“Little girl, if you can pay us now, then we will forget this whole matter,” The auctioneer said, tapping a handkerchief on his oily face.

I stifled a laugh. “Funny, you’re so sure that I don’t have the money and is ready to take me to jail without making sure first whether I have the money or not.” I leaned forward, and the corner of my lip kicked up a smirk at the fidgeting man.

“Do you think that just because I’m a teenager, you can easily scare me? How about I let you taste what fear is really like?” I held my phone, set the sound to max, and played the recordings from the time when Sophia whispered something to her father.

Hmp! Do you think living for more than seventy years in the past, I haven’t learned a single thing?

It was soundless –– utter silence. The auctioneer’s face crumpled like a white sheet of paper.

Sophia’s eyes were about to pop out from their sockets like she saw a ghost. Holley and Nixon were shooting daggers at me while Zoe’s held me in admiration and amazement.

“T-t-that’s––” The auctioneer stammered.

“Evidence of course,” I said, “of you slandering my name.” I shot a cutesy smile at Sophia. “Together with the one who tipped you.”

Sophia was taken aback and held her mother’s dress as she shot Nicholas a pleading look.

And the knight and shining armor came to her rescue. “Leanna, I’ll pay the hundred thousand dollars, let this matter go,” Nicholas said, shooting a friendly smile my way. “Do it for everybody who participated and looking forward to this auction.”

Nicholas’s voice was calm and pleading, yet all I heard were pretentious egoistic tone.

“Wow, that’s young master Farrell for you.”

“So considerate of others.”

“It’s a shame, though. He’s wasted on Zoe.”

“I don’t know what he sees in that girl.”

I frowned, wanting to retort, but Zoe held my hand. “Leanna, that’s for the best. There are still some paintings left to be auctioned.”

I raised an eyebrow and beamed at her. I heard echoes of people breathing sighs of relief, including the auctioneer.

“I heard defamation would cost you hundred thousand dollars and imprisonment for two years depending on the gravity,” I said, smiling.

. . .

. . .

Hmp! Do you think I’ll let this matter off just like that?

I stared over at the auctioneer. “Well? If you can give me a hundred thousand dollars’ worth of compensation, I’ll let this matter go.”