Contrary to what Paige Summers thought, Marcus Monroe wasn’t doing this to make Shawn Monroe give up.

In fact, his objective was the complete opposite.

The more you can’t have something, the more you can’t let it go—a common affliction.

Shawn Monroe had it bad.

’He fancies himself a chosen one, yet he can’t get what he wants...’ Marcus Monroe’s lips curled into a barely perceptible, mocking smile. ’Since you insist on coveting someone who doesn’t belong to you, then get a good taste of this feeling!’

They sat next to each other, separated by a coffee table. Seated on the outer side, Paige Summers was engrossed in the auction catalog, having already pushed the turbulent undercurrents swirling around her to the back of her mind. To her, finding useful items to arm herself with was far more important than getting caught up in mind games.

Suddenly, her hand paused mid-page. Her gaze fell upon a photograph.

It was a pair of white jade earrings.

The description listed the material as "Mutton Fat Jade," but it was hard to tell if it was genuine from the photo alone. Paige had a feeling—’This luster doesn’t look like Mutton Fat Jade’—but what truly caught her eye was the pattern on the oval white jade, set in a gold mounting. Though only a small part of the pattern was visible, it was incredibly familiar. Still, she couldn’t quite place where she had seen it before!

"You like these?" Marcus Monroe glanced at the photo, somewhat surprised. He’d thought that with her personality, she would be more interested in weapons, metals, or perhaps medicinal herbs or Crystal Cores. He never expected her to be eyeing a pair of earrings. "This thing... it’s only because it was excavated from some ancient ruins that they slapped a label on it claiming it increases the success rate of Promotion. It’s just a gimmick to fool people."

’Ancient ruins, huh?’ Paige Summers smiled. Inwardly, she was now even more interested.

As the murmuring died down, the lights in the main hall began to dim. The crowd slowly fell silent; the auction was about to begin.

Just then, Nora Lowell’s voice cut in. "Paige Summers, would you come sit with me? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you, about my uncle."

Paige Summers’s anticipation was broken, and a wave of mild annoyance washed over her.

The other woman’s tone was superficially conversational, but it held a restrained forcefulness that made Paige uncomfortable. She didn’t move. "The auction is about to start; this isn’t the right time to talk. If it’s about the boss, I’ll make time to visit him at the shop."

Rebuffed, Nora Lowell’s voice turned cold. "Is that so? Then forget it."

Ignoring Shawn Monroe’s somewhat confused look, she sneered inwardly.

’She really is... so ungrateful...’

’So weak, yet she puts on such airs. She must be relying on that man beside her!’

In that respect, she had underestimated her.

’I thought she only caught Shawn Monroe’s eye because of her pretty face, but I didn’t expect that after just a few days, she’s already gotten this close to Marcus Monroe.’

Nora Lowell’s mood turned inexplicably sour.

At first, she hadn’t paid much attention to a man like Marcus Monroe. All her focus had been on Shawn Monroe, who had saved her and brought her back. But comparisons are insidious. After their chance encounter at Serenity Pavilion, she realized that while Shawn Monroe was certainly outstanding on his own, he was completely overshadowed when placed next to Marcus Monroe.

Although Marcus Monroe tried to be low-key, she had seen plenty of male Superpower Users in Norgate. She could easily distinguish between those who were truly powerful and those who were all bark and no bite. She trusted her judgment. Marcus Monroe radiated the aura of a powerhouse—the kind of commanding presence that could control any situation!

The rumors might say he was just a Transformer, no match for Shawn Monroe’s Wind Ability, but in her opinion, the truth was the complete opposite. Marcus Monroe was definitely hiding his true strength!

Ever since seeing him at Serenity Pavilion, she had found herself thinking of him from time to time. And now, seeing him again, that feeling was even stronger.

’Perhaps I should reconsider my choice of future partners. After all, Shawn Monroe, who acts so irrationally over a woman, is far less reliable than this man.’

’As for his relationship with Paige Summers...’

As the auctioneer appeared on stage to a round of applause, Nora Lowell lifted her chin proudly. ’Would such a powerful man truly care about a woman who is so easily obtained? No. He’s destined for a much greater future... and for a better choice!’

’I’m sure of it. As long as I present my bargaining chips, he won’t possibly refuse!’

This thought brought a new radiance to her face, and under the soft lights, she exuded a stunning beauty.

Shawn Monroe happened to turn his head at that moment and was instantly captivated, unable to look away.

If Paige Summers knew all this, she would probably be dumbfounded. Who would have thought that the male lead was showing signs of mending his ways, while the female lead was bolting down a path that completely diverged from the original story!