The auction began quietly but quickly turned sour.Magnificent paintings, unique archaeological artifacts, collectibles—even items whose owners were forced to part with them for cash. All seemed typical of such an event… until the Desert Rose took the stage.
Suddenly, the number of bidders interested in the headband multiplied. Though its origin was nearly unknown, it was clear the buyers only wanted it for the sake of luxury.The auctioneer was caught off guard when trying to ask who would offer more—but he couldn't.Just as the Formands and other bidders were preparing their next move, someone surged ahead, offering four times the starting price, then driving the bidding up to an obscene 17 million.A headband couldn't possibly be worth that much. When they searched for the bidder, he remained hidden behind the curtains in the VIP box.
Furious at the thought of losing it—and having initially refrained from wasting such a fortune—Deirdre struck.
She allowed the man in the box to make his final, unreachable offer, since no one dared outbid him after such an exorbitant sum."17 million. Anyone else?""This is a fine piece by the sublime goldsmith Antwan Flag. Don't miss your chance, ladies and gentlemen. No one? Then…""25." Deirdre's fury was evident.
"We have 25 from Madame Stern. Sir, will you go to 25.1?"With no response, the auctioneer brought down the gavel."Sold to Madame Stern for 25 million!"
The multimillion-dollar sale eclipsed all others and stirred up controversy. A mere headband—little more than diamonds and rubies—made many question what Deirdre was really after. There had to be more to it. After all, the infamous Lady Fortune never meddled in things unless they were gold mines in disguise.They could only hope it was a vain whim, and nothing more.
"Do you like your new headband? It belonged to my mother, and when I was a little girl, it was stolen. Today I got it back, intact, for you."Vaneesha nodded.
"But it's yours—you should keep it.""No. It's proof that you're my family now. Take care of it, and keep it a secret that it was mine. When people ask, just say I bought it for you because you wanted it. Nothing more."
As I smoothed her wrinkled skirt, we were interrupted.
"Excuse me, Madame. The gentleman requests a word."An employee let in an old man in an expensive coat.
I never thought I'd see this man again, and far from joy, I felt nothing but disdain."Good evening, Madame Stern. It's been a long time."The half-brother of the late Tsar, Count Pedro D'Agostini, feigned politeness.
After his country fell to the republicans, he retained his title and fortune by surrendering without bloodshed during the Tsar's absence.With no heirs in sight, his dynasty ended—but it was well known he never stopped searching for his nephew, kidnapped by revolutionaries.
When I was younger and newly wealthy, I needed help to avoid bounty hunters sent by creditors of my late husband. I went to this scumbag.I had found a photo of his nephew circulating in the black market and wanted to tell him that the young man in the picture was my father. But he wouldn't let me speak, thinking I was after his money with a fake story.His reaction was brutal. I was still a frail girl, and after years of abuse from a violent husband, I ended up with another broken arm.His thugs threw me into the street without mercy. I tried to explain that I didn't want his money. I warned him he'd regret it.
If it hadn't been for the detestable Senator Ulises Simpson—who oddly took a grandfatherly liking to me and used me to boost his campaign—I might've ended up sleeping with the fishes that day.
"If you say so. As far as I recall, we have no business left between us. So what do you want?"Spotting the headband, I hid Vaneesha behind me.
"You're right, but this is about the headband you won. I'd like to make a deal for it. You see, the story behind it dates back to my late brother…"He was trying to win me over with pity.
"I'm not interested. It's mine now. My schedule is full, and I'd appreciate it if you never crossed paths with me again. Excuse me."Lifting the child, I left and shut the door.
He was angry—and I knew he wouldn't stop.
"I'll call Bulgari." Terry had read my mind.
"Perfect. Vaneesha, how about we make new jewelry out of the headband?"She buried her face in my neck and nodded before falling asleep.
I didn't make it to the stairs before more scum blocked my path.The cursed Formand family.
They stood waiting, and upon seeing the girl with the headband, their rage was plain.As I passed, someone grabbed my coat, forcing me to turn.
"Let me go. I'm not in the mood.""Alice... what do you think you're doing?"
"I remind you my name is Deirdre Stern, and you will address me properly, Mrs. Formand. Besides, you have no right to question me."Shameless, clearly.
"We'll call you whatever we want! We raised you like a daughter, and this is how you repay us? You should—"Adolf Formand was filth.
"No, you bought me. You abused me, beat me, starved me… My life was worse than a stray dog's, and at the first chance, when I was just eleven, you sold me to a bloodthirsty old man eighty years my senior. I owe you nothing!"
They froze for a moment, then braced to insult me.
They thought that being on the second floor meant no one was around. But their pathetic attempt at manipulation was about to backfire.Aware of the journalists in the hallway, I would turn this to my benefit.What better inspiring headline than that of a self-made billionaire woman rising from the dirt—after suffering at the hands of her cruel foster parents?
Public outrage and a storm of gossip would follow. They'd be exposed for their wickedness and fall even lower.
"Ungrateful little bitch! Give back what you stole!"They lunged at me to snatch the headband, nearly making me drop Vaneesha.
"Stop! Security!"Terry blocked Carolina Formand and struck Adolf.
As they were restrained and removed, they didn't hold back their hateful glares—especially when Pedro D'Agostini appeared behind me.They misread everything.
"You filthy leech! What did you do?""You won't get away with this! You'll end up back in the gutter where you belong, you starving wretch!"
For a moment, the commotion gave me a bad feeling.They made no effort to hide their hatred, even in front of paparazzi, and I couldn't shake the suspicion that something was coming.The sensation of being watched returned after years of silence, and the heat rising in my chest warned me to stay alert.
The police removed them before they could say too much, and full of anger, I made my way to the private parking lot.
"I'll make sure it's taken care of."
"Terry, find out what the Formands were plotting. Who they dealt with. And if possible, make sure D'Agostini or anyone else stays away from them. I'll send Kassie to clean up."It wasn't a threat—it was a certainty they'd die.
Back at home, I raised the divider and let the driver take us quietly.As I loosened my vest, the glow at my chest was pulsing brightly.
"I hope they die in pain."I covered it again, thankful that none of this chaos had disturbed Vaneesha's sleep.
That night, after interrogating the Formands, Terry went over the information in his briefcase.What he found sounded ridiculous—but knowing Deirdre, it was entirely plausible.
After bidding the commissioner goodbye, he noticed not only the arrival of his boss's hitman, but also Pedro D'Agostini.Greeting him out of politeness, Terry explained he was there to handle insurance paperwork for the damages at the venue.
Pedro didn't suspect anything—until the shouting and the rush of officers sent them running toward the holding cells.
Adolf Formand had stolen a guard's weapon and, after firing a warning shot, was threatening to kill himself rather than go to prison.
Everyone—Deirdre's hitman included—was stunned.It was a sudden twist that, oddly, saved them trouble.
But Terry saw it for what it was: absurd.
Adolf fired—and, like a skilled marksman, the bullet hit his wife in the head from across the corridor.Then, without hesitation, he turned the gun on himself.
The witnesses stood frozen.The couple had died in the most bizarre, unbelievable way—and someone who understood what was really happening clutched his briefcase with nervous dread.
Terry had been the only one to catch a glimpse…of a glowing, miniature white creature sprinting over the corpse before vanishing like a spark.