Chapter 5

Stella Vance POV

It was the night of the annual Atlantic City Charity Gala.

Julian, as the new casino tycoon, made a grand entrance with Eva on his arm.

As his personal assistant, I was ordered to walk behind Eva, carrying her purse and serving her drinks.

The venue was packed with elites and flashing cameras.

I stood in the shadows, dressed in a plain, drab grey pantsuit.

I used to be the star of these events. Now, the people who used to flatter me looked at me with open disgust.

Halfway through the auction, a piece appeared on the big screen.

It was a sapphire necklace called "The Devil's Tear."

My breath hitched. I stared at the screen, my heart stopping.

It was my mother's necklace!

When the Vance family went bankrupt, our assets were seized, and this necklace was auctioned off.

I had searched for it for years, and now it was here.

"Starting bid, five million dollars," the auctioneer announced.

My heart hammered against my ribs.

I threw caution to the wind and rushed to Julian's side, my voice trembling. "Julian, please... bid on it. It's my mother's..."

I could throw away my dignity, but that necklace was my only connection to her.

Julian looked at my pleading face, a strange emotion flashing in his dark eyes.

"What are you offering in return?" he asked quietly.

"Anything! I'll do whatever you want. I'll be your slave... just please buy it," I sobbed, my eyes red.

Julian didn't answer, but he raised his paddle.

"Ten million."

The crowd gasped.

After a few rounds of bidding, Julian secured the necklace for a staggering thirty million dollars.

I watched the staff bring the velvet box over, my body shaking with relief.

I thought he still had a shred of humanity left.

I reached out to take the box.

But Julian bypassed my hand.

In front of everyone, he opened the box, took out the sapphire necklace, and draped it gently around Eva's neck.

"Eva, this color matches your dress perfectly," Julian smiled.

Eva touched the gems, shooting me a triumphant look. "Thank you, Julian. I love it."

My hand froze in the air. Something inside me snapped.

"Julian..." My face was ghostly pale. "You know very well that's..."

"It's just a necklace," Julian cut me off, his eyes devoid of warmth. "Stella, have you forgotten your place? You don't have the right to wear something this expensive."

Snickers erupted around us.

"Does she still think she's an heiress?"

"Seriously, look at her. She actually thought Mr. Thorne bought that for her."

Every whisper felt like a slap to my face.

But it didn't stop there.

Eva gasped as the necklace slipped from her neck and hit the floor.

"Oh no, I'm sorry, Julian. The clasp must be loose..." Eva stepped back in a panic, and her sharp stiletto heel came down right on the sapphire.

Crack.

The gem didn't shatter, but my heart did.

"My necklace!" I screamed, lunging forward to push Eva away.

Julian reacted instantly, pulling Eva into his arms and slapping me across the face, sending me crashing to the floor.

"Stella, have you lost your mind!" Julian roared.

"Julian, I'm scared. She looked like she wanted to kill me..." Eva whimpered in his chest.

Julian looked down at me as I clutched the soiled necklace on the floor, his face turning incredibly cold.

"You frightened Eva," he commanded. "Apologize."

I squeezed the necklace, my nails digging into my palms until they bled.

"She stepped on my mother's legacy... and you want me to apologize?" I looked up at him, my eyes bloodshot.

"I won't say it again," Julian's voice was flat. "Apologize, or your father's ventilator gets turned off tonight."

That threat. Always that threat.

I closed my eyes, feeling like a broken doll. Slowly, I dragged myself up and bowed deeply to Eva.

"I am sorry, Miss Sterling."

With those words, my soul shattered completely.