Chapter 56

The attendant gracefully placed the exquisite emerald pipe before Evelyn Sinclair.

Her slender fingers traced the intricate carvings as she examined it closely. A faint crimson mark at the base confirmed its authenticity.

"So this is the real thing," Evelyn mused silently.

"Thank you," she said politely to the attendant, deliberately ignoring the two women hovering nearby.

Sophia Blackwood couldn't contain her irritation any longer. "Evelyn! Are you blind? Where are your manners when greeting your elders?" Her voice dripped with contempt.

Evelyn's lips curved into a mocking smile. Memories flooded back of how Margaret Blackwood had treated her during her marriage to Nathan - like a servant rather than a daughter-in-law.

"Oh, Mrs. Blackwood," Evelyn feigned surprise, "what an unexpected... pleasure." Her words were laced with enough sarcasm to make Margaret's face flush crimson.

"You think having powerful friends means you can disrespect me?" Margaret spat. "I'm still your mother-in-law!"

Evelyn couldn't help but laugh. "Senile already? I divorced your precious son years ago. Find someone else to bully."

"How dare you!" Sophia finally found her voice, though she instinctively stepped behind her mother for protection. The air grew thick with tension.

Evelyn's smile vanished as her icy gaze pinned Sophia in place. "Are you giving me orders now?" The younger woman immediately shrank back, trembling.

The Blackwood women had come with a plan - humble Evelyn, then sweet-talk her into surrendering the heirloom. But Evelyn wasn't playing their game.

Only the presence of auction staff prevented Margaret from screaming obscenities. Instead, she forced a strained smile. "Evelyn, I'll give you thirty million for that pipe."

Evelyn paused, then chuckled. "If you had that money, you should've bid properly. Too late now." She signed the paperwork with a flourish. "It's mine."

"I've contacted Nathan," Margaret blurted desperately. "He's on his way."

Evelyn didn't even blink. "His presence changes nothing." She withdrew a platinum card from her clutch. "Process the payment."

The attendant accepted it with both hands while the Blackwoods gaped in horror. Sophia frantically texted someone - likely Nathan.

"Wasting your time," Evelyn murmured, watching the transaction complete. She could spend triple this amount without batting an eye.

Margaret switched tactics, her voice suddenly trembling. "That pipe is the old man's lifeline! He'll die without it! Have you no heart?"

Evelyn's laugh was cold. "You put it up for auction, not me. If anyone's killing him, it's you." She accepted the receipt. "The deal is done."

As the staff handed her the authenticated documents, the door burst open violently.