Revenge amnesia upgraded to his brother novel Chapter 80

**The Goodbye That Never Reached You and My Life Chasing**

**Chapter 80**

Norah’s POV

“Nono.” Mateo’s voice drifted softly beside me, a gentle nudge that pulled me from the labyrinth of my thoughts.

He took a sip from his glass of wine, his gaze unwavering as it was riveted on the stage where Amélie clung to Lucien, her presence enveloping him like a second skin. “It seems your knight has been ensnared by another princess,” he remarked, a hint of amusement dancing in his tone.

He swirled the rich, dark liquid in his glass, the crimson hues swirling like blood against the backdrop of the dimly lit room, a stark contrast to the vibrant atmosphere around us.

“Now, it’s my turn,” he declared, his voice low yet filled with a sense of impending excitement.

The host’s voice boomed through the hall, a powerful force that seemed to draw energy from the crowd’s restless anticipation.

“And now, ladies and gentlemen, we present our final offering tonight—a man cloaked in mystery, yet radiating an undeniable allure… Mr. Mateo!”

A spotlight sliced through the haze, illuminating us amid the thrumming crowd.

Mateo turned to me, a slow, deliberate wink gracing his lips before he set his glass down with a quiet confidence.

He walked onto the stage with a blend of ease and danger, his presence commanding the room’s attention and silencing the chatter.

Every pair of eyes was fixed on him, captivated by the enigma he exuded.

“His past is a shadow, his allure undeniable! Who among you dares to unravel the secrets that lie within?” the host proclaimed, his voice dripping with theatrical flair. “Starting bid: one million euros!”

I didn’t dare glance toward Lucien.

My focus remained steadfastly locked on Mateo, on the flicker of challenge igniting in his amber eyes. Without a moment’s hesitation, I raised my paddle high.

“Ten million.”

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, a wave of surprise that washed over the room.

Heads swiveled in my direction, whispers igniting like sparks in the air.

I could feel the heat of Lucien’s stare from across the room—disbelieving, almost furious. But I steeled myself, refusing to turn my gaze his way.

No one else dared to raise a paddle. Mateo was an unknown variable, a tantalizing risk.

Ten million euros was more than just a bid; it was a statement, a line drawn in the shifting sands of our lives. The auctioneer’s gavel crashed down, slicing through the tension in the air.

“Sold! To the lady with the black card!”

Amélie stood as well, a mirror of feigned concern. “Oh, perfect! I’ll join you.”

In the opulent ladies’ lounge, gold-leaf mirrors reflected our images endlessly, distorting reality in a dizzying array of reflections. The air was thick with the scent of her perfume—jasmine mingling with an unmistakable arrogance.

She adjusted her reflection, her gaze never once flickering toward me.

“Norah, you’re clever,” she said, her voice cool and calculated. “I’ll grant you that. But you need to grasp something important. Some things in this world… they simply aren’t meant for people like you. They never will be.”

She turned to face me, her blue eyes glinting with icy superiority.

“Lucien and I share a history you can scarcely imagine. He gave me his jacket in the rain when we were fourteen. He stayed by my side in the hospital for an entire week when I had pneumonia. He even flew from Paris to New York just because I mentioned feeling lonely.”

She stepped closer, her smile sharp as a knife’s edge.

“He does those things because he knows. I am his future. Our families decided this long ago. If I had been present, you would have never even glimpsed him.”

Her words hung in the air, cruel and final, a weight I felt pressing down on my chest.

“Men will play, Norah. It’s what they do before they settle down. But a toy…” She paused, allowing the insult to sink deep into my consciousness.

“A toy is always put away eventually.”