The Wife Auctioned For One Dollar Chapter 06
The doorbell rang right on time the next afternoon.
Vito went to answer it, taking two oversized gift boxes from Lily’s hands.
“Why’d you buy so much? You’re not in the best shape yourself—weren’t those heavy to carry?”
His voice was thick with concern.
It apparently didn’t cross his mind that his actual wife was standing right there.
Lily wore a white cotton dress, her makeup so meticulously minimal it looked like bare skin. She resembled a fragile little flower swaying in the wind.
“Don’t worry about me, Vito.”
“As long as Evelyn and the baby are doing well, what’s a little tiredness?”
She slipped into a pair of house shoes and settled onto the couch.
“Evelyn, look what I brought you.”
She opened the gift box and held up a maternity outfit.
The fabric was coarse, the style dowdy, and the front was stamped with cheap cartoon characters.
“I had a friend pick this up in Europe. They say it’s all-natural material—really good for the baby.”
She held it up against my body, tilting her head with an appraising look.
“The style is a little plain, I know. But you’re pregnant now—you don’t really need to dress as glamorously as you used to, right?”
I looked at that cheap garment and laughed inwardly.
*European import, my ass.* This was a clearance-rack reject from a discount store. Fifteen dollars, tops.
“Thank you, Lily.”
I smiled and took the outfit, setting it casually aside.
“But Vito already ordered me a whole closet of silk and cashmere maternity wear, so I’ll save this one for later.”
Lily’s face stiffened for a fraction of a second.
Her eyes darted instinctively to Vito.
Vito immediately stepped over and put his arm around my shoulders.
“Lily meant well. You could wear it around the house.”
He turned to Lily. “By the way, didn’t you say you couldn’t sleep last night? I had my assistant order you some imported aromatherapy for sleep. I’ll have it sent to your apartment later.”
And just like that, the two of them carried on fussing over each other as if I weren’t in the room.
I was a decorative fixture. Nothing more.
I sat quietly and watched them.
A few days ago, I would have fought with Vito over this kind of blatant favoritism. Now, all I felt was disgust.
“Oh, I almost forgot.”
Lily sprang to her feet and walked over to the TV console.
“Vito, where’s that crystal picture frame I gave you?”
The console had held a photo from our first wedding anniversary.
A few days ago, it had vanished.
“Who knows—the housekeeper probably put it away somewhere.”
Vito answered offhandedly.
“How could she just put it away like that? I picked it out myself.”
Lily started rummaging through the cabinet, talking as she searched.
*Crash.*
A sharp sound.
The frame holding our wedding photo was “accidentally” knocked to the floor.
Glass shattered everywhere.
A crack split right across my face in the photograph.
“Oh no! I’m so sorry, Evelyn!”
Lily gasped, clapping her hand over her mouth. Her eyes reddened instantly.
“I really didn’t mean to—I was just trying to help you find it…”
She crouched down, making a show of reaching for the glass shards.
“Don’t move.”
Vito rushed over and pulled her up by the hand.
“Are you cut?”
He inspected Lily’s fingers with frantic care.
Only after confirming she was unharmed did he let out a breath of relief. Then he turned to look at me.
“Evelyn, Lily didn’t mean to.”
“It’s just a picture frame. Broken is broken.”
“No worries.”
I smiled at the two of them.
“Since it’s broken, throw it away.”
I stood up.
“I’m a little tired. I’m going to lie down in the bedroom.”
“Vito, be a good host and take care of Lily for me.”
The instant I turned away, every trace of the smile vanished from my face.
I walked into the master bedroom and locked the door behind me.
I pulled out my private phone and dialed the secure number Damien had given me.
The call connected.
“Don Hawthorne.”
I kept my voice low.
“They’re downstairs. I need you to hack into Vito’s office computer.”
“I want every financial transaction he’s made in the last five years, and—”
I paused.
“The hospital corridor surveillance footage from the day Lily was admitted for her miscarriage two years ago.”