Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Chapter 444
Both Jasper and Jameson turned to look at Alyssa, knowing she was pissed now. So, they stopped
bidding.
“Congratulations, Ms. Alyssa! This one-of-a-kind necklace is yours!” The auctioneer gestured happily,
swiftly knocking the gavel to halt all other bids.
There was a two-second silence before the hall erupted into clamorous applause.
Alyssa’s flat expression never wavered, however.
“Alyssa bought the fake, Mom! Do you think she saw through it?” Betty asked frantically, heart pounding
like a frightened rabbit.
“Be quiet! Do you want everyone to hear you?” Sophia hissed venomously, pinching Betty’s arm.
Sophia added, “Alyssa wouldn’t have noticed it was a fake, nor would she ever anticipate one turning up
at her own auction. You should be grateful she bid off that necklace!”
“But what if she finds out a-”
“That has nothing to do with you anymore! Even if she does, you can always claim she swapped it out in order to insult you.”
Sophia scowled.
Betty had always admired her mother’s ability to twist everything to her benefit. She always longed to share the same skills.
Ada was immensely pleased to see that Alyssa bid her donation home. Ada couldn’t help but think that
Alyssa must still have hopes that she’d change her mind.
Alyssa slowly typed out an instruction to Sean, her gaze dark. She then sat up straight, preparing herself for the upcoming show.
“Now, this next piece is from-” The auctioneer stopped talking the moment he revealed what was in the glass case.

He glanced at the diamond necklace within, then at his itinerary.
That couldn’t be right.
The crowd erupted into an uproar upon seeing the necklace inside.
“Ton’t that... Isn’t that the necklace Ada Kingsley had just donated?”
*Fuck me! It really is!”
“That’s impossible! Alexa never makes the same design twice! How could there be a second one?”
*Does that mean... One of them is a fake?”
The crowd began discussing fervently among themselves.
Ada stared at the necklace in utter shock while Sophia and her daughter were both clinging to one
another frightfully. Cold sweat dripped down Betty’s back.
The necklace she gave Ada was a counterfeit, which meant the one on stage was the real deal.
“Didn’t you check all the donated jewelry before the auction started, Ms. Alyssa? What’s going on?” Yves
asked worriedly, not blaming her in any way.
“It’s always so much more fun to take everyone by surprise, Madam Yves,” Alyssa said with a grin.
Yves’ eyes widened. “Does that mean...”
Alyssa gracefully got up from her seat and up onstage.
Jasper watched her intently from afar, his heart pounding loudly in his chest. There was something
exciting buzzing about on his skin, like electricity.
“I would first like to apologize to all of our guests here tonight on behalf of the hotel as MINT’s charity.
auction organizer.”