Wedding My Ex’s Uncle

My Name

She regretted not having a backup plan-today could’ve been a double win. Without preparation, she could only give Kimberly a calm-down look. “Not now. Just stay cool.”

Kimberly let out a frustrated sigh. “Whatever.”

Kaia never looked away from the stage. Then came the bracelet. “Opening bid, 100 thousand dollars.” Since she was with Sally, the tab would hit the Domonts. Kaia figured her dad could swing it-it was for her grandma, after all.

She raised her paddle. “One hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

Someone else jumped in. “Two hundred thousand dollars, once!” Kaia didn’t blink-she lifted her paddle again.

“Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, once!” the auctioneer announced.

The other bidder came on hard. “Five hundred thousand dollars, once!”

“Mom, seriously? Can you stop her? Five hundred thousand dollars for some dead woman’s bracelet? She’s lost it,” Kimberly

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hissed.

Sally was eyeing a diamond necklace-if Kaia kept going, her plan could tank. The Domonts didn’t have deep pockets-a bidding war could break them.

Kaia tuned them both out. Sally dragged her here; she was going to win that bracelet.

“Six hundred thousand dollars, once!” came the call.

“One million dollars, sir! Any more? One million dollars, once!”

Sally grabbed Kaia’s wrist. “Kaia, your dad’s not gonna be okay with that. A million’s insane. Just wait for the next one.”

Suddenly, a man up front raised his number. “Five million dollars!”

The auctioneer lit up. “Five million dollars from Mr. Graves!”

It was Lucien. The entire room went dead silent.

Kaia froze.

“Five million dollars, going once, going twice, sold! Congrats, Mr. Graves-the bracelet is yours!”

water bottle

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1

(

she could ask for anything-should she

no idea Sally had watched her take that sip, then smiled and unlocked her phone to

done. Meet me

burned down her throat. She slipped her mask back

cutting through the

toward the restroom to splash her

Something’s off!

nerves snapped to attention. Something was

sworn off eating or drinking

clenched, Kaia staggered into the restroom and

רופ

She reached for her phone-no

the police? She hesitated-then the

Someone was outside!

into her purse and grabbed her pocket knife. After what happened with Kimberly, she kept it

gripped the handle tight as

through the

defense. Anything more,

aim smart.

for a fight—then

What was that?

outside her stall. “Kaia, it’s

and let the knife

door, her face flushed, her voice shaky.

you came.”

117

Lucien’s jaw clenched tight.

Are

her forehead, his hand cool against her burning skin.

shook her head, panting. “Hospital. Lucien, someone

eyes went sharp, his

he scooped her up. “I got you. We’re going straight to

it come to this? Why is it always Lucien who shows up when I need someone the most? Kaia’s head spun, her vision swimming, and her skin burning up like she’d been tossed into a sauna. Her nerves buzzed,

His palm swallowed her trembling fingers, giving them a steady squeeze.