The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 111

Petty couldn’t take her eyes off the brooch on the big screen, her nails digging into her palms so hard it almost hurt. The brooch was shaped like a flower with five petals, each one sparkling with tiny diamonds. In the center, a blue sapphire caught the light, cut in an old, elegant style.

She knew it instantly. There was no way she could be wrong.

Maybe Franco had bought it for her without a second thought. Maybe he’d already forgotten all about it. But she hadn’t. Not for a second.

It was the brooch he’d given her back then. The one she used to take out every single night, holding it up under the lamp just to admire how it gleamed. Sometimes she’d end up smiling so wide she had to bury her face in her pillow to keep from laughing out loud. Just thinking about it being a gift from Franco would make her want to curl up with excitement, kicking her legs under the covers.

And of course, Franco, from the room next door, would knock on her door in the middle of the night, asking what on earth she was screaming about. She would always deny it, cheeks burning, refusing to admit a thing.

On stage, the auctioneer scanned the crowd, holding his mic close. “Looks like this brooch has caught everyone’s attention tonight. The donor chose to stay anonymous, only wanting to support charity. Let’s get started with the bidding.”

Up at the main table, Franco set his teacup down, glanced at the brooch, then looked away.

“The starting bid is two million.”

The words had barely left the auctioneer’s lips when a deep voice called out, “Three million!”

Petty snapped back to herself and looked across the room at Eaton, who sat just off to the side. The James family wasn’t on the same level as the Whites, but they were still a force to be reckoned with.

She remembered when Hassan’s people had attacked her. Even with the police involved, the James family had enough influence to keep Hassan safe. But Eaton never seemed to care much about his son and daughter. If he did, his reaction to seeing her just now wouldn’t have been so indifferent, not with all the complicated history between her, Hassan, and Laura.

“Three million from Mr. James. Any higher offers?” the auctioneer called.

“Four million!” someone shouted.

Eaton’s voice was steady. “Six million.”

Petty’s gaze drifted back to the brooch.

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