DEAR CHEATED GIRLFRIEND, I AM TRILLIONAIRE HEIR

CHAPTER 4 AUCTION

The auction hall buzzed with quiet conversation as Karvel settled into his seat, deliberately choosing a spot away from the spotlight. Seven items had already passed under the auctioneer's hammer—ancient scrolls, jade artifacts, and precious paintings that drew gasps from the crowd. Yet none held Karvel's attention.

Until the eighth item emerged.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the auctioneer announced, "our next piece is a rare blue diamond, recently discovered in a private collection."

Karvel's posture shifted imperceptibly as the gem came into view. Under the spotlight, it caught the light in a way that made his breath catch. The cut, the color—it was nearly identical to the stone in his family ring.

His fingers unconsciously moved to his pocket, where the velvet box sat heavy with possibility. This couldn't be coincidence.

"Opening bid starts at two hundred thousand dollars," the auctioneer called out.

Karvel's voice cut through the murmurs. "Five hundred thousand."

The crowd turned, curious whispers rippling through the room. But before the auctioneer could acknowledge his bid, a clear, feminine voice rang out from the VIP section.

"One million."

Karvel's eyes tracked to the source. A woman sat poised in the premium seats, her presence commanding attention without effort. Her dark hair cascaded over one shoulder, and even from a distance, her eyes held a sharp intelligence that matched her beauty.

"Sophia ," Markos whispered from beside him. "Sophia Yale, as she's known in these circles. Old money, new ambitions."

Karvel nodded slightly, watching as she casually adjusted her designer bracelet. The whispers around them grew more intense.

"Did you see? Sophia Yale is bidding..." "She never participates unless something catches her eye..." "This could get interesting..."

"Two million," Karvel countered, his voice steady.

Sophia's perfectly sculpted eyebrows rose slightly. "Four million."

Their eyes met across the room, a silent challenge passing between them. Karvel could see it in her gaze—this was just a game to her, an expensive whim. But for him, this gem might be the key to understanding his past.

"Ten million," he stated, letting a hint of steel enter his tone.

The room fell silent. Even Sophia's composed expression cracked slightly.

But then she smiled, a predatory curve of her lips. "Twelve million."

"Fifteen."

"Twenty."

With each exchange, the tension in the room ratcheted higher. The other bidders had long since backed down, leaving only Karvel and Sophia in their high-stakes dance.

"Thirty million dollars," Sophia announced, her voice carrying a note of finality. She turned to Karvel, expression both curious and challenging. "Surely you can see reason now?"

Karvel met her gaze steadily. His mind raced through calculations—not of money, but of worth. That gem might be his only link to his true identity, to the meaning behind the ring he carried.

"Fifty million," he stated, his voice cutting through the shocked gasps of the crowd.

Sophia's eyes widened fractionally. For the first time, she truly looked at him—not as an obstacle to her desires, but as someone worth noting.

"Going once..." the auctioneer called, his voice trembling slightly at the unprecedented sum.

Sophia leaned forward, studying Karvel with newfound interest.

"Going twice..."

Her lips parted as if to speak, but she held back, a calculating look crossing her face.

"Sold! To the gentleman for fifty million dollars!"

As the gavel struck, marking his victory, Karvel caught Sophia's subtle nod of acknowledgment. He'd won more than just the gem—he'd earned the attention of one of the most influential young powers in the city.

But that was a concern for another time. Right now, all that mattered was the small blue diamond that might finally help him uncover the truth about his past.

Markos whistled low beside him. "Boss, that was quite a show."

The paperwork sat before Karvel in the auction house's private settlement room, the numbers stark against crisp white paper. Fifty million dollars—a sum that would make most people's hands shake. But Karvel's attention was fixed on something else entirely.

His eyes narrowed as he examined the certification documents. After years of dealing with ancient artifacts, certain tells were impossible to miss. The paper grain was wrong. The aging patterns were inconsistent. Most telling of all, the authentication stamps showed subtle signs of digital manipulation.

The documents were forgeries.

A cold smile played at his lips as he pushed the papers away. "I won't be completing this purchase."

The auction house representative's eyes widened. "Sir, you won the bid. There are penalties for—"

"For what?" Karvel cut in smoothly. "Refusing to purchase an item with forged documentation?" He tapped the papers with one finger. "Would you like me to point out exactly how these were fabricated?"

The representative's face paled.

"I didn't think so." Karvel stood, straightening his jacket. "I'll collect the gem for inspection, as is my right as the winning bidder. Then I'll be leaving."

Just as he turned toward the door, it opened to reveal Sophia Yale. She glided in with the natural grace of someone born into power, her designer dress catching the light with each movement.

"Leaving so soon?" she asked, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and amusement. "I came to congratulate the victor of our little bidding war."

Karvel studied her for a moment. Despite her casual tone, there was nothing casual about her timing.

"Miss Yale," he acknowledged with a slight nod.

She moved closer, her perfume carrying hints of jasmine. "You know, I rarely encounter someone willing to outbid me." A smile touched her lips. "Especially not for a gem I had my heart set on."

"Is that why you're here? To express your disappointment?"

She laughed softly. "Quite the contrary. I'm impressed." Her eyes held his. "Fifty million without hesitation—either you're incredibly wealthy or incredibly determined. Perhaps both?"

Karvel's expression remained neutral. "Or perhaps I simply recognized something worth pursuing."