Then a voice came through,warm,familiar,gentle.I almost broke just hearing it.

"Can I borrow some money?"I asked."And…remember when you said you wanted to have a child with me?I’m ready now."

There was a beat of silence on the other end of the line—followed by a low,steady voice.

"Give me five minutes."

I ended the call,wiped the tears from my cheeks and walked back into the auction room.

Lennon’s face had soured,clearly had not expected my firm resistance.

"Meredith,do you really think a phone call can save you?"he sneered."Tonight,you're destined to become the whole city’s biggest joke."

Laughter flickered around the room.The crowd’s faces glowed with smug delight.

"Look at her face,crying like a baby.The Evans Family can’t even afford a decent dinner,so how could she afford something as extravagant in an auction?You should just accept your fate.”

Even Winona joined in with a condescending smile.

“Why don’t you beg Lennon for forgiveness?Maybe he’ll be kind enough to pretend none of this ever happened.”

I did not answer.I just stood there—silent,composed—waiting for fate to turn.

Exactly five minutes later,the grand doors of the auction hall burst open.