Over the weekend, my wife and I were both invited to attend a charity auction.

During the bidding, my wife's assistant named Johan Liberty and I happened to take a liking to the same painting.

I was about to compete fairly when, right in front of me, my wife lit the bid lamp for her assistant, "Douglas, you're just a live-in son-in-law in our family. What right do you have to fight with me?"

Just as the other bidders began withdrawing one by one, I snapped my fingers toward the auctioneer, "Whatever price my wife offers, I'll add ... one more dollar!"

——

As soon as I said that, every guest at the auction turned to look at me.

Moments later, the room erupted in laughter, "This guy must be crazy, right? Fighting his own wife for something? He must have more money than sense!"

"He's not just crazy, he's got no brain at all. A mere son-in-law daring to challenge Miss Mason in public, completely out of line."

"I heard before coming that the Mason Family took in a live-in son-in-law some years ago. Didn't expect to actually see him here."

As the whispers grew louder, Savannah's face darkened.

The next second, she stood up abruptly and pointed at me, shouting, "Douglas, put your hand down right now, do you hear me? You're spending my family's money, how do you even have the nerve to fight me?"

I leaned calmly back into my chair, looking at her indifferently, "Savannah, I'm still your husband, at the very least. Show some respect when you talk to me."

I continued, "If I see something I like, why should I give it up to someone else? Besides, I've never spent a cent of your family's money, so stop making things up."

Halfway through, my tone turned sharp, "Remember that, I've never spent a cent of your family's money. Don't just say whatever you want."

Savannah turned red with anger at my words, "Douglas, how many times have I told you to call me 'Miss Mason' in public? You're just a dog raised by my family, we have nothing to do with each other!"

I sighed lightly and fixed my gaze on her, "Alright Miss Mason, are you seriously going to fight me over something just for your assistant?"

In fact, the moment I walked into the auction, I already sensed something was off.

Logically speaking, as Savannah's husband, I should have been seated beside her, not shoved into a corner.

Even so, I endured it. After all, her father, Mr. Richard Mason, had always treated me decently and often invited me to play chess. As a good man, it was only right for me to be patient with a wife who acted a little spoiled woman.

But who would've thought that the seat which should have been mine was now occupied by my wife's assistant, Johan. A fresh college graduate who, aside from looking pale and delicate, was utterly clueless at his job.

Yet my foolish wife just had to stand up for him. Just thinking about it made the fury in me boil.

But Savannah, hailed as a rising star in the business world, didn't notice anything wrong. She kept going at me relentlessly, "Douglas, who do you think you are? My decisions are not for you to question."

"All these years of marriage, you ate our food, lived in our house. What do you have to compete with me?" she sneered.

At the end, Savannah suddenly lost control of her emotions, "I'm not afraid to tell you today, I'm going to win this painting and gift it to Johan!"

Before I could even get angry, Johan who sat next to her couldn't sit still any longer. He looked at me with a smirk of provocation, "Mr. Powell, I suggest you give up. Or else you'll be sleeping outside and wash the dishes when you get home tonight."

Halfway through his sentence, he suddenly grinned and burst out laughing, "When you live off a woman, you should act like it. Don't you think I'm right, Mr. Powell?"

Johan's words instantly sparked another wave of laughter from the crowd. Even the host on stage couldn't help but chuckle.

But I just waved my hand nonchalantly and let out a cold laugh, "From the sound of it, Johan, are you really going to fight me to the end today?"

Johan gave me a smug look, his eyes full of contempt, "Mr. Powell, no offense, but you're just a live-in son-in-law with no job. What do you have to compete with me? Miss Mason just lit the bid lamp, no limit bidding. You got that kind of money to keep up?"

I slowly lifted my head and gave him a faint smile, "Johan, you're mistaken. I'm not like you. When I buy something, I never need a woman to pay for me."

The moment I said that, another round of mockery rippled through the crowd, "Oh my god, this guy's full of it. He wouldn't even be here without Savannah!"

"Exactly! He's only here because he married into the Mason Family. What's he showing off for?"

"If it weren't for Savannah, who would even notice him? Host, hurry up and announce the result, stop wasting everyone's time."

Despite the rising jeers, they had no effect on me at all. Because everything I said was the truth.

If it weren't for wanting to save Savannah some face, I could've proudly declared that Mason Group belonged to me.

Seeing that I stayed silent, Johan got even more arrogant, "See? I told you. A man with no ability should stop pretending to be something he's not. Now you've embarrassed yourself completely."

Before he could finish, I slowly raised my paddle, "Who said I'm backing out? It's just money, I've got plenty!"

At that moment, every pair of eyes in the room locked onto me. Even the host on stage froze, unable to continue with the next step.

Even though he knew I was the Mason Family's son-in-law, as a professional auctioneer, once someone placed a new bid, he couldn't bring down the gavel.

Then came Savannah's roar, echoing through the hall, "Douglas! You really are set on going against me today, huh!"

I glanced at Johan who was standing beside her and answered firmly, "That's right."

As soon as I spoke, Savannah shouted at the top of her lungs, "Fine! Let's see how much money you actually have!" Without hesitation, she raised her paddle, "Ten million!"

Anyone who's attended an auction knew, once the lamp is lit, there's no turning back.

You either follow through to the end, or declare bankruptcy. Since Savannah was willing to gamble the whole company for a lowly assistant, then I might as well play along.

"Ten million … and one dollar." As soon as the words left my mouth, all eyes shifted toward me.

From the expressions on their faces, I could tell, they all thought I was a joke. No one knew that I was the true power behind Mason Group.

Back when the Mason Family went bankrupt, their patriarch, Richard Mason, came to me in the middle of the night, holding a marriage contract and begging me to marry his daughter.

Out of respect for the kindness their family had once shown mine, I reluctantly agreed to marry Savannah.

But who would've thought that this woman never treated me like her husband? She humiliated me day after day and now, she dared to light a bid lamp for another man right in front of me. There was no way I was swallowing that.

"Douglas, you think you've got the money to play this game? This is an auction, not some street market downstairs from your apartment!" Johan mocked.

When Johan saw that I dared to go head-to-head with his boss, his face instantly changed, "Don't say I didn't warn you, if you can't come up with the money, you'll end up in jail!"

I looked up and gave him a slight smile, "Johan, whether I have money or not is none of your business. I suggest you worry more about your boss. Lighting a bid lamp means there's no turning back."

Upon hearing that, Savannah immediately got furious and raised her paddle again, "Douglas, you dare to lecture my people in public?"

"You like competing, huh? Then I want to see just how much money you actually have! I'm raising another ten million. That's twenty million total!" With her angry shout, the entire venue exploded in chatter.

After all, this was just a charity auction. While the items weren't bad, they weren't anywhere near worth tens of millions. Besides, the painting in question was just something drawn by a child, not from a famous artist.

"Miss Mason is really generous. I thank you on behalf of the children in remote areas." I clapped while slowly rising to my feet, "But ... since this is a charity gala, the more money, the better, right?"

Saying that, I raised my index finger under everyone's shocked gaze. "Twenty million ... and one dollar!"

No one present had expected me to actually go toe-to-toe with Savannah. Their eyes looked at me in surprise.

Everyone attending this auction was either a leader in the business world or someone powerful. Even Savannah only got the invitation because of the Mason Group's recent success.

From the look in her eyes, I could tell, she actually enjoyed this drama.

She said loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, let me clarify something first. This man may be my husband in name, but we have no real relationship. If he can't come up with the money later, the Mason Group is not responsible."

After hearing her words, I almost couldn't help but laugh, "Miss Mason, I suggest you hold off on disowning me just yet."

"After all, you're the only person bold enough to light a bid lamp at a charity auction. If you can't pay up later, you might have to beg me to bail you out," I said.

As soon as I said that, Johan couldn't hold back and stood up, "Douglas, are you dreaming or what? You're just a freeloader living off a woman and you dare to compare yourself to the entire Mason Group? You're way out of your league!"

I shook my head, looking at him calmly, "I know it's hard to believe right now, but it's the truth. If you don't believe me, you can ask your boss to try."

Johan raised an eyebrow and let out a sneer, "Fine, let's see then. A guy who doesn't even know his own worth, how dare you act tough in front of me?"

His words didn't make me angry. On the contrary, I stayed perfectly calm, "Sorry, but I'm not like you. When I buy something, I never spend a woman's money."

As soon as I said that, some of the guests who knew me couldn't help whispering again, "Tck, anyone can talk big. If he's so capable, why did he become a live-in son-in-law in the first place?"

"Seriously, Savannah is at least worth over a billion. And what is he? A nobody!"

"Exactly. He's just a clown trying to get attention. Let's not waste our time on him."

I slowly stood up and swept my gaze across the room, "Everyone, hear me out. It's not just that I look down on the Mason Family anymore, I look down on every single one of you sitting here today."