Veiled Auction Queen: Bidding For His Ex-Wife's Heart

Daniel narrowed his eyes and asked, "So, what's your name? Why on earth did you scribble something like that all over my car? And who was the person standing with you a moment ago?"

Olivia folded her arms across her chest, tipped her chin upward, and stuck out her lower lip in a stubborn pout. "I will never tell you that my name is Olivia! I did everything myself. Nobody else was there!"

Her fierce loyalty was oddly impressive, though it came with a touch of childish foolishness.

"Since you refuse to tell me who helped you, then at least tell me your mother's name," Daniel said.

"Not happening!" Olivia shot back with a scoff.

"Then it seems I have no alternative but to take you back with me," Daniel replied in an even, composed tone.

Olivia's wide eyes shimmered with tears that threatened to spill over the moment she heard she might be taken away.

Daniel gently lowered her to the concrete floor.

In an instant, Olivia swiped the moisture from her cheeks, spun around without a second thought, and bolted forward as fast as her little legs could carry her, her arms pumping with fierce determination.

Under her breath, she murmured, "Run, Olivia, run faster…"

Daniel lifted an eyebrow, calmly watching her dash off instead of chasing her right away.

Only when she believed she had successfully escaped did he take a few long strides forward, catch up to her, and scoop her back up again.

Dangling helplessly in midair, Olivia kicked her legs wildly before realizing that struggling was completely pointless.

"Go on then, keep running," Daniel said with a teasing edge.

Olivia crossed her arms over her chest, puffed out her cheeks, and lowered her head, looking exactly like a tiny, irritated pufferfish.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Daniel's mouth. To his surprise, he found her somewhat adorable. He led her over to his car and gestured toward the words scrawled across it. "Why did you write this?"

Olivia pressed her lips together tightly, refusing to utter a single word.

"Daniel, what exactly is going on with this child?" Isabel asked, her brows knitting together in confusion.

"She admitted she did it, but she refuses to say anything else. Archie, call the police," Daniel instructed.

"Got it. But what are we supposed to do with the little girl?" Archie asked.

Daniel glanced around the area. Not a single person was nearby. There was no way he could simply leave a little girl standing here alone.

He opened the car door and placed Olivia inside. "We'll wait for the police to get in touch with her parents. They can come and take her home."

Olivia felt like her whole world just fell apart.

She remembered what her mother had said about her father—that he would really take her away. The thought that she might never see her mom again made her break down in tears.

The moment Daniel climbed into the car, he noticed that the bold little girl who had bravely taken all the blame moments earlier was now crying. He had never been good with children and absolutely hated it when they cried in front of him. But seeing her sob so miserably caused even his usually hardened heart to soften, if only slightly.

"Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice noticeably softer.

Olivia scrubbed at her eyes with both hands. "A bad man caught me! I'll never see Mommy again. I…"

Her little heart was completely shattered. She sobbed so fiercely that the words refused to come out.

Daniel watched her in silence for a moment before saying, "Once your mother contacts me, I'll let you go back home."

"Really?" Olivia's crying stopped at once as she lifted her tear-streaked face and stared at him with bright, watery eyes.

For a second, Daniel even wondered if the whole crying fit had been an act.

"Yes. But first you have to tell me why you wrote those things on my car," he added suddenly.

Olivia pressed her lips into a tight line and gazed at him with wide, stubborn eyes, her expression making it clear that she had already decided she would not reveal a single thing.

Daniel, a formidable businessman who could handle ruthless competitors, found himself completely helpless when faced with this tearful little girl.

Watching Olivia being taken away left Leo and Asher in a state of panic.

Asher wanted to dash out and save her, but Leo quickly grabbed him and held him back. In a steady voice, he said, "We look a bit like Dad. If we show ourselves now, we won't rescue Olivia. We'll only make things harder for Mommy."

"Then what about Olivia?" Asher asked anxiously.

"Let's find Mommy first," Leo replied, still perfectly calm.

Asher trembled all over, clenching his backside tightly and covering it with both hands, already worried that their mom would spank him.

Just then, Asher's smartwatch began to ring. Emilia was calling.

She had already been frantic when she realized the children were nowhere to be found.

"Oh no. It's Mommy!" Asher scratched his head anxiously.

"Answer it," Leo said, already accepting the call.

Emilia's voice came through the watch, tight with worry. "Leo, Asher, where are you? Where's your sister? Isn't she with you?"

"Olivia… Um…" Asher stuttered, far too nervous to form a proper sentence.

"Mommy, Olivia was taken by Daniel Wright," Leo explained calmly, even though the situation was urgent.

When Emilia heard that, she could hardly believe it. She remained silent for a full ten seconds before the meaning of his words finally sank in. It felt as if the world around her was collapsing.

"You… Olivia… Oh God…" she stammered, panic choking her words. At last, she managed to ask, "Did he recognize you?"

Leo replied, "No."

A small wave of relief washed over Emilia as she realized that, at least, the situation hadn't turned into a complete disaster.

She drew in a deep breath, forcing herself to remain steady. "Come back here. I'll figure something out."

"Okay," Leo and Asher replied.

Just after the call ended, Emilia's phone rang again, this time from an unfamiliar number.

An uneasy feeling crept into her chest.

Her hand trembled slightly as she answered.

A man's deep, icy voice came through the line. "Are you Olivia's mother?"

"I am," Emilia replied, her voice tight with tension.

"Your daughter is with me."

Emilia recognized Daniel's voice at once, and a cold shiver ran down her spine. "What do you want?"

"I'm at the Horizon Hotel with her. Come and take her home," Daniel said.

In the background, Olivia's sobs echoed faintly, and Emilia's heart lurched in panic. "I already know what happened. Let's discuss this calmly. I'll pay any compensation required. Please don't hurt my child."

Daniel's brows drew together in a frown. The woman's voice on the other end sounded strangely familiar.

Just then, Olivia, who was beside him, began crying even harder. She was extremely emotional; she would cry, quiet down briefly, and then start sobbing again the moment another sad thought crossed her mind.

Daniel pressed a hand to his forehead. "I have no intention of harming a child. But you need to come here and explain this situation."

He didn't believe a little girl would write those words on his car for no reason. He wanted to uncover the truth behind it.

After saying that, he hung up the phone.

Hearing Olivia cry almost shattered Emilia's heart. She wanted nothing more than to rush straight to the hotel.

But after taking a few hurried steps, she abruptly stopped. She couldn't face Daniel looking the way she did now.

They had already crossed paths once at the auction house. If they met again so soon, he might realize that she was Emilia.

If he discovered her identity, he would immediately learn that Olivia was his daughter.

She absolutely couldn't allow that to happen.

She paced anxiously back and forth before calling Madison.

Half an hour later, Emilia drove to the Horizon Hotel with Madison, Leo, and Asher.

During the drive, she had already explained the entire situation to Madison.

Now she needed Madison to go inside and bring Olivia out.

"Are you sure this will work?" Madison asked.

"I am," Emilia said, clasping Madison's hand tightly. "I'm relying on you to bring Olivia back."

Noticing the anxiety clouding Emilia's eyes, Madison gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry. I'll bring her back."

Madison stepped out of the car and strode into the hotel, carrying herself with the firm resolve of someone prepared to face whatever lay ahead.

Emilia remained outside with Leo and Asher, silently hoping that everything would unfold without trouble.

......

Meanwhile, Olivia sat on the sofa in the hotel suite, covering her face with both hands while crying loudly, her head thrown back.

Daniel sat nearby, watching her with a deep frown etched across his face.

Archie rushed back after searching several places, returning with a large pile of candy in his arms.

Daniel glanced at the heap of sweets. "This is your idea of a solution?"

Archie shrugged lightly. "Kids like candy. Maybe you should try comforting her."

"Me?" Daniel asked, clearly incredulous.

Archie believed the responsibility belonged to Daniel, since he had been the one to bring the little girl here.

Daniel let out a weary sigh, rose from his seat, walked over, and then lifted Olivia straight into his arms.

She was so light that holding her with one arm alone was effortless.

Balanced on his forearm, Olivia lifted her tear-reddened eyes toward him, her small face shadowed with gloom.

"Didn't your parents ever teach you that crying won't solve anything?" Daniel said.

Olivia continued sobbing, unable to stop. "If I stop crying, will you let me go right away?"

"No," Daniel replied bluntly.

Olivia pressed her lips together, but the tears kept slipping down without pause.

Seeing her like that made Daniel's heart soften. He picked up a piece of candy and held it out to her. "Do you want one?"

Olivia glanced at it. It was a lollipop, She told herself firmly that she didn't want it. Her heart hurt because she couldn't see her mother, and no lollipop in the world could mend that.

She stayed silent, tears still rolling down her cheeks.

Daniel lifted an eyebrow. "What about two?"

Olivia kept crying. He tried again. "Three?"

She still didn't respond. At last, he said, "Let's negotiate. Five."