Chapter 36

During the finals, Roger crossed paths with the young woman again, and that time, he returned the sketchbook.

She glanced at him curiously. "Why are you giving it back? Didn't you like it?"

He looked away, eyes growing colder. "Not even a little.Tell her to stop drawing me. I never want her attention again."

The memory surfaced as Roger stared at the painting now displayed on stage. "Sirius is remarkable. No matter what people say, whether they mock or envy her,she's unmatched."

Marilee felt a quiet jab in her chest. She spoke lightly,but her jealousy slipped through. "Roger, do you like her?"

How could he speak with such admiration for someone he didn't even know personally?

Roger averted his eyes. "I just admire her, that's all."

As he finished, the auctioneer's voice echoed through the hall. "Starting bid for this painting-twenty million!"

Murmurs rippled through the hall as the crowd exchanged looks, clearly impressed by the skyrocketing value of Sirius' work.

The fact that a modern painting could fetch such a staggering price spoke volumes about its global influence.

Roger didn't pause for even a second. He raised his paddle confidently."Forty million."

Marilee froze on the spot. When she saw the unshakable resolve in Roger's eyes, frustration welled up inside her, and she bit her lip hard.

Alexia,too, was caught off guard. She couldn't quite make sense of Roger's sudden urge to get involved.Noticing that most of the crowd had gone quiet, and few dared to challenge Roger's bid, she lifted her paddle. "Sixty million."

Her sudden bid made Waylon turn to look at her,while murmurs and gasps rippled through the crowd.

"Wait, Alexia's bidding too? And against Roger?Wasn't he her ex-husband?"

"She must be doing it out of spite. Everyone knows Roger is bidding for Marilee. My husband said their affair has been an open secret for two years-Roger never even tried to hide it. Alexia was the only one who didn't know. It's no surprise she wants payback."

"What affair? Marilee's the rightful heiress of the Jenkins family. If there hadn't been that mix-up years ago, she'd be the one married to Roger, not Alexia.Honestly, Alexia was never meant to win. She's just some penniless stand-in."

"If Roger had loved Marilee so much, he wouldn't have married another woman to begin with!"

The murmurs around the hall reached Roger, and his face clouded over with growing irritation.

Meanwhile, Marilee's eyes welled up, portraying the image of a heartbroken victim all too convincingly.

Roger held her hand tightly and promised in a low,resolute voice, "Marilee, don't worry. I'll marry you and give you a wedding so grand the world won't dare question you again."

Marilee gave a small nod but still looked concerned."I believe you, Roger, but do you really think Alexia is doing this just to spite us?"

Roger sneered, shooting Alexia a contemptuous glance. "She really thinks she can challenge me just because she's hanging onto Waylon now?" His face steeled, and without hesitation, he raised his paddle again. "One hundred million!"

He refused to let Alexia walk away with a victory, no matter what it took.

A frosty smile tugged at Alexia's lips. She had no intention of letting Roger take that painting home.

"One hundred twenty million," she said calmly.

Roger's gaze sharpened. It was clear-Alexia wasn't backing down. She was in this fight to the end.

An invisible tension filled the air.

Watching from nearby, Waylon's eyes glinted with amusement. "Didn't expect you to be this generous.Looks like you've taken a liking to Sirius after all."

Alexia stiffened, momentarily speechless. "Yes, I like it," she said after a while. "That's why I'm going to win it."

Waylon raised an eyebrow with a faint smirk. "Is that so? Funny-because | like it too."

Alexia was briefly taken aback by his response.

Before she could say anything, Waylon raised his paddle. "Five hundred million," he said, as if it were nothing.

The crowd, already tense, was now completely stunned.

"What is going on? Why is Waylon suddenly bidding?"

"This is turning into some bizarre love triangle. I need a second look just to follow it all."

"ls that painting even worth this much? This is insane!"

Waylon's outrageous bid sent shockwaves through the entire hall.

Roger's confidence faltered for a split second after hearing that number.

Sensing the tension, Marilee gently took his hand and said, "Roger, maybe we should just step back. If Waylon wants it, let him have it. It's only a painting-no need to throw away money over this."

Roger didn't say a word.

For a moment, it seemed like he might back down,just like he had during the fight for the Adam's Heart.

But then, slowly and firmly, he slipped his hand out of Marilee's grasp.

As he did, Marilee felt her heart snk.