Chapter 222: Tears of Stars
Hearing Fraser’s words, Summer’s hands clenched into tight fists. It was yet another brutal reminder that they had truly broken up. She bit down on her lip, forcing herself to breathe. “Sorry, Yvette. You must’ve mistaken him for someone else. He’s not my boyfriend.”
Beside Fraser, Leann felt as if his gaze had turned even colder, distant to the point of indifference. Perhaps it was just the lights. Without waiting for a response, Summer reached for Yvette’s hand, intending to leave. Yvette, confused, gave her a searching look, as if asking, “What’s going on?”
At the same time, the entire banquet hall dimmed slightly. The lights and music focused sharply on the stage as one of the evening’s most prestigious auction pieces was revealed. An exquisite diamond necklace lay inside a crystal-clear glass case. It was a masterpiece of fine craftsmanship, adorned with rows of flawless diamonds, each twinkling like the brightest stars in the night sky. Elegant yet undeniably luxurious, it was a breathtaking work of art.
The host took the microphone and announced, “This is Tears of the Stars, a diamond necklace once worn by Princess Delilah herself. The starting bid is one million dollars. All proceeds will be donated to underprivileged children in Africa.”
Leann, seated closest to the stage, let out a soft gasp. “It’s stunning,” she murmured. The man beside her chuckled teasingly. “If our esteemed Leann likes it so much, why not have our bossman bid for it and gift it to you? This necklace, elegant and refined, suits your noble aura perfectly!”
Another guest chimed in, “Exactly! And wasn’t your last film called Teary Stars? Talk about destiny!”
Leann’s radiant eyes shifted from the necklace to Fraser. Her gaze shimmered with anticipation, laced with a shy, unspoken plea; the kind of look that made men want to offer her the world. Fraser lifted his lids lazily, his gaze sweeping over her. The corners of his lips curled into a smirk, laced with mischief. “You like it?”
Leann’s heart pounded. Even though she could technically afford a necklace like this, if he were the one to gift it, it would mean something entirely different. Especially tonight, at an event of such grand prestige. If he placed a bid for her, tomorrow’s headlines would be dominated by her name. Her fame would skyrocket once again.
A soft blush bloomed across Leann’s cheeks. “This is too extravagant,” she murmured coyly. A bid for fifteen million was called. Fraser remained unfazed. He lifted his paddle. “Six million.”
The entire room erupted in shock. Most auction piece price increments ranged between 690 thousand to one million at most. Yet the prince had raised the bid to six million without a blink. His overwhelming display of wealth silenced any competition. The gavel struck down. “Sold! Congratulations to Mr. Graham of Graham Group for winning this exquisite piece at fifty million!”
Standing on the sidelines, Summer bit her lip so hard that she tasted blood. It felt as if a blade had sliced straight through her heart, leaving a wound that bled with every beat.
Chapter 222: Tears of Stars
With every ounce of strength she had left, Summer gripped Yvette’s hand and left. Yvette hesitated for a moment, glancing back and forth between them. But when she caught sight of Summer’s trembling shoulders, she bit her lip and ran after her.
Summer ran far beyond the grand entrance of the banquet hall before finally slowing down. Yvette caught up, stepping in front of her, blocking her path. “Summer, what the hell was that?” she demanded. “Why would he give her that necklace? That thing costs a fortune!”
Summer tried to keep her voice steady, but the slight tremor and the redness in her eyes betrayed her. “We broke up.”
“For real!” Yvette had thought Summer was just saying it before, but now… “Breaking up is one thing, but moving on this fast! That’s just disgusting. You don’t deserve this, Summer.”
Hearing those words, Summer’s vision blurred. Tears, hot and relentless, slipped down her face. She could not hold them back anymore. She crouched down, her shoulders trembling violently as sobs wracked through her body. “I’m fine, I just need to cry a little,” Summer reached into her pocket for a tissue. In her haste, something else slipped out. It was an ultrasound report. Summer scrambled to pick it up quickly.