matter further, she'd fall right into the trap, painted as heartless and immoral. 

It was a cunning play. Too bad Natalia underestimated her. 

Straightening her posture, Selina's expression grew colder. Her disdainful smile spoke volumes—she wouldn't let Natalia have the satisfaction of an easy win.