"Unbelievable! That insufferable woman dares to challenge us?" Nathan's face twisted in irritation, his jaw clenched. "Alexander, keep pushing the bid! I refuse to let her win this!"

Amy's voice was steady, cutting through the tension. "My limit is eighty million. If Mr. Blackwood can outbid that, the necklace is his. But if his pockets aren't deep enough, he shouldn’t waste his time competing with me."

She turned to Alexander, her lips curving into a faint, knowing smile.

"Either way, you won’t walk away victorious tonight."

"Eighty million?!" Nathan barked out a laugh, his tone dripping with mockery. "Amy, you must be delusional. With your measly finances, could you even scrape together eighty thousand without a man bankrolling you?"

Amy’s gaze flicked toward him, cool and unbothered. "If you’re so confident, Mr. Prescott, why don’t you bid the eighty million?"

Nathan’s mouth snapped shut, his bravado faltering.

Eighty million wasn’t pocket change.

He wasn’t about to throw that kind of money away for pride.

But he couldn’t fathom Amy having that kind of wealth either.

Suddenly, he jabbed a finger at her, eyes lighting up with accusation. "Oh, I see your game now! You’re trying to trick us—just like before. Drive the price up, then back out at the last second and leave us holding the bill. Isn’t that right?"

He practically vibrated with triumph. "Amy, you’re utterly shameless!"

Amy feigned shock, pressing a hand to her chest. "Mr. Prescott, you should really think before you speak. Everyone here is playing by the same rules. If I bid high and then stop when it exceeds my budget, how is that deception? By your logic, does that mean everyone who drops out of a bid is a fraud?"

Her smile turned sly. "Besides… I’ve already won more tonight than you have, haven’t I?"

Nathan scoffed. "With whose money? Please, you’re just leeching off some man!"

Sebastian’s smooth voice cut through the murmurs. "Mr. Prescott, not every woman needs a man to fund her purchases."

"Everything Celeste has won tonight was paid for with her own money. I had no part in it. So perhaps you shouldn’t be so quick to assume the worst—especially about women."

"The women you underestimate might just be wealthier and more accomplished than you."

Sebastian’s words earned approving murmurs from the women in the room, while the last shreds of Nathan’s reputation crumbled.

Whispers spread like wildfire.

"Isn’t that the Prescott heir? With an attitude like that, I’m warning my sister—stay far away from that family."

"My mother runs our company. If he can’t respect women, we’re cutting ties with Prescott Industries immediately."

"My cousin has a blind date with a Prescott next week. I’m telling her to cancel—if this is how they think, the whole family must be toxic."

Nathan’s face flushed as he scrambled to backtrack. "That’s not what I meant—"

But no one was listening. Every glance thrown his way was either disdainful or mocking. Even those who realized he was just spouting nonsense didn’t bother defending him, exchanging amused smirks instead.

What an idiot.

Associating with someone this foolish would only make them look bad.

Victoria’s voice was soft as she turned to Amy. "Ms. Sinclair, are you truly capable of affording that necklace?"