"Twenty-five billion and one million!" Elias Malavant declared, his chin held high in smug satisfaction.
He was right. Lyria had reached her limit. No matter how much she calculated, no matter how much she pushed herself, she couldn't compete with him. Even if she managed to secure the land, the subsequent development costs would be too much for the crumbling Denvair family to handle.
But losing the bid meant far more than just losing this plot of land—it would render another critical Denvair property worthless, turning their plans to dust under Elias's relentless schemes.
"Twenty-five billion and one million, going once!" the auctioneer's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts.
Lyria's hand twitched, aching to raise her paddle again. Yet reason held her back. She couldn't risk sinking her family further into ruin.
"Going twice!"
Elias's grin grew wider, venom dripping from his voice. "What's wrong, Lyria? Out of tricks already? How much more can you scrape together?"
The truth? He didn't care about the land itself. What Elias truly wanted was to see the Denvair family broken beyond repair. To see Lyria's spirit crushed. And, more than anything, to see Kael Renforth destroyed, left in a state worse than death.
"Twenty-five billion and one million, going three—"
The auctioneer's gavel hovered mid-air, poised to seal Elias's victory.
But before it could drop, the grand doors of the auction hall swung open with a resonating thud.
The crowd turned as one, gasping as a stunning woman strode into the room.
Dressed in sleek black attire that hugged her every curve, her presence was magnetic. Her face, cold and perfect, was a work of art. The men in the room collectively held their breath.
"Fifty billion."
The deep, steady voice that followed cut through the silence like a blade.
The room froze. Even the auctioneer stared in disbelief. Fifty billion? The bid skipped over everything in between?
Heads turned to see the source of the voice. As the woman stepped aside, a man emerged from behind her.
Kael Renforth, the infamous "worthless son-in-law" of Port Avallon.
Lyria's eyes widened in shock. Kael? What was he doing here?
Elias Malavant's expression darkened, his confidence unraveling into fury. What was this? A ploy? A coordinated act? First Lyria feigned helplessness, then Kael arrived with a dramatic counterbid?
Elias shot to his feet, his face red with rage.
"Fifty billion? Do you even know what that number means?" Elias roared, turning to the auctioneer. "This man is here to disrupt the auction! He doesn't have that kind of money—throw him out!"
The crowd buzzed with speculation. Had Kael truly come prepared, or was this a bluff?
Kael didn't flinch under the weight of Elias's fury. Instead, he stepped forward, his gaze as sharp as steel.
"Fifty billion," he repeated, his voice calm but unyielding. "You can verify my credentials right now."
As the auctioneer gestured to his team to check the validity of Kael's bid, the room fell silent once more.
Elias clenched his fists, his mind racing. If Kael's bid was real, it was an earthquake that would topple his carefully laid plans.
Lyria, still in shock, could only watch as Kael stood his ground, a force of unexpected strength amidst the chaos.
In that moment, it became clear to everyone in the room: the game had changed.