After nearly two weeks of recovery in the hospital, I was finally well enough to leave. I didn’t go back to the mansion. Instead, I rented a small place elsewhere. During that time, James never once contacted me.

On the other hand, Celine messaged me almost every day.

It turned out that James took her watching the sunset, walking on the beach, kissing under the Eiffel Tower, holding hands at the foot of Mount Fuji. During the two weeks I lay in the hospital, they seemed to live in bliss.

In fact, Celine even sent pictures of them in bed together everyday.

At first, the pain was unbearable. But after some time, I grew calm. I saved every single photo carefully. Each one of them was a future weapon for revenge. I thought I could stay this way until the divorce papers arrived and I finally walked away.

However, just as the sun was setting one evening, a group of bodyguards appeared at my door.

Ding dong!

My phone buzzed. It was a message from James.

[Adrianne, you’ve been gone for half a month. That’s enough. Come to Sotheby’s now. I’ve sent someone to get you.]

I frowned in response. When I was about to reply, one of the bodyguards grabbed my arm.

“Madam, please cooperate. We’re just following Mr. Goldwyn’s orders.”

I struggled, but a sharp pain hit the back of my neck. After that, everything went black. When I woke up, I was already in a car on the way to the Sotheby’s.

Celine sat in front of me, leaning close to James. Their figures almost touched each other. When she saw that I was awake, she smiled mysteriously.

“Adrianne, you’re finally up. I was worried you wouldn’t make it to the most important part.”

Somehow, my heart skipped a beat as I couldn’t stop myself from frowning. Before I could respond, the auctioneer’s voice echoed through the hall.

“Next, our highlight item is the secret perfume formulas of the world-renowned perfumer, Queen! Ten in total. All of them are highly confidential secrets. Starting bid is one million dollars each!”

The moment I heard it, I looked at Celine in anger.

“You’re auctioning off my perfume formulas!”

Those ten formulas were mine. In fact, I had kept in my private lab at home. Celine must have found them and auctioned them without hesitation.

Celine covered her mouth and laughed lightly as she responded, “Adrianne, what are you talking about? These are my creations. I’m Queen.”

My eyes widened in anger. James, who stood next to her, gave me a warning look. He was clearly displeased. I didn’t have time to argue with them. Immediately, I raised my board.

Each of those formulas was a labor of love. Even if I could make new and better ones, these would be special for me.

“Bid placed! Number 888 has joined the bidding!” the auctioneer announced excitedly.

I didn’t wait for the rest of the crowd. Immediately, I started bidding for all ten at once.

But before I could go any further, Celine spoke again in a mocking tone, “Adrianne, do you even have that kind of money? Once the auctioneer checks your balance, don’t embarrass the Goldwyn Family.”

I smirked coldly in response, “I have more than enough to buy this whole auction house. Unlike some people who call themselves Queen, I don’t need others to pay for me. Not even a single million.”

My words made her expression darken. She turned to James with a pitiful pout.

“James, I’m only sharing these formulas because I want more people to enjoy the beauty of fragrance. And I plan to donate all the proceeds to charity. If you let her buy them, everything I worked for will be wasted.”

She clung to his arm. James looked down at her tenderly before nodding in agreement. The next second, the verification machine in front of me suddenly started beeping!

The auctioneer stared at me coldly before asking in a rude tone, “Mrs. Goldwyn, the bank card you’ve provided has been blocked. Do you have any other cards?”

For a moment, I was speechless. James would do thing like this, just to please Celine!

I quickly pulled out another card, then another. But all of them were rejected.

I looked up at the auctioneer’s face that turned more unpleasant, while I could hear Celine’s mocking laughter.

“Adrianne, what’s wrong? It seems you’re having a bit of trouble. I think I can help you. Let’s make it interesting. Take off one piece of your clothing, I’ll give you one million.”

“I’m sure you’ll have enough money before you’re completely naked,” Celine said sarcastically, looking at me.

Beside her, James sat calmly as he cut fruits for her as if none of this concerned him. The only thing I could do was tremble in anger. Meanwhile, the people looked at me like swords piercing me.

The people in the Sotheby’s had noticed something amiss. When they realized that James did nothing at me being harrassed, the onlookers started to change their expressions. Without further ado, a group of people began circling me as they tried to hold me.

“Mrs. Goldwyn, you’re responsible for payment since you raised the board. Why not do as Miss Llewelyn suggested?”

With that, they forcefully ripped off my coat, leaving me only in a strapless dress.

As my eyes grew wider in shock, I struggled desperately, but they held me tightly.

Just when I thought I would suffocate from the shame, the private room door suddenly slammed open.

A group of masked men barged in openly.

The people initially were upset, but the next second, they were terrified by the guns in the masked men’s hands, then they crouched in place.

Those men brought us all toward the hall. Even the calm James finally changed his expression.

The leader was a tall, broad-shouldered man in a black mask. He laughed loudly before he spoke, “Well, isn’t this lively? Plenty of rich people tonight, I see. Good. Here’s the deal. Each of you pays fifty million.”

“I’ll also pick a few lucky guests to wear some of my special accessories. Whoever doesn’t pay … dies. Whoever pays … depends on luck.”

With that, the kidnappers began taking action.

James frowned deeply, wanting to resist. But due to the sheer number of kidnappers and their weapons, he couldn’t find an opportunity.

In the end, he chose to pay 50 million pounds. He also paid 50 million for Celine.

Meanwhile, I was pushed to the end of the line. My heart pounded so fast it hurt. Just as Celine exhaled in relief, thinking she was safe, one of the kidnappers reached out and grabbed her arm.

“I think your figure is perfect for a bomb. Keep her.”

At that, Celine’s face went pale quickly. She immediately clung desperately to James’ arm, pleading with her eyes.

“James! James, please, save me! I’m pregnant with your child!”

Her words made James frown slightly. He was about to negotiate with the kidnappers when Celine’s gaze darted toward me.

“James, switch me with Adrianne instead! She’s strong, so she can survive this!”

Celine’s face twisted into feigned desperation as if she wanted to push me before the kidnappers. Meanwhile, James told the kidnapper calmly, “I’ll pay another fifty million to save Adrianne.”

My heart caught in my throat, but I got completely heartbroken. It was because his finger pointed at Celine. After that, the kidnapper looked at me before he showed up a malicious grin.

He then said, “Ma’am, it’s your bad luck. Some husbands can afford to buy their wives’ lives. But yours can’t. But honestly, I really want to put the bombs on you. Besides, I’ve never seen an eight-month-pregnant woman explode before. Hahaha!”

His laughter was monstrous as it echoed through the hall. The kidnappers then tied my wrists and ankles tightly. I felt truly hopeless at that moment.

When I looked up, James was walking past as he carried Celine. He didn’t even look at me once. A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

One by one, the hostages who had paid were escorted out. The kidnappers stayed behind to put the explosives on me. Before leaving, James turned briefly and looked back at me. His lips moved soundlessly.

“Wait for me,” he mouthed.

I turned my head away. The moment they strapped the explosives on me, I already knew whose plan this really was. Soon, I would be out …

A few minutes later, a loud voice echoed. The entire Sotheby’s exploded. James, watching from the distance, looked very shocked.

“Adrianne!”

His roar was raw, desperate. But it didn’t reach the building. By that time, I was already gone. The kidnappers had driven me away in their van before the detonation.

When we already left the Sotheby’s, a sleek black Maserati was already parked on a nearby road. Oscar smiled at me as he held a button to counter the explosives.

“Am I late, my lady?”

“You’re right on time. Just like we planned. The Venus project launches today. We cut all ties with the Goldwyn Group. We can continue with our plan.”

Oscar gently nodded.

After that, I smiled coldly as I said, “As for the divorce papers, I’ll have them delivered on the same day. I want them to fall from the highest peak into the deepest hell.”

Without another word, I slid into the Maserati. As the engine roared to life, a violent explosion tore through the night behind us. The auction house as I was free from James!