My cheeks burned as though they had been lashed as I walked away.

…

A week later, the Sothisby Auction House held its grand international art and collectibles auction. My father had been preparing for it for a long time. He had invited many of the world's most famous collectors.

Irina arrived with her arm looped through Corbin's, while Jared and Hector stood nearby.

The auctioneer's energetic voice rose above the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, let us begin our day with a true vintage beauty, the 'Dear Ilia' white gold, emerald, and diamond necklace, crafted over three years by the famed 18th-century Florentine jeweler, Alois Fontaine. Opening bid, 26,000 dollars."

My eyes caught the dazzling light reflecting off the necklace, and my heart skipped a beat. My mother had always loved jewelry that combined emeralds and white gold. She used to wear a necklace in a similar style.

I raised my paddle without hesitation. "27,000!"

"29,000!"

I stared. Irina beamed at me with her paddle raised high, her eyes gleaming with provocation.

The room seemed to hold its breath.

"31,000," I called.

Irina bit her lip, hesitating. Corbin lowered his head and whispered in her ear.

She lifted her chin, confidence renewed. "35,000!"

The bidding continued back and forth until the price reached 40,000 dollars. Even the auctioneer was visibly sweating. "40,000. Going once—"

I drew a sharp breath. "41,000!"

Irina's face paled. She turned sharply to Corbin. He paused, then raised his paddle. "45,000."

The crowd gasped.

I let out a scoff. "Goddamn, Mr. Ford. Wherever could you have gotten that much money? I doubt your entire salary adds up to that."

Corbin smiled smugly. "I see you have not been paying attention to the company's progress lately. We recently closed a massive contract in the Aslan-Pacific region, thanks to me. I received a very generous bonus for it."

I froze. So my father had grown this fond of him. He had not even mentioned the bonus to me.

The auctioneer scanned the room, waiting for another outrageous bid, then brought the gavel down. "Sold. Congratulations, Mr. Ford."

Corbin turned to Irina with a smug grin. "Congratulations to you, actually. Consider it an early gift. You know what I mean."

Irina was overjoyed. She squealed and threw her arms around his neck in full view of everyone, as though she had forgotten to keep up her act.

Nearby, Jared and Hector exchanged a knowing glance but said nothing.

I gritted my teeth and rose from my seat. I was ready to leave.

"Where are you going, Miss Sothisby? Leaving already? That is quite the display of a sore loser," Corbin called mockingly. "Not very becoming of an heiress, is it?"

I ignored him and stormed out of the auction hall. Only once I was outside did I take a steady breath.

…

I got into my car and drove away from the auction house, yet my mind seemed to remain behind. I could not move on.

Then a blinding light flashed across my rearview mirror. It came from a black four-wheel-drive vehicle. I did not know when it had begun tailing me, but it was closing in.

I frowned. "What the hell?"

I accelerated, but the car stayed on me. I reached for my phone to call the police when a truck suddenly screeched out from the side of the road and blocked my path.

I slammed on the brakes, and the shriek of metal pierced my ears.

A violent force struck me, and my vision went black.

…

When the darkness receded, a chill spread from my wrists through the rest of my body.

I realized that I was tied to a metal chair. The walls around me were warped and peeling, and the air smelled damp and rotten.

I was in an abandoned warehouse.

But that was not the most terrifying part of waking up. A ticking timer was strapped to my chest. By the time I focused on it, the display had already dropped from 30:00 to 29:58.

"Oh my God, you're finally awake!" a woman said.

I struggled to turn toward the voice.

Irina?! She had the same timer strapped to her chest too!

Tear tracks still streaked her face.

"Who did this to us?" I croaked.

Irina shook her head, panic etched across her face. "I don't know! I was about to leave the auction when someone attacked me. Then I woke up here! Oh God, what's going to happen to me? Save me, Skylar!"

I sneered, "So now you remember who I am and the connections I have? What happened to that big, bitchy energy, Irina?"

She broke into tears. "That's not funny, Skylar! I know I haven't been nice to you, but please, help me!"

The warehouse door suddenly swung open. Corbin stormed in, fury radiating from him. The moment he saw us, he rushed forward. "Irin!"

He stopped short. He noticed the timer, then turned to me, stunned.

"Skylar? You too? No. There's no time to ask why," he muttered to himself as he began scanning the area for clues.

He spotted a black box. Inside was a defusing tool and a note.

"You can save only one. Or doom them both if you have a lust for heroism," he read, bewildered.

Irina sobbed. "No! I don't want to die!"

Corbin glanced between us and immediately made his choice. He grabbed the toolbox and headed straight for Irina.

A sharp ache pierced my chest. I had expected this, yet it still hurt to watch it unfold. I had never been more than a stepping stone, a means for him to gain the Sothisby family's power and wealth.

He began dismantling the bomb strapped to Irina. Sweat beaded on his forehead as the timer on my chest ticked down from 8:45.

By the time mine showed just over two minutes remaining, Corbin had removed Irina's bomb. He exhaled in relief. "Good."

He turned toward me, ready to work, when she caught his hand. "We don't have much time left, Corbin!"

He hesitated. I could not read his expression. He stared at my timer, then finally muttered, "Forgive me."

He lifted Irina into his arms and ran for the door without looking back. "We have to go. Now!"

I closed my eyes. Cold seeped into my bones.

Was that it? Was this my destiny?

A masked man burst into the warehouse. With practiced efficiency, he cut the ropes binding my hands and tore the timer from my chest. He swept me into his arms and ordered, "Hang tight!"

The timer hit zero.

He had just cleared the building when the explosion tore through the air. A wave of heat slammed into us and hurled us several meters away. My body convulsed as my consciousness struggled to hold on, and my vision blurred.

I thought I saw him remove his mask. The face looked familiar, even through the haze.

"You..." I began.

The word faded as darkness swallowed me.

…

When I opened my eyes again, I had to shut them at once. The light was blinding, sterile white. The air smelled sharply of disinfectant.

A steady beeping sounded nearby, the rhythm of an ECG machine.

It was a hospital. I was alive.

The door opened. Corbin entered, supporting a weakened Irina. Jared and Hector followed behind.

They froze when they saw me awake.

"How did you survive that?" Corbin blurted, then quickly composed himself. "I mean, I'm glad you're awake."

He helped Irina into a chair by the window and poured her a glass of water before approaching my bed.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

I was about to answer when Jared cut in, "I think you owe us an explanation, Miss Sothisby."

"W-What?" I stared at him, stunned.

Corbin raised a hand to silence him. "According to our investigation, the kidnappers were paid through your personal bank account. Follow the money, as they say."

I shot upright, shock and anger surging through me. "No way!"

I winced as the sudden movement tugged at the IV in the back of my hand, sending a sharp sting up my arm.