Skipped At The Altar, Taken By His Uncle novel Chapter 48

Chapter 18

Chapter 48

TECA

Whitney took a week off from work.

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A week after Patricia’s passing. Whitney finally found the strength to step into the kitchen and cook the dishes her grandmother used to love.

She let the soup simmer all afternoon, filling the house with the familiar warmth she had been avoiding for days.

April watched with a gentle smile. “Whitney, she must be so proud of you.”

When everything was ready, she set the meal on the dining table out of habit, the silence pressing in around her. After a long moment, she walked to Patricia’s portrait and rested her fingertips lightly against the frame.

“Grandma… I made your favorites today,” she whispered. “I just wanted you to know.”

She stood there quietly, trying to steady herself. Then she turned back toward the kitchen, letting the

stillness settle around her.

Laura sat stiffly on the couch, watching Whitney in the kitchen. The smell of food drifted through the house, and Laura felt her patience thinning. She was tired of the gloom lingering over everything.

Tina, slouched beside her, rolled her eyes.

“Mom, she’s been like this all week. Who’s even in the mood to eat now?” Tina muttered under her breath.

Whitney came back to the table and, without looking at them, said quietly, “I didn’t make this for either of you. It’s for my grandmother. If it bothers you, then don’t eat.”

Tina opened her mouth to snap back, but nothing came out.

Laura shot her a warning glance before turning to Whitney with a forced gentleness. “Whit, it’s enough that you remember her. She’d appreciate the thought.”

She had no desire to turn dinner into another shouting match.

Whitney sat down and took a couple of small bites, more out of habit than appetite.

“Whitney, there’s an auction tomorrow. Why don’t you come with me?” Laura said.

Whitney shot her a cold look. “My grandma just passed away. I’m really not up for that right now.”

Laura smiled softly. “That’s not what I meant, Whit.”

“There’s a bracelet up for auction that I think Patricia would’ve loved. When we go to the cemetery next time, you can buy it and bring it for her. She’d love it,” Laura explained.

Whitney narrowed her eyes slightly. “Alright.”

Laura felt a surge of satisfaction. ‘Smart as she thinks she is, so what? She still fell right into my trap. She’s so easy to manipulate. As long as I know her soft spots, she’s mine every time.’

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Chapter 18

Back in her room. Whitney grabbed her laptop and looked up info on the auction.

She shot a message to her friend, Lena.

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Whitney: [Lena, are you going to the auction tomorrow? I want to bid on a bracelet for my grandma.]

Lena: [Whit, I’m not in Ravorport right now. But I think I heard Uncle Klein mention he’s going. He’s interested in some painting. Said he wanted to give it to someone.]

Whitney remembered what Klein had told her that day. He’d said he’d agree to anything she asked.

Whitney: [Alright, Lena, no worries. I got it.]

*****

On auction day, Whitney showed up in understated black, her sunglasses hiding the exhaustion around

her eyes.

Tina couldn’t stop rolling her eyes at the way Whitney looked.

“If you don’t want to wear black, whatever. But what I wear isn’t your problem,” Whitney snapped.

Whitney shot Tina a cold glare and then strolled right into the auction room like she didn’t have a care in the world.

Once Laura was inside, she quickly texted her nephew, Travis Boone.

Laura: [You in 806 yet?]

Travis: [Yeah, I’m here. Just waiting for your word, Aunt Laura.]

Laura curved her lips into a sly smile, brimming with confidence.

But just then, the man who stole the spotlight walked into the auction hall.

“Mom, look!” Tina blurted out, gawking.

Laura drew in a sharp breath. “No one said he’d be here.”

She cursed under her breath. ‘If I’d known, I could’ve made sure Tina dressed up today.

Without a plan, Laura wasn’t about to risk it. She gave Tina a look that said, “Be patient.”

“Tina, don’t rush. The timing has to be right,” Laura told her.

Tina let out a sigh, looking a bit let down. “Alright.”

Whitney didn’t take her eyes off the auctioneer for a second.

Finally, he pulled out the bracelet she’d been waiting for. “Starting bid, 30 thousand dollars.”

Since she was here with Laura, the Moore family would be picking up the tab.

‘Letting my dad cough up some cash to buy a bracelet for Grandma isn’t asking too much, right?‘ Whitney

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Chapter 48

thought.

TICA

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Whitney raised her paddle for the first time. The auctioneer called out, “Alright, the lady over there bids 45,000 dollars.”

Someone nearby clearly had their eye on the bracelet too. “60,000 dollars, going once.”

Whitney raised her paddle again.

The auctioneer’s voice rose with excitement. “75,000 dollars, going once.”

The other bidder wasn’t backing down. “This gentleman raises it to 160,000 dollars. 160,000 dollars, going

once.”

“Mom, aren’t you going to stop her? She’s spending 160,000 dollars on a stupid bracelet for a dead person. Is she out of her mind?” Tina snapped.

Laura had her eye on a diamond necklace too. If Whitney kept fighting for the bracelet, the price would easily shoot up to 300 thousand dollars, and then Laura might not be able to get her necklace.

The Moore family wasn’t exactly loaded. They couldn’t just throw money around at auctions like this.

Whitney couldn’t care less what Laura thought. Since Laura dragged her here, Whitney was dead set on getting that bracelet, no matter what it took.

“Alright, the lady bumps it up to 180,000 dollars. 180,000, going once,” the auctioneer called, voice rising with excitement.

“300 thousand dollars. The gentleman bids 300 thousand. Anyone else want to jump in? 300 thousand, going once,” the auctioneer shouted, stirring up the crowd.

Laura grabbed Whitney’s wrist just as she was about to raise her paddle again. “Whit, your dad didn’t give us that kind of budget. 300 thousand dollars is way too much. Let’s just wait for the next one, okay?”

“1.5 million.” The man in the front row raised his paddle, his voice low and unhurried.

“1.5 million? Mr. Klein Harris just dropped 1.5 million,” the auctioneer shouted, his voice booming through the hall.

It was Klein.

As soon as Klein made his move, the whole room went dead silent. Nobody dared to raise their paddle after that.

1.5 million dollars was way too much for Whitney. She knew she didn’t stand a chance at that price.

“1.5 million, third and final call. Sold!” the auctioneer shouted.

“Congratulations, Mr. Harris. This lot is yours,” the auctioneer announced.

Whitney picked up the glass of water beside her and took a small sip, irritation simmering under her skin.

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RYCA

Chapter 48

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Klein had said he’d give her anything she wanted.

‘Am I really about to use it to get a bracelet?‘ Whitney thought, frowning to herself.

Laura watched as Whitney took a sip of water, then smiled, and sent a message to her contact.

Laura: [It’s done. In five minutes, take her away.]

Whitney finished her water, still feeling dry–mouthed. She set the glass down and stood. “I’m heading out.”

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