Chapter 481

All heads swiveled toward the bold bidder who'd just offered a staggering hundred million for the bracelet.

When they recognized Alexander Whitmore, no one batted an eye.

Evelyn Carter slowly lowered the paddle she'd been about to raise.

The bidding had far surpassed any reasonable valuation.

It made no sense to keep competing for something so overpriced.

She'd tried her best - Claire Dawson couldn't possibly fault her for bowing out now.

Perhaps Alexander truly cared for Isabella Morgan after all.

Dropping a hundred million publicly just to please her? That spoke volumes.

A hundred million dollars. How many people could casually throw around that kind of money?

Evelyn counted herself lucky they'd only recently married.

She liked him well enough, but her heart wasn't completely his yet.

The only tragedy was their unborn child, whose father's affections had already shifted elsewhere...

Women should absolutely pursue their own careers!

After Claire's divorce, she appeared to be thriving.

Perhaps Evelyn should take inspiration from Claire's boldness and strength to consider her next steps.

Isabella had been on edge the entire evening.

Her stomach twisted with anxiety that the auctioneer might close the bidding before she could secure the piece. The thought of having to borrow from Vanessa was mortifying.

When Alexander placed his bid, relief flooded through her.

Truthfully, the bracelet wasn’t something she adored. It was the rush of competition—and the fact that Vanessa desired it—that had driven her.

A satisfied smile curved Isabella’s lips. "Alexander, thank you for winning it for me."

A hundred million was an outrageous sum. Naturally, no one dared to counter.

Then, realization struck.

"You told me your salary goes to your wife," she murmured, tilting her head. "Where did you get this kind of money?"

A warm flutter filled her chest.

Was this the quiet, understated romance of an older man? Claiming to have nothing, yet secretly securing a lavish gift just for her.

The thought made Evelyn's lips curve into a genuine smile, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as they met Alexander's.

"Who said it's for you?"

His words shattered her hopeful expression like fragile glass.

Alexander reclined in his chair, his gaze flickering over her with cool detachment. "Didn't you notice my wife likes it? Naturally, I'm buying it for her."

Evelyn's smile froze, disbelief flooding her features.

"What are you talking about? She was just caught in a scandal, entangled with your nephew! How could you—"

Alexander scoffed. "Really? Did they embrace? Hold hands? They were merely talking. A scandal?"

Watching Evelyn converse with Ethan had unsettled him, but as her husband, he would respect her.

She was only speaking with an old flame. It wasn’t a crime.

Evelyn had chosen him, but he refused to let their marriage become a cage.

Besides, she and Ethan had shared seven years together. As rivals, Alexander understood the weight of that history. Though it gnawed at him, he wouldn’t begrudge her this.

His unwavering stance left Isabella speechless.

Secret Longing: A Love Beyond Chains…