Sham Marriage Quit Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 166

Elena had intended to leave as well. But as she flipped through the catalog, something caught her

attention.

An Andrew painting, listed in the later lots.

“Hey, Elena, we heading out?” Hannah asked, walking over after waiting nearby the entire time.

“Let’s stay a bit longer,” Elena said, gently pulling her down into the seat beside her.

Camille hadn’t left either.

Now that Monica was gone, she immediately slipped back into her smug tone.

o much for your little strategy. Thought you could play smart and land that exclusive interview? Guess

didn’t work out.”

a turned her head

rom the way

Camille fre

That si

Ca

ica already agreed to your interview?”

lena everything. Good. That mean

ve a chance.

clearly annoyed.

r phone buzzed. She glanced at making sure her voice carried.

ah, I know. I’ll take my time pick definitely gonna love it… okay

ke, Hannah exaggerated a gagg

painful to listen to,” she mu

deliberately looked toward Elena

Once I find the right piece, I’ll bring it to me. Love you.”

Elena.

the same.

her gaze shifted sli

a second mis

ned. Camille, on the other hand, had no time to keep

ly please Charles.

rt of the Hawthorne family.

alog, growing more frustrated by the second.

She couldn’t tell what was valuable, what wasn’t, or what Charles would actually like. Thankfully, there were still plenty of lots coming up, so she still had time to pick something.

Then she heard Elena’s voice nearby.

“That Soulstone Charm is actually pretty nice.”

Camille’s attention snapped over instantly. Soulstone Charm?

She quickly flipped toward the back of the catalog and found it on the third–to–last page.

A small Soulstone Charm, intricately detailed, polished to clarity, the kind of piece that looked delicate but expensive. The craftsmanship was so precise it almost looked lifelike.

“Isn’t it a little small?” Hannah asked.

Elena smiled. “That’s exactly the point. The smaller it is, the more skill it takes to pull it off cleanly. You could wear it as a pendant, or just keep it as part of a collection. I’m thinking of bidding on it later, maybe as a gift.”

For an elder.

Camille sneered inwardly.

Yeah, sure. Like you can just casually afford something like that.

The starting bid alone was two hundred thousand. And Elena said it like she could drop a million without blinking.

Camille’s expression tightened.

Richard only gave her a modest monthly allowance, and she spent fast. Catherine had to help her out more than once.

And recently, with both Victor and Nathan tied up in their own issues, Nathan had been giving her even less.

This time, the budget for the gift had come from Victoria, through Nathan.

I can’t go over budget. Not even a little.

Before long, the Soulstone Charm was brought onto the stage.

The auctioneer had just finished announcing the opening bid.

Elena raised her paddle immediately. “Two hundred thousand.”

Camille’s chest tightened. She shot her paddle up. “Two fifty.”

“Three hundred,” Elena followed smoothly.

Elena didn’t back down either.

Chapter 166 Playing the Game

+5 Pearis

The two of them went head–to–head across the auction floor, raising the bids one after another. The price quickly climbed to four hundred thousand under Elena’s lead, and Camille’s grip tightened around her paddle.

Nathan only gave me a five hundred thousand limit. If this keeps going, I won’t even be able to cover it.

But this wasn’t just about the item anymore.

It was about Elena.

And there was no way she was going to lose to her.

“Five hundred thousand.”

The room quieted slightly.

Elena

learly annoyed. “Camille, do you seriously have to compete with me over everything?”

fting her chin. “Con

ze for a moment

It’s yours.”

neer didn’t he

el came dow

most imp

ve got the money, go ahead. I’m not stopping you.”

et scoff.

ed back, satisfied.

mething strange.

ew peo

he c

Be

t her, their expressions… off. N

ough to feel it.

her phone buzzed.

eet her. Just like th

ce fully restore

me if I w

Appeared.

straight at Elena.

a watched her go, a faint, almost mocking

Sham Marriage Quit, Real Heiress Strikes Back

Chapter 167 Under the Sunflace

Monica didn’t answer Camille right away

Instead, she leaned back slightly, gently wirling the wine in her glass as if weighing something more interesting than the question itself. Atter a brief pause, she looked up.

in

“Both Velmora Media and your company are trying to book me for an exclusive,” Monica said, her focu calm but deliberate. “That puts in a tough spot. I also heard you know Elena, and not just casually. two were pretty close, right?”

Camille’s gaze flickered for justmoment before she steadied herself.

“We were, at one point,” she said. “But things didn’t end well between her and my parents, and we have been in touch for a long unte

Monica nodded slightly as if filing that away.

“Then what’s your take on her gemstone analysis earlier?” she asked.

Camille let out a set sigh, her expression turning conflicted.

“Monica. I really don’t like speaking behind someone’s back,” she said, lowering her vootce. Elena and I were basically like sisters. But she’s always had issues with my parents, and she’s never shown them any real respect. Notong ago, she even said something like my mom might as well be dead…

She paused liten brows tightening as though the memory genuinely upset her.

“Honestly,

think it has a lot to do with how she grew up. She spent years in a small–town environmen with her altoptive parents, and she picked up some bad habits, like exaggerating or bending the truth. adoptive father worked regular labor jobs, so it’s not like he would understand anything about high–en

gemstones.”

As shite spoke, Camille kept subtly watching Monica’s reaction.

Bur Monica remained completely composed, taking small, measured sipss of her wine, her expression umreadable.

Matter finishing her third sip, Monica finally set the glass down and looked directly at Camille.

That’s interesting,” she said evenly. “Because what I heard is that less adoptive parents are actually y biological parents. And after everything came out, you never went to see them. Is that true?”

Camille’s heart skipped.

For a split second, her composure nearly cracked, but she quickly forced herself back under control.

“That’s technically correct,” she replied, choosing her words ezretuly. “But the Hart family raised me fe eighteen years. That kind of bond doesn’t just disappear. Acer those two… yes, they gave birth to me, they never raised me. The moment they realized who I was, they showed up trying to claim me and ev hinted at needing financial support. If reconnecting is nog money, then I’d rather not reconnect at al

+5 Pearls

Chapter 1