Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

The charity auction was heating up as the host introduced the second item of the night.

An attendant gently pulled back a panel of red velvet, unveiling a beautifully framed landscape painting for all to see.

It was immediately clear this wasn't just any painting. The brushwork was delicate,

each stroke purposeful, the entire piece radiating a quiet, profound elegance. Whoever had painted this was a true master, and the artwork's value as a collector's item was beyond question.

This landscape was exactly what Andrina had come for tonight.

She leaned over to Olivia and whispered, "This is the painting your grandfather's been dreaming of owning. If we win it and you present it to him yourself, he'll be so touched by your thoughtfulness."

The host cleared his throat, announcing the starting bid: five million dollars.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Andrina raised her paddle-six million.

A moment later, another voice called out from across the ballroom: seven million. Andrina didn't hesitate. "Eight million," she bid, her paddle held high.

Landscapes like this usually appealed to an older crowd, and tonight's guest list was dominated by socialites and heiresses, so competition was surprisingly thin.

Just as Andrina thought the painting was as good as hers, Isadora, who'd been sitting quietly nearby, slowly lifted her paddle. Her voice was crisp and clear. "Ten million."

Andrina's brow furrowed. She mentally calculated just how far she could reasonably go for this painting, then gritted her teeth and added another million. "Eleven million."

Isadora didn't miss a beat. "Twenty million."

Gasps rippled through the room. The back-and-forth bidding, especially at these prices, had everyone riveted.

Olivia couldn't stand Isadora's smug, aloof expression. She felt her temper flare, refusing to let this woman win. She snatched up her paddle, her chin high. "Thirty million."

Andrina's heart skipped a beat at Olivia's bid.

Isadora just smiled and coolly countered, "Fifty million."

Damn it.

That woman!

Olivia's competitive streak was officially triggered. All she could think was that Isadora couldn't be allowed to win. "Sixty million!" she shouted.

The host, caught up in the escalating drama, was nearly breathless. "Sixty million for the landscape painting! Any further bids? The heiress of Legacy National Bank has just raised the stakes to sixty million!"

Without so much as a flicker of emotion, Isadora replied, "Eighty million." Eighty million?

Everyone in the room knew the painting wasn't actually worth that much. The tension in the air shifted; people murmured and exchanged astonished glances. Andrina stared at Isadora, incredulous that she'd bid so much for a landscape. The Fitzgeralds must really have money to burn.

But that didn't mean she and Olivia did.

Andrina quickly grabbed Olivia's left hand, trying to stop her from bidding further. But Olivia's right hand shot up, paddle lifted high. "One hundred million."noveldrama

The room fell dead silent. People looked again at the painting, trying to imagine how it could possibly be worth that kind of money. Had they all missed something?

Andrina was in shock. She felt her blood rush to her head; her mind went blank. Most of her assets were tied up in stocks and real

estate where was she supposed to come up with such an astronomical

sum? Even if she could, why on earth would they spend a hundred million on a painting?

Her eyes wide with disbelief, she couldn't help but snap at Olivia.

"Olivia, this painting's worth maybe ten million, tops. Even if the artist passes away someday, it might go up to thirty million, but that's it. Why did you bid a hundred million? Are you out of your mind? If your grandfather finds out we spent a hundred million on a painting worth a tenth of that, he won't think you're being thoughtful-he'll think you've lost your senses!"

Whatever triumphant rush Olivia had been feeling was instantly squashed by Andrina's words.