# Chapter 56: Can't Afford It – A Battle for a Family Heirloom
The staff member placed the emerald pipe before Nicole with practiced politeness. As she lifted it to examine, her sharp eyes caught something—a small red spot at the bottom of the tobacco pipe.
*So it is the real deal,* Nicole mused silently.
"Thank you," she said to the staff, dismissing them with simple gratitude.
She acted as if the two women beside her were invisible—and that was precisely what drove Quinn Ferguson mad.
"Nicole, have your eyes dropped to your feet? Don't you know how to show respect when you see your elders?" Quinn's voice cut through the air like a cold blade.
Nicole's lips curled into a faint smile. *How did she treat me back then? She never treated me properly when I was her daughter-in-law, and now she expects me to honor her like an elder?*
Raising an eyebrow with deliberate nonchalance, Nicole replied, "Oh, Mrs. Ferguson, you're here too. What a coincidence!"
The words were so flippant, so dismissive, that Quinn nearly choked on her own fury.
"You think just because you have some backer, you don't need to respect me anymore?" Quinn's face flushed scarlet with rage. "Don't forget—I'm your mother-in-law!"
But Nicole remembered everything. Before the divorce, Quinn had never considered her a daughter-in-law. She was a servant, a lowly presence to be mocked and belittled at every turn. Quinn would bring home young socialites and flaunt them in front of Nicole, even handing them Eric's private number—a not-so-subtle hint that Nicole should know her place and step aside.
Nicole had been a thorn in Quinn's side. But now, the tables had turned.
"Have you gone senile?" Nicole laughed lightly. "I divorced your son long ago. Find someone else to be your daughter-in-law."
Ingrid, trembling but desperate to defend her mother, found her courage. "Nicole, you're so rude! How can you talk to your elders like that?"
Nicole's smile evaporated. She swept a cold, piercing glance toward Ingrid. "Are you trying to teach me what to do?"
Ingrid shrank back, her bravado crumbling. She looked helplessly at her mother, unable to muster another word.
The Ferguson mother-daughter pair had come with a plan—to humble Nicole, coax her, and take the emerald pipe. But nothing was going as expected. If not for the staff present, Quinn would have abandoned all pretense of patience.
Quinn's voice grew tight with desperation. "Nicole, I'll give you $30 million. I must take that pipe."
She had already contacted her son. If Nicole took the Ferguson family heirloom, not only would her father-in-law never forgive her, but her husband wouldn't either.
Nicole paused, then let out a soft laugh. "If you had $30 million, you should have raised the bid earlier when it was still a fair game. Now it's too late."
"I've called Eric. He'll be here soon," Quinn said, her voice laced with hidden meaning. She knew how obsessed Nicole had once been with her son. Surely, seeing Eric again would make her compromise.
But Nicole simply smiled. "Whether he comes or not doesn't change the fact that this emerald pipe is now mine."
*Does she still think I'm the foolish woman from three years ago? Does she think the mere mention of Eric's name will make me forgive and forget?*
Quinn sneered. "$30 million is not a small amount. Can you even afford it?"
She didn't believe it. Nicole had married into the Ferguson family penniless—a disgrace that Quinn had never let her forget. Even if Ingrid claimed Nicole had wealthy men backing her, why would any man spend so much on a divorced woman?
Nicole's lips curled. Without hesitation, she pulled a black card from her purse and handed it to the staff. "Swipe it."
"Yes, Ms. Nicole." The staff accepted it with both hands.
Quinn and Ingrid watched, their faces turning pale. Ingrid clutched her phone frantically, desperate to call someone—Eric, no doubt.
Nicole smiled faintly. *It doesn't matter who shows up. It's useless.*
She had just spent $30 million in a heartbeat—and could have paid even more if she wanted to.
"It's useless for you to take this pipe," Quinn said, softening her tone, trying a different approach. "Why spend so much on it? You know this is the old man's life. Without it, he'll suffer. Do you want to see an old man in pain?"
Quinn began to cry, putting on a performance.
*Who are you acting for?* Nicole stared coldly. *Since you knew this was Old Master Ferguson's life, why did you put it up for auction? You're the one who caused his suffering.*
"Since you admitted it yourself that this is Old Master Ferguson's prized possession," Nicole said calmly, "if he suffers, it's because of you. I bought this through proper channels with real money. Anyone here can testify. The old man is respected in the industry—I trust he'll understand what integrity means."
"Ms. Nicole, the transaction is complete." The staff returned her card.
Nicole took it, signed the documents, and smiled. The emerald pipe was officially hers.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open.
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**Reader's Impressions & Star Rating:**
This chapter is a masterclass in poetic justice and emotional catharsis. Watching Nicole stand her ground—calm, collected, and utterly in control—against the very woman who tormented her is deeply satisfying. Quinn's hypocrisy is laid bare: the same pipe she called a family heirloom was the one she put up for auction. The $30 million transaction is a powerful symbol of Nicole's transformation from penniless bride to independent powerhouse. The cliffhanger with Eric's arrival promises even more fireworks.
**⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.9 / 5 Stars**
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**Next Chapter Prediction:**
With Eric Ferguson walking through the door, the tension will reach its boiling point. Expect a dramatic confrontation—will Eric try to intimidate, bargain, or beg Nicole to return the pipe? Given their history, Nicole is unlikely to yield, but Eric may reveal something unexpected about the pipe's true significance. Meanwhile, Quinn and Ingrid will watch helplessly as their control crumbles. The stage is set for a showdown that could reshape the power dynamics between Nicole and the Ferguson family forever.