Chapter 1

My mom nearly didn't make it when I was born, which is why I remained my dad's only child.

So, eighteen years ago, he adopted a poor young boy, raising him as his heir.

He wanted someone truly trustworthy by my side in the future, someone who could help safeguard the family business and look out for me.

But then, at the peak of his career, my dad suddenly died.

I couldn't handle the shock. I fell terribly ill and spent a whole year recovering abroad.

When I returned, I found that the owner of the auction house was now Victor Sterling.

All of my dad's treasured collections had been sold off by him, at rock-bottom prices, to overseas dealers.

What he didn't know, though, was this:

My dad adopted more than just him.

Victor Sterling twirled a pen between his fingers, his gaze cold and distant, devoid of the tenderness I remembered.

"Who said you could come in?"

He spoke, the coldness in his voice piercing my eardrums.

I took two steps forward, glaring at him. "Victor, this is my dad's auction house."

He scoffed, leaning back in his chair.

Chloe, her bright crimson nails gleaming, lifted her head from his embrace and playfully tugged at his tie.

"Cassidy, get it through your thick skull. This auction house is Victor's now."

She leaned closer to Victor's ear, purposely raising her voice. "Some people just don't know when to quit, do they? Couldn't hold onto what was theirs, and now they're crawling back, shamelessly begging."

Victor didn't push her away. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her waist, his eyes turning even colder as he looked at me.

Seeing them like this, I felt like a vice was squeezing my heart.

"Victor, have you forgotten what you promised my dad on his deathbed?"

"You said you'd protect the Preston legacy, that you'd treat it like your own business!"

"Have you forgotten who entrusted you with all the Preston collections? Who believed in you and made you the head of the auction house?"

Victor idly twirled a strand of Chloe's hair around his finger, not even bothering to lift his gaze. "Cassidy, your sentimental games? I'm so over them."

"Those collections, those promises, they were just your dad's wishful thinking," Chloe added, her voice dripping with mockery. "Did you really think Victor would hold onto that 'sentiment'?"

I searched Victor's eyes, hoping to find a hint of the man I once knew.

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

"It was a setup from the start, wasn't it?"

"You got close to me, close to the Preston family, all for this auction house, for our collections?"

My voice trembled, but I forced the words out.

Victor finally looked up at me, his lips twisted into a cruel smirk.

He didn't answer directly. He reached out and pinched Chloe's cheek. "See? She's only just figured it out. Isn't that a little stupid?"

Chloe shook with laughter, a sickening, theatrical sound.

I started coughing, the taste of blood rising in my throat.

Every word I spoke dripped with hatred. "You owe the Prestons, you owe my dad, and I swear, I'll make you pay back every single cent, twice over!"

But Victor just chuckled as if I'd told a joke. He stood up and walked toward me.

He loomed over me, his eyes full of disdain. "Pay back double? Cassidy, you have nothing left. What are you going to fight me with?"

"This auction house? I call the shots now."

He then reached out and brushed his knuckles against my cheek, a gesture so dismissive and insulting it made my skin crawl. "I advise you, be smart and leave Starhaven City. Find some quiet place to live your life."

"Otherwise."

"If I can take your dad's auction house, I can make sure you have no place to stand in Starhaven City at all!"

The pain in my chest intensified, yet I started to laugh.

"Victor, do you really think you can take all of this?"