I had just placed the winning bid on an outrageously expensive piece of jewelry, but the auctioneer refused to close the sale.

When I pressed her for an explanation, she turned to my husband with tearful eyes and claimed that I always bring different men here to spend money.

“Ma'am, as a professional, I can’t sit back and watch you keep deceiving people.

“Sir, I’ll refund your money and even cover the loss myself. Just open your eyes and find someone who truly loves you.”

My husband looked visibly moved, their gazes locking in front of everyone as if I wasn’t even there.

With all eyes on me, I snatched back my black card.

“It’s my card, my money. Why are you giving it to some social-climbing chauffeur?”

After our honeymoon, I wasn’t ready for the fun to end, so I dragged my husband to an auction.

Miss Zimmer, who always had it out for me, kept raising the bid. Not one to back down, I got caught up in the competition and pushed it all the way to 12 million, eventually winning the queen’s crown.

The room fell silent, and no one else placed a bid. Yet, the auctioneer kept staring in my direction, hesitating to bring down the gavel.

I glanced at her and realized she was a new face. I didn’t think much of it, assuming she was just nervous.

When I happily walked onto the stage, eager to see the crown up close, the auctioneer suddenly bit her lip and stepped back.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t take this item,” she said firmly.

I froze, stunned, my mind filled with questions. “I placed the highest bid. Why can’t I take it?”

Her eyes filled with tears, but her gaze was resolute as she looked past me.

“Mr. Quinn,” she said, her voice trembling, “you once helped me. This time, even if it means breaking the rules, I must return the favor!”

I turned around, confused, only to see her and my husband, Zac Quinn, locking eyes.

“Zac, what’s going on?” I asked, my voice sharp.

Zac quickly averted his gaze and wrapped a protective arm around me. His tone turned cold as he addressed the auctioneer.

“This is my wife,” he said. “Miss Smith, I suggest you watch your words.”

The woman, whose name tag read Jamie Smith, widened her eyes in shock.

“You actually married her?” she exclaimed.

Sensing something was off, I narrowed my eyes and looked at her.

“Miss Smith, you’re the auctioneer, and I’m the buyer. I just won this crown, yet you’re refusing to finalize the sale and are questioning my relationship with my husband. Care to explain what’s going on?”

Jamie gritted her teeth and tilted her head slightly, as if trying to hold back tears.

“Mr. Quinn,” she said shakily, “you once helped me, and no matter what, I have to repay that kindness.

“Your wife, Miss Green, has brought different men to our auction house multiple times, spending millions. I can’t, in good conscience, keep this from you.”

Her voice cracked as she began to cry, looking as though she had been deeply wronged.

I was completely dumbfounded.

Yes, I had been to this auction house many times, but the people who accompanied me were either business partners who needed my help or older mentors who had watched me grow up.

How had she twisted the narrative into this?

I pressed my lips together, suppressing my frustration, just about to speak up, when Miss Zimmer’s mocking voice rang out from the crowd.

“Well, well, Ria Green, I never thought I’d see the day you’d sink this low, dragging some old man along to pay your bills. This is hilarious!

“Back then, you strutted around like royalty, flaunting your family’s wealth and power, treating everyone else like dirt. And now? You’ve been kicked out of your house, your family’s bankrupt, and you’ve turned to selling yourself for money?”

Her voice was loud enough to stir the crowd into a buzz of murmurs.

“I heard the Green family laid off a huge number of employees. So it’s true they went bankrupt?

“Of course! If even their daughter has resorted to gold-digging, it can’t be a lie!”

I rolled my eyes and turned to a nearby staff member.

“Your auctioneer has maliciously slandered me and ruined my reputation,” I said flatly. “Call your boss over right now. I’d love to ask where you find employees like her.”

The staff, who had always been so polite and deferential to me, didn’t even budge. Instead, a flicker of disdain crossed his eyes.

“I’m sorry, but Jamie Smith is our top auctioneer. Whatever she says represents the stance of our boss.”

Beside him, Jamie wiped away her tears and let out a mocking laugh.

“Miss Green, running to a man for help every time something happens isn’t exactly the hallmark of a good woman, is it?”

I couldn’t hold back anymore. My patience snapped, and I slapped her hard across the face.

She let out a sharp scream and, to my shock, fell straight into Zac’s arms.

I was dumbfounded, staring at her dramatic reaction. I reached out to push her away, but Zac grabbed my wrist firmly.

“Ria, you hit her! Apologize immediately!” he said coldly.

I froze, staring at Zac in disbelief. “Honey, didn’t you hear her? She’s the one who slandered me—”

Before I could finish, Zac cut me off, his face cold.

“She works here. Why would she lie?

“Ria, tell me the truth. Who’s this ‘old man’ she mentioned? And if your family’s bankrupt, why didn’t you tell me?”

The sharpness in his tone, something I had never heard before, startled me. I quickly tried to explain.

“Those are just rumors! If my family were really bankrupt, would I bring you to such an expensive place to relax?

“And those so-called ‘old men’? They’re just my uncles and family friends. They’re into collectibles. Is that a crime?”

Zac’s expression finally softened after my explanation, but Jamie clung to him like she was glued in place. She stayed nestled against his chest, making no move to let go.

I frowned deeply, glaring at the two of them.

“Honey, do you know Miss Smith? Why have you never mentioned her before?”

At that, they suddenly sprang apart as if jolted by electricity.

Zac cleared his throat and quickly regained his usual calm demeanor.

“I was in a rush to get to a meeting and had a small run-in with her. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, so I just let it slide,” he said lightly.

“Don’t overthink it, Ria,” he added gently, tightening his grip on my hand.

My earlier doubts eased as I let out a sigh of relief.

Zac was the son of our family’s chauffeur, following in his father’s footsteps. We grew up together as childhood sweethearts.

Even though my parents disapproved of him, I secretly married him anyway. He was my husband and I should not let baseless suspicions get to me.

I smiled at him, reassured, and reached out to take the crown.

“Let’s go home,” I said.

Zac smiled back, holding my hand as we turned to leave.

But in the next moment, Jamie grabbed his other hand.

I froze in shock as Jamie started to sob pitifully.

“Mr. Quinn, you’re such a good man. I can’t stand by and watch you be deceived by a gold digger like her.

“She brings a different man with her every time, and they’re clearly close. I only broke the rules today to repay your kindness. Here’s your card, Mr. Quinn. I just hope you’ll find someone who truly cherishes you.”

Her melodramatic performance drew a round of applause from Miss Zimmer, who was clearly enjoying the chaos.

“Ria, stop pretending already!” she jeered. “Even if the Green family isn’t bankrupt yet, it’s only a matter of time. Everyone knows your family’s assets are plummeting.

“The once-proud Miss Green reduced to selling herself. What a joke! Just give up on the crown and let me have it.”

Her disdainful words sparked an uproar of laughter from the crowd. The buzzing whispers and mocking comments made me tremble with anger.

Just then, Uncle Lincoln, who had always doted on me, peeked his head out from backstage.

I lit up with joy and immediately called out, “Uncle Lincoln! These people are spreading lies about me. Please help clear things up!”

Uncle Lincoln’s face brightened with a smile when he saw me, but the moment his gaze landed on Zac beside me, his expression turned cold.

“Do you even know what’s going on at home? And here you are, running around the world with him!”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Staring at Uncle Lincoln’s reaction, Zac abruptly let go of my hand. “Ria, what’s really going on with your family?”

What could possibly be wrong with my family? Wasn’t it just that I insisted on marrying Zac, and my parents were so furious they threatened to disown me?

As Zac’s expression grew darker, Jamie boldly stepped right between us.

“Mr. Quinn, you’re young and successful. You really need to be careful and keep your eyes open. Don’t let a woman with ulterior motives take advantage of you.”

She handed him an unlimited black card with her delicate fingers, placing it gently in his hand as though waiting for his reaction.

At that moment, I finally saw through Jamie’s schemes. My anger boiled over, and I snatched the card away.

“Are you out of your mind? Open your eyes and take a good look! My name, Ria Green, is on this card!”

Jamie instantly recoiled as if I had just struck her, curling into herself like a frightened rabbit.

“Yes, yes, it’s yours,” she stammered. “But taking money from other men and flaunting it in front of Mr. Quinn is just immoral!”

Her eyes glistened with tears, and her weak, trembling voice was so infuriating that I hated living in a civilized society where I couldn’t just slap her.

“Miss Smith, watch your mouth,” I said coldly. “How I earn and spend my money has nothing to do with you. And Zac is my husband and we’re legally married. So take your filthy hands off him!”

I grabbed Zac’s arm, ready to leave, but he stood frozen in place, staring at me coldly.

“Ria, the question you asked me yesterday—it wasn’t just a test, was it? You were serious.”

I blinked in confusion before it hit me. Last night, as we lay in bed, I had jokingly asked Zac what he would do if my family went bankrupt.

But it was just a joke! My family business was only undergoing restructuring.

Looking at Zac now, my heart grew cold. “Zac, the answer you gave me was that you’d love me no matter what.”

Zac’s attractive lips pressed into a tight line, his expression filled with disappointment. “Ria, I haven’t even asked you for a reasonable explanation. What gives you the right to question me?”

I stared at Zac, who now felt like a complete stranger. My parents’ sighs echoed in my mind.

“If you don’t listen to us now and find a husband who’s your equal, you’ll regret it one day.”

“Don’t be fooled by Zac Quinn’s polished appearance. Deep down, he’s just a gold digger.”

While I stood there frozen, Jamie cautiously turned to Zac.

“You have such a nice name,” she said shyly. “Can I call you Zac?”

To my shock, Zac, the man who had always loved me dearly, nodded right in front of me.

Furious, I spun around and stormed off. I spent the whole night sulking in our apartment before Zac finally came rushing home.

Seeing me silent, he held out a takeout box like a peace offering. “Ria, are you mad at me?

“I lost my temper today. I was just jealous. I’m terrified of losing you to another man,” he said, his voice softening. “I wandered around for hours trying to calm down, but no matter what, I want to be with you. Please forgive me, okay?”

I studied Zac’s expression. He didn’t seem to be lying, and the knot of anxiety in my chest finally loosened.

Seeing my face relax, Zac handed me a set of utensils. “I brought your favorite food. You must be starving.”

I nodded and glanced at the takeout box from my favorite restaurant. Just like that, I forgave him.

As he said, his strange behavior today was probably because he suspected there was another man in my life and was just feeling jealous.

But as I was eating and scrolling through my phone, I stumbled upon a local video that left me stunned.

There was Zac, out shopping, and beside him was Jamie, now out of her uniform.

The two walked closely, their bodies brushing against each other as they checked out at a luxury store.

Their fingers were tightly interlocked, making them look just like a couple deeply in love.