Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother

Chapter 331: Absurd Claim

The entire hall was enveloped in dead silence as everyone processed what had just happened.

Two billion had just been wasted—just like that.

Ivan clenched his fists. He had wanted that perfume, but not only did Natalie get it—she had dared to break it.

"Ivan, she did it on purpose," Briena whispered. "I told her before that we were here to get this perfume. I’m sure she did this just to mock us."

"She acts like she doesn’t care, but in reality, she’s just jealous of seeing you two together," Irene added.

Ivan’s anger grew.

That perfume could have been his breakthrough—but Natalie had snatched it away, out of jealousy...

The Queen watched in surprise, intrigued by Natalie’s sudden action. She had always appeared calm and composed, so what had prompted this?

"Grandpa, how dare she act this way?" Charlotte hissed to Howard. "I need to teach her a lesson today."

"Go ahead."

Seeing that Howard didn’t stop her, Charlotte saw this as the perfect opportunity. She stood from her place, her posture regal, her expression filled with pride as a princess.

"Natalie, how can you behave so ill-mannered at a royal event—in the presence of the Queen, no less?" Charlotte’s voice rang with authority. "Are you openly disrespecting my grandmother?"

She pointed at the shattered glass.

"You broke the perfume bottle that Dew especially created in honor of the Queen! But instead of keeping it, Her Majesty graciously decided to use it for charity purposes. Is this how you treat a precious gift offered by the Queen herself?"

Natalie simply looked at her, a light smirk playing on her lips.

"After bidding, it was given to me. And as far as I know, no law can punish me for breaking my own possession."

turned to the Queen, her

by breaking what belonged to me? Also, allowing everyone present here to experience this perfume—I thought

it, realization

delicate yet rich, unlike anything they had ever smelled

be told where

high volatility allowed it to disperse quickly, filling the grand hall. The air conditioning system helped circulate the scent, making

in

they had smelled it—had experienced it—none of them could complain about

"It was yours after bidding. As long as no one is hurt by

this, Charlotte was at a loss for

with anger, stepped forward,

did this to hurt me,

down, acting as if she

don’t see you injured anywhere," she replied

to bid on it—that we needed that perfume! But not only did you win it by

intentionally. You didn’t even want the perfume, so why would

deserve to get your hands on

smug tone made Briena’s face twist

by

that hard to understand?" Natalie didn’t bother to

Harper, who still sat in his seat, completely unbothered by the drama unfolding before

broke your expensive gift just like that! Won’t you say anything? Are you really going

still-shocked auctioneer finally snapped back to reality. He hurried to James, stumbling over his words. "M-Mr. Harper,

merely glanced at Natalie with his usual indifferent expression and asked,"Did it make you feel

an ounce of remorse, as if she had

exchange left

James Harper wasn’t angry

wasn’t reprimanding her. Instead, he seemed perfectly fine with whatever she had done—as long as