My eyes burned red, and my chest felt heavy with helplessness.

Then, something happened that shocked everyone even more.

Charles suddenly dropped to one knee. In full view of the entire crowd, he placed the necklace around Natalia's neck.

"Natalia, will you marry me?"

The hall erupted in gasps.

Natalia's hands flew to her mouth in surprise as tears sparkled in her eyes.

"Yes! I will!"

At that moment, a cold, mechanical voice rang in my head. "Host, your mission has failed."

"Melissa, since you refuse to see reason, your mission will never be completed."

I stood rooted to the spot. As I watched the scene unfold before me, a bitter smile tugged at my lips.

Charles strode over and loomed over me. His voice dropped low, and he spoke in my ear. "You forced me to do this. From now on, you're trapped in this world forever. There's no leaving."

His words dripped with triumph, and his eyes burned with an obsessive light.

"Melissa, you're too unruly. Weren't you always saying you wanted independence and to leave me?"

His lips curved into a cruel smile.

"Fine. I'll make sure no company in the city dares to hire you. Not for work and not for rent. You won't even get to shop or move around. You'll be blocked at every turn."

Then, his tone became even colder. "After this, you'll watch me get engaged, married, and start a family with Natalia. When you're completely cornered, you'll crawl to me, begging to become my mistress."

Charles' face screamed overconfidence, as if he could already see me groveling at his feet.

I almost laughed out loud.

Just moments ago, the system had chimed repeatedly in my head.

"Commercial Insight ability restored."

"Investment Foresight ability restored."

"Fortune Enhancement ability restored."

All the abilities I had spent points on were returned in full and were now boosted inside me.

I was now the true child of fortune and the future richest person in Broxia.

Yet Charles had no idea. He was still trying to bully me with such a clumsy stunt. How laughable.

If he walked out of this auction unscathed, I'd have to admit he had some skill.

I studied him deliberately. A sly smile was playing on my lips. "Oh? Is that so? Then, I'll just have to wait and see."

I naturally looped my arm through Peter's, ready to leave.

"Stop!" Charles roared furiously, trying to chase after us.

However, at that moment, the auction manager approached with a professional smile. "Mr. Sawyer, congratulations! You've won the Tears of Galaxy necklace at a record-breaking price of 100 million. Please proceed with payment."

Charles waved impatiently, then signed the confirmation and immediately called his secretary. "Transfer 100 million from the company account to the auction house now!"

In the next moment, the secretary's panicked voice rang through the speaker across the hall. "Sir! Something bad has happened! Our financial investment has just collapsed. All company accounts are frozen!"

The words hit like a thunderclap. Silence fell over the entire hall.

Then, a flood of phone calls began, ringing like funeral bells.

"Mr. Wright, Sawyer Group just crashed! The stock price is down 50%! Return to the office immediately!"

"Jack, pull your money out of Charles' project! His company's a shell!"

"Leslie, sell all Sawyer Group shares right now!"