"Leanna Lee."

Zoe returned my smile. "What do you think of the painting, Leanna?"

My eyes flickered at the painting, observing it.

"Rebellious and wild," I said. Then look at her. "If I don't know any better, I would think a man painted it. Not expecting it to be an innocent frail-looking lady," I added, voice teasing.

Zoe smiled, yet her smile didn't reach her eyes.

"Zoe."

A gorgeous, well-built man with brunet hair approached us. He was so eye-catching that all the ladies, even the older ones, paused to take a good look at him.

Wait, I saw him in the newspaper. He was there at the signing of a billion-dollar joint venture with Jansen Corp.

Zoe beamed at him, wrapping her fingers around his.

"Leanna, this is my fiancé, Nicholas Farrell. Nick, meet Leanna Lee." Zoe's eyes beamed with affection, looking like a love-struck fool at the man, totally forgetting all about me.

Nicholas extended his hand, and I briefly shook it.

"Leanna Lee? I don't think I ever saw you around here. Are you new in New Haven?" Nicholas said as he looked me in the eyes.

I gave a timid smile. "I only arrived here in New Haven yesterday."

Nicholas gave an 'oh' look, then s.h.i.+fted his attention at Zoe. "Your parents have been looking for you. It's time to start the auction."

Zoe's expression fell from her face at the mention of her parents, but she quickly masked it with a smile that was a tad bit forced.

She looked at me with those big sparkly eyes of hers. "Leanna, come with me to the auction hall."

I should have refused. But then again, the helplessness in her deep blue eyes mesmerized me into nodding my head.

The three of us went inside a vast hall and made ourselves comfortable on the front row seat. Zoe motioned for me to sit beside her, which I obliged.

In front of us was the stage and beside the stage were the reserved seats for the Collin's family. Sophia and two middle-aged people, must be their parents, were seated together with Holley and Nixon.

I was confused why Zoe didn't take the seat beside her family but decided to shrug the matter off.

Not my problem.

It was not even thirty minutes that the auction started, and I was already bored senseless at the auction of paintings all done by Sophia. Though the arts were indeed beautiful, it was so pretentious like the one who painted it.

I never once did claim to be a virtuous person. In fact, I was quite petty when it came to people who crossed me.

I glanced at Zoe, who had a blank expression, staring at the stage with eyes popping from its sockets. I even spied tiny red veins on her eyeb.a.l.l.s. Droplets of sweat tickled her nose and forehead even though the room was cold.

Restroom maybe?

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I ignored her and swept my eyes, finding something that would help me stay awake. I caught a glimpse of hatred in Holley's face before she beamed, smile a bit crook.

I ignored her and flicked my eyes at Sophia. Then I stared at Zoe. After which my eyes traveled to the middle-aged woman who was a counterpart of older Sophia. Then peered at the middle-aged man who resembled Zoe before resting my eyes on Zoe herself.

I shook my head.

Complicated.