Chapter 60 The Trap I Set for You
Author’s POV
Linda stormed back to her guest room, her wolf stirring restlessly.
"That manipulative witch thinks she’s so clever. Does she really believe I’ll just run away? Not a chance in hell."
For a moment, she really wanted to leave this place, but she couldn’t stand such humiliation. If she left now, that cunning woman would only look down on her more.
No, she would never be a coward. Everyone in this world could laugh at her, except Emilia. If she had to admit defeat to someone she had once trampled on, she’d rather swallow glass.
But what were her options? Ask Sebastian for help? The Alpha had looked at her with all the warmth of a winter storm. He wouldn’t give her the time of day.
Evening shadows lengthened as Linda continued planning. When a servant knocked to announce dinner, she feigned illness and waved them away. As the servant turned to leave, Linda called out casually, "Have my sister and brother-in-law returned yet?"
"Not yet, Miss Taylor."
Emilia’s warning echoed in her mind: "You’re absolutely not allowed to enter Sebastian’s study again."
The words had been so specific. Which meant there was definitely something worth finding in there.
A slow smile spread across Linda’s face. If Emilia was that desperate to keep her out, then the study was exactly where she needed to be.
She waited until the house fell quiet, then slipped across the hallway. Her hand trembled slightly as she turned the doorknob. The study was pitch black. She fumbled along the wall until her fingers found the light switch.
Click.
The room flooded with light. Linda’s heart hammered as she began searching through drawers. She had no idea what she was looking for, exactly, but she’d know it when she saw it.
And then there it was.
Lying in the middle drawer was a folder labeled "Phoenix Center Charity Auction. Bidding Proposal."
Linda snatched it up, scanning the contents with growing excitement.
This was it. This was exactly what her father needed. This was her ticket to proving she was every bit as valuable as Emilia—no, more valuable.
She clutched the folder and sprinted back to her room, locking the door.
She immediately mind-linked her father, Alpha Henry. He answered at once.
"Dad! I have incredible news!"
"What is it, Linda?"
"I found out about Sebastian’s bidding project!" She couldn’t keep the triumph from bleeding through their connection.
"What?" His attention sharpened instantly. "How? Did Emilia ask her husband?"
Linda’s lip curled. "Are you kidding? That selfish witch would dance on our graves. No, Dad—I got this information myself."
"Then where did it come from? This kind of information doesn’t just fall into your lap."
Linda’s frustration spiked through the link. "Why do you always assume only Emilia can handle important things? I’m just as capable—maybe more so!"
"Alright, alright. Just tell me what you found."
Linda took a breath, then laid it all out. "Sebastian’s company is selecting their partner through a charity auction at the Phoenix Center on July 13th. Whoever bids highest on the auction items gets the construction rights to the entire project."
Silence stretched through the mind-link. For a moment, Linda worried the connection had dropped.
"Dad? Did you hear me?"
"Yes, I heard you. Where exactly did you get this information?"
"I told you—I found it myself!" She bristled at his doubt.
"Linda, this is serious. If this information is wrong, we could lose millions. I need to know your source is reliable."
"I saw the actual bidding proposal in Sebastian’s study," she shot back. "With my own eyes. Is that reliable enough for you?"
More silence as Henry processed this.
Finally, his excitement began to match hers. "This could actually work. A charity auction makes perfect sense for a project building Hope Primary School. They’re keeping it secret so bidders won’t research each other’s limits beforehand."
"Exactly!" Linda’s triumph surged. "So you’ll do it? You’ll go to the auction?"
"I need to think about this carefully."
"Don’t think too long," Linda warned. "We only have until July 13th."
After their connection ended, Henry spent the night running calculations. Linda was right—this was an opportunity he couldn’t afford to miss. The business world was ruthless. Sometimes you had to spend money to make money. And if he could secure this partnership with the Simons Empire, the future profits would be astronomical.
By dawn, his decision was made.
July 13th arrived with cloudless skies and perfect weather. Henry arrived at the Phoenix Center before 8:30 AM, congratulating himself on his punctuality.
But when he entered the auction hall, his confidence faltered.
The room was already half-full with Phoenix City’s elite—business competitors he recognized, plus dozens of wealthy philanthropists and prominent pack Alphas he didn’t. The air hummed with the scent of expensive cologne and old money.
Still, most of these people weren’t in his industry. He found a seat in the middle section and settled in with renewed determination.
At exactly 9:00 AM, the auctioneer took the podium. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Phoenix Center Charity Gala. All proceeds today will benefit the Hope Primary School Initiative. Our first item is a rare Qing Dynasty vase, authenticated by the Metropolitan Museum..."
Henry barely heard the description. His hand shot up immediately.
"One million!"
"One point five million," called a woman in the front row.
"Two million!" Henry countered.
The bidding escalated rapidly. Three million. Four million. Five million. Henry’s palm grew slick with sweat as he gripped his paddle.
At six million, most bidders dropped out. But one man—a distinguished middle-aged Alpha Henry didn’t recognize, sitting alone in the corner—kept raising his paddle with infuriating persistence.
"Eight million," the stranger called calmly.
Henry’s wolf snarled in frustration. Who was this person? Why was he so determined? Was the vase actually worth this much, or did he also know about the Simons project?
"Eight million going once," the auctioneer announced.
"Eight million going twice—"
"Ten million!" Henry’s voice cracked slightly as he shouted the bid.
The room went silent. Every head turned toward him. The mysterious Alpha in the corner finally lowered his paddle with a slight smile, as if he’d been waiting to see how high Henry would go.
"Sold! To bidder number forty-seven for ten million dollars!"
Henry’s hand trembled as he signed the payment authorization. Ten million for a vase he’d never wanted. But it would all be worth it when Sebastian awarded him the construction contract.
He could already taste victory as he carefully collected his expensive prize and headed straight for Simons Corporation headquarters.
When he arrived excitedly at his son-in-law’s company with the artifact, he heard the devastating news.