The Jilted Heiress' Return To The High Life

Chapter 449:

Rita’s manicured nails bit deeper into her palms, the pain lost beneath waves of mounting fury. Unable to bear the spectacle any longer, she rose abruptly to flee.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Bruce’s question followed her like a shadow.

Rita spun around with an exaggerated eye roll.

“To the ladies’ room!” she snapped, stalking away.

The auction proceeded undisturbed by her dramatic exit. Nate studied Corrine’s delicate profile, leaning close enough that his breath tickled her ear.

“Do you enjoy being addressed that way?”

Corrine met his playful gaze with a sidelong glance, understanding the meaning behind his question.

title,” she

deference stemmed not from her Ford family heritage, but from the man

instructed him to use that title,” she reminded him, toying with the auction paddle as her lips curved

matter, do they? Perhaps it’s all part of some masculine power play. For all I know, I’m just one of many

her as his elegant fingers tilted

words carrying the weight of both

the intensity of his gaze. Her earlier words had been childish, tinged with an inexplicable jealousy. Yet they

intuition whispered that

equation troubled

A symphony orchestra filled the air with refined melodies while guests mingled beneath crystal chandeliers—the very picture of high society excess. After several

have the

concealed

introduce myself.” He adjusted his tie

“Rolf Archer—Calan’s younger brother.”

ghosted across Corrine’s lips. She knew of him—a notorious name-dropper who had