My Husband Kept A Mistress As My Stand-In

Maddie narrowed her eyes and threw out another bid. “Two hundred fifty thousand dollars.”

Almost instantly, Bailee matched her, bumping the price by only five grand each time—the minimum increment.

Turning to Maddie, Bailee pleaded, “Ms. Mills, you already have so much jewelry. Could you let this one go? I really love it. I’ve wanted it for so long. Would you really begrudge me this one thing? If the price goes any higher, I won’t be able to keep up.”

Maddie didn’t even look at her. A faint smirk tugged at her lips. “Isn’t Archer backing you? What’s there to worry about?”

Bailee’s face went pale. She softened her voice. “But Mr. Williams works hard for his money. I think it’s only fair to save where I can.”

Her words were coated in sensibility, painting her as the understanding, thoughtful one.

After several rounds, the bracelet hit three hundred thousand. Maddie sneered, ready to raise her paddle again, when Archer’s voice cut in.

“Sweetheart, why don’t you let Bailee have this one?”

Maddie went rigid. Her fingers curled, her fingernails digging into her palm. She turned to him, and whatever warmth had been in her eyes turned to ice. “What did you just say?”

Archer sighed and patted her hand like he was soothing a child. “Honey, I promised Bailee a gift tonight. She’s really set on this one. Can’t you let it slide?”

“Besides, haven’t I already won you several pieces? Isn’t that enough?”

His tone was light, almost teasing—like he was joking.

Maddie shut her eyes for a beat. A bitter taste flooded her veins, cold and choking, wrapping around her heart until she could barely breathe.

With Bailee’s family background, even affording three hundred thousand was a stretch—let alone getting into a high-end auction like this. The only reason she was here, bidding against Maddie, was Archer’s backing.

In a quiet voice, Maddie said, “What if I insist on winning it?”

She raised her paddle again, voice ringing out. “Four hundred thousand dollars.”

The room went silent. The auctioneer, sensing the tension, sounded a little unsteady. “The lady has bid four hundred thousand dollars. Any further bids?”

Bailee’s eyes shimmered with tears. She looked about to cry as she pleaded with Archer and added another measly five thousand.

“Four hundred and five thousand dollars.”

Maddie’s expression turned colder. She was about to raise her bid again when the manager hurried over and whispered, “My apologies, Ms. Mills. During financing verification, we found your account has been frozen. Do you have another account?”

The words hit her like a thunderclap.

Maddie turned her head—and caught Archer averting his gaze.

A chill ran through her. It was him.

Her primary account was tied to a credit facility Archer controlled. He could have revoked her access or asked the bank to block transactions pending review.

Pride lit up Bailee’s eyes. With a satisfied smile, she said, “Maybe you should give way, Ms. Mills? You have so much already. Can’t you let me have this one thing?”

The auction continued, the screen fixed on Bailee’s latest bid of four hundred and five thousand dollars.

Bailee couldn’t contain her excitement. Her voice went sweet with anticipation. “Quick, announce it!”

But just as her voice faded, a faint golden glow appeared behind the curtains of a second-floor private suite.

After a beat, the room buzzed with excitement.

“An absentee bidder from suite 317!”

Even the auctioneer looked stunned. The bidder had left instructions with the auctioneer to keep bidding on his behalf, whatever it took to secure the lot.

The auctioneer announced, “Lot seventeen: an absentee bid placed on behalf of our guest in suite 317. Four hundred and ten thousand dollars!”

In this city, anyone sitting in a second-floor private room was either filthy rich or dangerously powerful.

Maddie looked up, trying to make out the figure behind the curtains. She could only see a silhouette.

Even without seeing his face, the authority in his relaxed posture was unmistakable.

The auctioneer slammed his gavel. “Sold! Lot seventeen goes to our guest in suite 317 for four hundred and ten thousand dollars! The house is pleased to extend platinum VIP privileges to our buyer!”

The auction house reserved those privileges for a tiny circle of its most valued clients.

Who could he be?

Maddie unclenched her fist, her feelings tangled—partly relieved that her mother’s keepsake hadn’t fallen into Bailee’s hands, partly anxious about getting it back from a stranger.

Just as she considered approaching room 317 to negotiate, the usher carrying the bracelet emerged again.

“What’s going on? Is the gentleman in room 317 backing out?”

“There’s no precedent for backing out of an auction.”

“He must have left bidding instructions with the house. I’ve never seen anyone go that far for a single lot.”

Amid the speculation, the usher walked up to Maddie with a smile and gave her a courteous bow.

“Ms. Mills, the gentleman in room 317 wishes to present this bracelet to you as a gift. He hopes you’ll stay true to yourself—and wishes you all the best.”

The room erupted in chatter. Eyes turned toward Maddie—envious, suspicious, surprised.

“Isn’t that Mrs. Williams? What’s her connection to the gentleman upstairs?”

“Maybe he’s just extending a courtesy to Mr. Williams.”

“Or not. Out of all the treasures here, why choose this bracelet for Mrs. Williams? I’d say there’s more to their relationship.”

The murmurs reached Archer. His expression turned cold. “Maddie, what’s your relationship with the person in room 317?”

Meeting his intense gaze, Maddie answered calmly, “I don’t know him.”

“That’s impossible!”

Archer shot to his feet and gripped her wrist hard enough to leave a mark on her fair skin.

Maddie winced and pulled away. “Archer, what’s wrong with you? Haven’t you done enough today?”

But Archer seemed oblivious to her feelings, his gaze fiery and searching. “What’s your connection to him?”

“Maddie, all these years we’ve been married, I’ve done everything to please you. I’ve given you everything you wanted. Why are you doing this to me?”

He was convinced Maddie’s relationship with the man upstairs was inappropriate.

If it were really about him, he’d know the man’s identity. In this city, anyone seeking his favor came straight to him.

Maddie smirked coldly.

“You’re so corrupt, you assume everyone else is, too.”

Her words were so direct that Archer paused. A flicker of confusion crossed his eyes.