Chapter 5

CLARA POV

A collective gasp swept through the auction house. The auctioneer's eyes bulged, his gavel hovering in mid-air as he looked from me to a stunned Sterling.

"One million dollars, going once... going twice..."

Sterling didn't move. His face was a mask of cold fury, his jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscles twitching. He was beaten.

"Sold!" The gavel slammed down, the sound echoing like a gunshot. "To Miss Clara Beaumont!"

A triumphant smile spread across my face. It was a heady, intoxicating feeling, this rush of power. I turned to Preston, who was looking at me with a mixture of awe and adoration. For the first time, I felt seen for who I was, not for what I represented.

I walked to the payment table, my head held high, and handed the clerk my exclusive Beaumont Ranch black card.

He swiped it. A moment passed. He swiped it again.

"I'm sorry, Miss Beaumont," he said, his voice low and embarrassed. "It's been declined."

"What?" The triumphant feeling vanished, replaced by a cold dread. "That's impossible. Run it again."

He did. "Declined."

Panic began to bubble in my chest. I gave him my personal card, linked to my trust fund. "Try this one."

"Declined."

My blood turned to ice. It couldn't be a mistake. Not both cards. The whispers started again, this time laced with mockery. The Beaumont heiress, unable to pay. The public humiliation was a physical blow, stealing the air from my lungs.

Then, Sterling stepped forward, his face impassive. "I'll take it for that price," he said calmly to the clerk. He produced the ranch's primary account card-the one he controlled-and the transaction went through without a hitch.

He had locked me out. He had anticipated my move and systematically cut off my access to my own money, setting a trap to publicly shame me.

He took the reins of Midnight Sun and walked them over to a weeping Savannah, who threw her arms around the stallion's neck in a display of pure, victorious joy. The crowd murmured their approval. The cruel princess had been put in her place, and the deserving, sweet girl had gotten her prize.

I couldn't breathe. I turned and fled, the sound of polite applause and cruel laughter chasing me out of the building.

The cool night air did nothing to stop the hot tears of shame and rage streaming down my face.

"Clara."

Sterling's voice came from behind me. I stopped but didn't turn around.

"Don't ever challenge me in public again," he warned, his voice dangerously low. "You embarrassed yourself and the ranch. Now, come home."

I finally turned to face him. He stood there, silhouetted by the auction house lights, looking every bit the master of my world. Savannah was now clinging to his arm, her tear-streaked face buried in his shoulder.

I looked from his cold, commanding eyes to the woman who possessed him.

"You seem to have your hands full," I said, my voice dripping with ice.

Without another word, I walked over to Preston's waiting car, got in, and didn't look back.

Back at the ranch, I locked myself in my room. Muffled voices came from the hallway. The brothers. Arguing.

"What the hell was Sterling thinking? Humiliating her like that!" That was Wade's angry voice.

"He did what he had to do," Silas's calm voice replied. "Savannah was heartbroken. Our first duty is to protect her."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Their duty.

Then, Sterling's voice, cutting through the others, decisive and final. "This is my mess. I will fix it." A pause. "She is my responsibility."

Heavy footsteps stopped outside my door. My heart hammered against my ribs. He was coming to "fix" it, to smooth things over with his practiced lies and cold sense of duty.

I reached for my stereo and turned the music up, loud enough to shake the walls, drowning out the sound of his knuckles rapping against my door.