Chapter 19 The waiter wasn't wrong - Barrington really didn't have that kind of status anymore . In the end , he could only sit in the hotel lobby downstairs , occasionally glancing up toward the upper floors . But Xanthe , seated beside Trevor , never once looked in his direction . Barrington took a sharp breath and reminded himself , ' There's still a chance . Don't rush it .' Before coming , he had done his homework - he knew this auction featured a necklace once owned by Princess Diana . Xanthe had mentioned more than once how much she admired Princess Diana . If he could win the bid , maybe - just maybe - she'd be in a better mood . Soon , the auction officially began . The first few items were all sold for tens of millions . The fourth item up was the Princess Diana necklace , with a starting bid of five million . Barrington was the first to raise his bid . " Six million ! " In the top - floor private box , Trevor chuckled , his tone teasing . " Looks like he's trying to win you over with this . He's clearly not over you , babe ." Even Xanthe hadn't expected Barrington's obsession with her to run this deep . ' Maybe it's true ,' she figured , ' people always want what they can't have .' " How pathetic ," she mumbled , shaking her head . If Barrington had just put in this much effort earlier , things between them wouldn't have ended like this . Now , he had no one to blame but himself . " I know you've loved Princess Diana since you were young , " Trevor said gently . " Let me bid on it for you ." He gave the waiter a subtle nod . " Eight million . " Downstairs , Barrington's expression darkened . ' If he wants the necklace too , he thought to himself , ' there's no guarantee I can outbid him ! ' When he looked up , he saw Xanthe leaning close to Trevor . The sight made Barrington's hands clenched into fists even harder . " Nine million ! " he shouted again . Gasps echoed throughout the room after that . " What made the necklace valuable is its meaning - but a bid that high has already surpassed its actual worth ." " Isn't that the famous CEO from Springfield ? No wonder he dared to compete with the Michelsons . He's clearly not from around here . " " You don't know the half of it - I've got an inside scoop . That Springfield guy's in love with the Wentworths' heiress . No wonder those two men are fighting over the same thing ." " Dang , the Wentworths and the Michelsons are the cream of the crop . The Connollys in 1/3 17.0 % 12:43 pm Springfield only rose to prominence in the last few years , didn't they ? He really thinks he stands a chance with the Wentworths ' heiress ? He's better off dreaming in Springfield . " They weren't even whispering . Barrington could hear every word , but he could only press his lips . into a tight line . For the past three years , even though their marriage was a secret , it was obvious to everyone that Xanthe liked him . Back then , she was just his secretary , and there had always been whispers like this . Once , she had seriously said to him , " Barry , let's go public . I'm tired of hearing people talk like this . " At the time , he dismissed it . " People say whatever they want . We can't control that . As long as we're good with each other , that's all that matters ." She'd been upset with him for days afterward , and he'd thought she was being unreasonable anc too sensitive . Now that he was the one on the receiving end of those same whispers , he finally realized just how cruel those words had been . Upstairs , Trevor narrowed his eyes . " So Barrington wants to go head - to - head with me financially ? " Xanthe raised an eyebrow . " Why ? Think you'll lose ? " Trevor let out a soft chuckle . " I'm just worried he'll go bankrupt trying to keep up - and then you'l feel sorry for him . " " Feel sorry for him ? " Xanthe scoffed . " Not a chance . I'd only feel sorry for your wallet . After all that's going to be our shared marital property someday . " Trevor leaned in and brushed his lips against her earlobe , chuckling . " Well , since you've said the word , I won't hold back ." With a mischievous grin , he stood and walked to the window , looking down at Barrington with ar arrogant smile . " Seems like Mr. Connolly really likes that necklace , " he said lazily . " But my fiancée likes it toc and when she likes something , I give it to her whatever it takes ." Behind him , Xanthe's cheeks flushed . Trevor had done it on purpose - calling her " fiancée " ir front of everyone , just to provoke Barrington . Down below , Barrington sat up straighter , his eyes cold . He spoke slowly and clearly . " What a coincidence . My wife also loves that necklace . " She's been upset with me lately because I made a mistake . I was planning to get this necklace to make it up to her . " If Mr. Michelson is interested in something else , I'll gladly step aside - But not for this one . " In an instant , the atmosphere in the auction hall turned tense . Though the two men had kept their words vague , everyone in the room was sharp enough to connect the dots . The spotlight fell on Trevor's face , his deep eyes adding a chill to his presence . " Step aside ? No Chapter 19 12:43 pm one has ever taken something I set my sights on . That necklace - I'll get that for my fiancée . " " If you insist , Mr. Connolly , then let's play fair and square . Besides , I've got plenty of money , " he emphasized . " It'd be fun to play along . "