Chapter 2 He is back

For families like theirs, marriage was never about love-it was a calculated transaction, a means to maximize benefits. Personal choice was nothing more than a luxury they weren't entitled to.

Sure, on paper, Grace had married well-a husband of impeccable lineage, wealth, and striking looks. But what was the point?

They had gone their separate ways after a short period they signed the papers. They didn't see each other, not even enough to put on a pretense of a functional marriage.

And who knew? Perhaps Raphael had already built a whole other life for himself in Australia.

Compared to Dana's ostentatious display of affection just now, the outcome of this unspoken contest was painfully obvious.

Still, that didn't stop the onlookers from sneaking glances at Grace, waiting to see how she would react.

Grace resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Feigning indifference, she ignored the sympathetic yet entertained gazes thrown her way, fingers tightening around the stem of her champagne glass. But her lips remained curved-serene, composed, untouchable.

"Your husband dotes on you. Wishing you a happy anniversary."

She lifted her glass, offering a graceful toast.

Dana let out a delighted, coy laugh, lifting her own glass to clink against Grace's.

Normally, this would be where the conversation ended. A polite pause. A moment to let each other retreat with dignity.

But Dana had no intention of letting her off that easily.

With an airy tone, she pressed on, "Enough about me. Grace, if I remember correctly, your anniversary is next month too, isn't it? Your husband-"

"Oh? You seem to remember it even better than I do."

Grace cut her off smoothly, her voice tinged with amusement.

In the reflection of the champagne glass, the fleeting flicker of displeasure in Dana's eyes.

Of course, she remembered.

How could she forget?

She had meticulously orchestrated a "wedding of the century," pouring her heart and soul into every detail, only for Grace's wedding, held barely a month later, to effortlessly overshadow it.

The media had glorified Fontaine's wedding as an "unprecedented grand affair"-until Bellavance and Sterling's union stole the spotlight overnight.

"A spectacle of unmatched opulence."

"The most influential marriage ever."

The coverage of Grace's wedding lasted an entire week. Dana's, meanwhile, faded into obscurity-relegated to nothing more than a footnote in society gossip.

She had swallowed that humiliation for two years.

And tonight, she finally had the chance to turn the tables.

"Did your husband prepare anything for you? Or wait-he's still not back yet, is he?"

Oh, for God's sake.

That was the one topic Dana really didn't need to bring up.

Grace's smile didn't waver, but a vein threatened to pulse at her temple. She had nothing to say to that-because the truth was, her husband had been gone so long, she was starting to forget what he even looked like.

Their last exchange had been a month ago.

And even then, his responses had never exceeded five words per message.

"You know how he is-always business first. Romance has never been his strong suit."

Her tone was light, dismissive, but her gaze locked onto Dana's, a silent warning to drop the subject.

Dana batted her lashes innocently, "Oh dear, you're not mad at me for asking, are you?"

Her lips curved in mock concern as she sighed, "I just think marriage needs time and effort. If you don't nurture it, distance will only grow."

Grace took a slow sip of champagne, her smile dangerously close to cracking.

"Thanks for the advice, darling."

At long last, the auction was about to start.

Buyers began taking their seats in the grand hall. Rows of deep red leather chairs, arranged in a semicircle, faced the illuminated central stage.

Grace and Dana were both seated in the front row, though separated by a few seats.

Low murmurs filled the air as collectors whispered among themselves, discussing the anticipated bids.

Then-a sudden stir at the back of the room.

People turned, one after another, heads tilting in curiosity.

At first, Grace paid no mind. A late-arriving socialite, perhaps, or some celebrity heir.

But the hushed excitement only intensified, spreading like wildfire through the room.

Even those who hadn't initially looked back were now stealing glances, drawn by the growing buzz.

Grace kept her gaze forward-until she caught Dana's eyes on her-one she couldn't quite decipher.

Something about Dana's expression was off.

With a slight frown, Grace slowly turned her head.

At first, she saw only a striking woman in her forties, poised and elegant-a familiar face from years past.

Lydia.

Once a celebrated film star, she had vanished from the industry after winning Best Actress six years ago. Rumors swirled that she had married into a Mining empire, retreating into quiet luxury.

No wonder the room was abuzz-it was rare for someone of her stature to make a public appearance.

But just as Grace was about to look away, she caught something through the crowd-just a glimpse.

A figure.

Familiar, yet unmistakably foreign.

Her fingers turned ice cold.

Her spine went rigid.

No.

It couldn't be.

And yet-

His gaze was already locked onto hers.

There was no mistaking it now.

The sharp jawline, the sculpted features.

And those icy, steel-blue eyes-piercing, distant, unreadable.

Her long-absent husband.

Raphael Sterling.

No wonder Dana had been watching her like that.

Her husband-who was supposed to be in Australia, the man she hadn't seen in nearly two years, had just walked in--with a woman the entire room was staring at.

Grace immediately schooled her expression, thick lashes sweeping down as she turned her focus back to the front.

With an easy, practiced motion, she smoothing the fabric of her dress as if nothing had happened.

The charged energy from before dissipated, swallowed by the quiet intensity of the auction atmosphere.

"Raphael, you mentioned your wife is here. Why not go say hello?"

Lydia, appearing disinterested in the ongoing bids, turned to the man beside her.

Raphael's gaze flickered briefly toward the woman seated ahead of him.

His voice was calm, unhurried.

"I already did."

"Oh? When?" Lydia arched a brow.

From the moment they landed to their arrival at the venue, he was always around her side.

Curious.

She had always wanted to meet the woman Raphael Sterling had deemed worthy of marriage.

Raphael merely smiled faintly, offering no further explanation.

Lydia tilted her head but didn't push.

"Well, when my husband arrives in Paris next week, you should bring your wife to dinner with us."

"Alright."

The hammer fell once, twice-and at last, the star of the night emerged.

A pair of 18th-century Girandole earrings, their double-tiered, teardrop silhouette glimmering under the auction lights.

Each side held thirty meticulously arranged diamonds, a breathtaking relic of a bygone era.

A gloved expert from the auction house handled them with reverence.

Unlike the other pieces tonight, these earrings had never been publicly displayed before this moment.

The legend claimed they had once been a token of devotion from a French emperor his favored consort.

The matching ring had long been lost to history, and given that most 18th-century jewelry was often dismantled and repurposed over time, for this pair of earrings to have remained perfectly intact made them all the more rare and precious.

Tonight, collectors had come from all over the world just for this.

Grace had no doubt Raphael was one of them.

To impress his new companion, perhaps?

She stole a quick glance toward Raphael-only to catch him shaking his head slightly at something Lydia was saying.

Grace's original plan had been simple-see the earrings in person, then leave.

But now...

She was curious.

How high would the bidding go?

She retracted her shifted forward heels.

The starting bid: one million.

It skyrocketed almost instantly.

By the time it reached three million, the air had grown heavy with tension.

A murmur rippled through the room.

"I think Sterling is bidding."

"If it's him, we don't stand a chance."

"Had I known, I wouldn't have bothered."

Sterling.

One of the most powerful financial dynasties in Europe.

And its heir-Raphael-had ventured to Australia to expand their empire two years ago.

In an astonishingly short time, he had seized control of the country's private banking sector, drawing in the wealth of its elite.

Yet, no one had expected him to return-that suddenly.