Chapter 27

Grandma wasn't doing well, so the family decided to throw her a big birthday party to cheer her up. Chase showed up at an auction with Nicole, hoping to find a meaningful antique for Grandma.

Leaning close, Nicole whispered, "I heard the Avalon Gallery has some real gems today."

Chase hadn't been sleeping well and looked exhausted. His eyes lacked their usual sparkle.

"Sure, I'll get you whatever catches your eye," he replied.

"You're the best, Chase," Nicole cooed, trying to get closer. Chase gently restrained her arm, his eyes conveying a clear message.

"Relax, it's dark here. No one will notice," Nicole murmured.

Chase's voice hardened. "Stop it, Nicole."

She huffed, rubbing against his arm impatiently.

"It's starting. Let's see if anything stands out to you," Chase said, changing the subject.

From a distance, I noticed someone snapping photos of their intimate moment. Who was it? This wasn't the first time; I'd seen someone following Chase recently. Every time he and Nicole were together, pictures were taken. Nicole had been caught in hundreds of shots.

Who could it be? A rival looking to take Chase down? Whoever it was would be doing me a favor if they exposed Chase and Nicole's affair.

The Avalon Gallery was an underground auction house, where one could find everything from the dubious to the spectacular. I'd been there before, but today, I couldn't shake an uneasy feeling.

It didn't take long to figure out why. The first auction item appeared on the big screen: a stunning set of antique beads.

The masked auctioneer gestured to the beads, explaining, "This bracelet features two exquisite beads, once blessed by a high priest to ward off evil and bring good luck."

Nicole quickly nudged Chase. "You've been restless lately. Maybe you should bid on this?"

Chase was captivated by the bracelet and felt an inexplicable urge to win it. After the auctioneer's description, the crowd of wealthy bidders buzzed with interest. Some were drawn to its beauty, others to its mystical allure.

A woman in a sleek evening gown displayed the beads, and suddenly, I was overcome by a magnetic pull.

"Whoa!"

I had no idea what was happening. I only knew that darkness enveloped me, and my physical form seemed to vanish.

When I regained awareness, I found myself looking at the dimly lit VIP seats and raised paddles. I could even see Chase and Nicole.

What on earth? My perspective had shifted. I was no longer confined to Chase's proximity!

I glanced around, realizing I was next to the woman in the evening gown. Then it hit me—I was somehow inside the bracelet blessed by a high priest.

A wild thought crossed my mind: Could my ashes be inside these beads? Was my soul binding to them? Was my body truly gone? I was completely floored.

I heard someone place a thirty-million-dollar bid for the bracelet. The price was astronomical, considering the bracelet wasn't entirely made of those expensive beads.

When someone picked it up, I saw a hand with distinct knuckles, then Chase's eyes, revealing a mix of emotions. His fingers brushed over the beads as if they were me, and it made my skin crawl.