And The Daddy Is… The Infertile Guy?!

Chapter 35

The auction house was a hive of activity, buzzing with the kind of energy that could only be found where fortunes were made and lost in the blink of an eye,

The air was perfumed with the calming scent of sandalwood incense, while the walls were adorned with openwork bookshelves that showcased an eclectic mix of ceramics, paintings, and other vintage treasures, nestled among pots of lush greenery.

The babble of the crowd hushed for a brief moment as Howard and Gwendolyn made their entrance. It was Howard’s first public appearance since the accident that had changed his life. The looks that fell upon Howard’s legs were a mix of derision, disdain, pity, and malice,

Word had spread that Howard, the golden boy, had fallen from grace, crippled and barren. The inheritance of the Chadwick family was all but secured by Bainbridge.

Howard was now the discarded pawn.

“He’s impotent. What good does it do? Just leaves her a widow in the prime of her life.”

“Just a pretty–faced country girl, what a shame! Or are you fancying yourself as her new groom?”

“Ha! The Chadwick family will still need Bainbridge!”

Those harsh whispers turned Jeannie’s face beet red, her fists clenched as if she were ready to throw down. Gwendolyn’s lips were pressed into a tight line.

Gwendolyn reached out her fair hands to cover Howard’s ears.

hands aside, his voice

should remember these faces well. When Gwendolyn gave him the chance to soar again, he would see how their tune would change, crawling back

don’t like them speaking

looked deep into her eyes, which sparkled with indignant fire. The quarrel of the

himself that he indeed wanted to

Chadwick, this way, please.” An auction house employee guided him to a seat in the corner of the first

Bainbridge with Vivien, while Gemma and Herman were relegated to seats

me one,” Bain.idge said with a cold smile. “If it weren’t for

11:39

Chapter 35

the front row.”

where power and status reigned

you then, Bainbridge,” Howard replied,

all,

struck two, the

House

and gavel in hand, projected his voice across the room, “Welcome to Grand Gavel’s monthly auction. All items today are up for public bidding. The sellers have declared a ‘non–fidelity‘ policy, meaning items are sold without a guarantee of authenticity, with all transactions being final. Now, let’s begin the bidding