I Found Him Cheating, I Cut Off Our Engagement

Chapter 5 The Auction Encounter

The next day, Natalie could barely make it down the hallway, but she was determined to leave the hospital. She had caught wind of a private auction happening downtown that evening, one that included a beloved keepsake of her late mother's.

Pulling on dark, long-sleeved clothes to conceal her healing wounds, she applied a touch of makeup, grabbed her car keys, and set off.

The event took place at an upscale private club. The room buzzed with the animated voices of elegantly dressed socialites. Amidst their finery, Natalie's understated outfit made her appear somewhat out of place. As she entered the exhibition room, a familiar figure blocked her path.

"Why didn't you call when you got discharged?"

Hunter stood there in a charcoal suit, looking worn out. Beside him was Layla, her arm entwined with his, clad in a soft pink gown, a bandage visible on her arm.

Natalie's eyes shifted from Hunter to Layla, one eyebrow arching slightly.

"Why would I do that? So you can arrange for me to be detained for another stint?"

Layla shrank back, her voice barely above a whisper. "Mr. Quinn, is Ms. Stewart still mad at me?"

Hunter comforted her with a gentle pat on her hand and turned to Natalie with a disappointed look. "Layla's already let it go. You don't have to be so confrontational."

"Let it go?" Natalie laughed. "Let what go? Her burning me, or her lying about me assaulting her?"

Hunter's face clouded over. "Natalie, what's done is done. Layla got injured too. Can't you be a little more gracious?"

"No, I can't," Natalie stated firmly. "I save my grace for people who deserve it."

With that, she sidestepped them, making her way toward the display section. Watching her leave, Hunter felt a surge of inexplicable frustration.

In the display area, Natalie found the diamond bracelet that had once belonged to her mother.

Inside the glass display case, the premium jewelry gleamed brightly beneath the spotlights, with the delicate engraving "Stewart" faintly visible inside the band.

That bracelet was more than just an accessory. It was a cherished family heirloom, handed down from her grandmother as a dowry gift on her mother's wedding day. Natalie stood in silence, her eyes fixed on it, until the auctioneer declared the start of the auction. The bracelet had an opening bid of two million.

Natalie instantly lifted her paddle. "Three million."

Her bid was swiftly met by Layla's lilting voice, directed sweetly toward Hunter. "This bracelet is simply stunning, isn't it?"

Hunter briefly glanced at Natalie before countering, "Four million."

Natalie didn't flinch. "Five million."

Hunter matched her without missing a beat. "Six million."

Then Natalie commanded the room's attention. Each time a new bid was called, she effortlessly topped it, pushing the price higher and higher. The audience couldn't tear their eyes away.

Eventually, Hunter's resolve faltered, and he chose to bow out, conceding defeat.

The auctioneer's gavel came down with finality. "Sold!"

Backstage, the staff delicately placed the bracelet into a velvet box and handed it to Natalie.

She opened the box to take a closer look. Just as she was about to close it, Layla, in a blur of pink, barreled toward her!

"Oops!"

Layla "accidentally" bumped Natalie's arm, sending the velvet box tumbling to the floor.

Smash!

The diamond bracelet immediately shattered into four pieces. Natalie froze, staring at the broken bracelet before searing anger welled up within her. Gathering the fragments, she slowly stood, her face unreadable though her eyes were icy.

Layla covered her mouth, feigning shock. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to! I lost my balance."

Hunter hurried over, saw the broken pieces, and shifted his gaze to Natalie's pale face. He frowned. "Natalie, Layla didn't do it intentionally. You should..."

"Enough!" Natalie interjected sharply, turning to Layla with steely precision. "Do you realize this was my mother's only keepsake?"

Layla's demeanor shifted slightly. "I really didn't know. I'll pay for it, whatever it costs."

"Pay?" Natalie scoffed. "How is a chauffeur's daughter like you supposed to pay? Can you even afford it?"

"Stop this, Natalie!" Hunter stepped in front of Layla, his presence commanding attention. "Layla has already apologized. What more do you want? At most, I'll make sure you get an even nicer one."

"Hunter," Natalie's eyes met his, cold and unyielding, "move aside now, and I might allow you to walk away with some dignity left intact. But if you insist..."

She let the threat linger in the air, adding, "I'll have no qualms about letting everyone witness how the head of the Quinn Group stands by while his mistress damages his fiancée's mother's heirloom."

Although her voice wasn't loud, it cut through the murmur of the crowd, drawing curious glances and hushed whispers.

Hunter's expression hardened. "Watch your words, Natalie."

"I've held back enough," she replied sharply, turning her gaze to Layla.

The intensity of Natalie's stare seemed to pierce Layla, making her retreat a step. "W-What are you planning to do? Mr. Quinn is right here. Surely you wouldn't dare..."

Before Layla could finish, Natalie snatched a bottle of red wine from a nearby stand and smashed it over Layla's head.

Crash!

The bottle exploded on impact, mixing glass and blood that sprayed wildly.

Layla screamed, her hands flying to her head as she doubled over in agony.

Not stopping, Natalie tossed aside the broken bottleneck and picked up a second bottle.

"The bracelet broke into four pieces. One piece deserves one bottle, don't you think?"

Hunter snapped out of his shock, shouting, "Natalie, you've lost your mind!"

As he moved to intervene, Natalie's glance stopped him cold.

"Come any closer, and you're next," she warned, her voice low and venomous. "If you think I'm bluffing, by all means, try me."

Hunter froze, realizing she was serious.

Layla, still clutching her bleeding head, stared in horror as Natalie brandished the second bottle, the reality sinking in that this woman wasn't playing games.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Stewart! I didn't mean for this to happen, I swear! Please, don't..." she pleaded desperately.

The second bottle shattered over her head.

And then a third followed.

Though the blows were not life-threatening, each impact felt like she was being torn apart, a calculated torment that left Layla reeling.

It was only when Natalie raised a fourth bottle that Hunter intervened, seizing her wrist. "That's enough!"

Natalie glanced at him with a mocking smile. "Feeling remorseful now?"

"Do you realize what you're doing?" Hunter demanded, prying the bottle from her hand, his voice tense with outrage. "This is assault, pure and simple! I could have you charged!"

"Go right ahead." With a defiant shrug, Natalie pulled away and held up her phone, the screen illuminating a video. "I'm eager for the police to see how Layla 'accidentally' wrecked someone else's keepsake."

The footage revealed Layla deliberately colliding with Natalie. Hunter's jaw dropped, and Layla's face turned ghostly white upon seeing the evidence.

Putting her phone aside, Natalie bent to pick up the last shard of the bracelet from the carpet, the edge slicing into her skin and leaving a trail of crimson down her hand.

"Hunter, remember this moment." Her eyes locked onto Hunter's before settling on Layla, who was huddled on the floor. "You both owe me for this bracelet. I'm going to make sure you pay."