Chapter 16: Out Of Reach
The room remained in stunned silence as all eyes turned toward Aurora.
She stood, calm and collected, while a few whispers rippled through the audience.
Lucas stood frozen, his mind racing.
Twelve million? The enormity of her bid, her confidence, the way she handled herself—it all gnawed at him.
Julia shifted beside him, her voice trembling as she muttered, "She's made a spectacle of herself."
Lucas didn't respond. His gaze remained locked on Aurora, his heart pounding.
He had never imagined she could pull off something like this. She had always been ambitious, but this... this was something else entirely.
Aurora, ignoring the murmurs and stares, gracefully made her way toward the stage to finalize her purchase.
Hades followed closely, a proud smirk on his face as if he'd won the prize himself.
Lucas clenched his fists. He couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just about the jewel—it was a statement, a direct challenge to him.
As Aurora approached the auctioneer to sign the paperwork, she glanced over her shoulder, her eyes meeting Lucas's.