Ethan's mind raced as Carter's bid echoed in the hall. For a moment, the room was silent, filled with tension, before whispers began to spread through the crowd. Ethan felt all eyes on him, and the weight of their judgment felt heavy. The pressure was overwhelming.
Elena leaned in close and whispered, "Hey, you can do this. Don't show weakness. We're in this together." She encouraged Ethan with a smile.
Ethan swallowed hard, feeling sweat on his palms. The system had promised him millions if he won, but what if it was lying? What if he was just a pawn in a cruel game? He had come too far to back down now. Losing would mean total defeat, especially to Carter, his lifelong rival.
"Three thousand dollars," Ethan called out, trying to sound steady despite his racing heart.
Gasps filled the room, and the auctioneer raised his eyebrows in surprise. The tension thickened. Carter clenched his jaw, narrowing his eyes. He hadn't expected Ethan to fight back. Beside Carter, Sophia shifted, sensing his growing frustration.
"Five thousand!" Carter shot back, his voice tense. Sophia looked at his face, not sure if he had that much with him.
Ethan's heart raced faster. The stakes were higher than ever. He glanced at Elena, who gave him an encouraging nod, her eyes shining with confidence.
"Seven thousand," Ethan said, trying to sound more sure of himself, even as his stomach twisted in knots.
The crowd buzzed with excitement. "This is crazy," one student whispered. "How does Ethan have that much money?" another replied. Everyone leaned in, their phones ready to capture the moment. This was a showdown they didn't want to miss.
Carter's face turned red with anger. He leaned closer to Mark, who watched with concern. "Mark, I need more money. Can you lend me two thousand?" Carter urged.
Mark hesitated. "Carter, are you sure? This is getting out of control. If you lose, you're going to be in big trouble."
Carter glared at him. "I can't lose to Ethan, not after everything. I just need this. Please."
With a sigh, Mark pulled out his phone. "Fine, but this is the last time," he said, transferring the money.
Carter stepped forward, shaking with tension. "Fourteen thousand dollars," he declared, though his voice wavered.
Ethan felt a chill run down his spine. Fourteen thousand was a lot of money. He clenched his fists, trying to stay calm. He had come too far to give up now.
"What if I'm wrong? What if the system doesn't help me?" Ethan thought to himself. His bet was on the mysterious system that had been his aid and help. "Do you think this is worth it?" Ethan asked, taking a quick glance at Elena.
Elena tilted her head, deep in thought. "Then you lose to Carter, and he'll never let you forget it. But," she added, her gaze fierce, "if you believe in yourself, you might just win."
Ethan's resolve strengthened. He turned to the auctioneer. "Fifteen thousand dollars," he announced.
The crowd gasped. This was no longer just an auction; it was a battle.
The auctioneer raised an eyebrow, excitement in his voice. "Fifteen thousand! Do we have sixteen thousand?"
Carter's face twisted in anger and fear. He knew he was at his limit. Even with Mark's money, he was in trouble. He looked at Sophia, who had gone pale, her confidence fading. Everyone waited for his next move.
Sophia leaned in, her voice low. "Carter, it's over. You're going to ruin us."
But Carter's pride wouldn't let him back down. "Sixteen thousand," he croaked.
Ethan felt like he was on a rollercoaster. That number was huge. He clenched his jaw, determination fueling him. He couldn't let Carter win after everything. He remembered the system's promise and held onto it tightly.
"Seventeen thousand dollars," Ethan said, his voice strong and clear.
The room exploded into chaos. The auctioneer looked at Carter, who was visibly shaking. "Carter?" he urged.
Carter opened his mouth, but no words came out. He was defeated.
The auctioneer raised his hand. "Going once, going twice." He paused, building suspense. "Sold to Ethan for seventeen thousand dollars!"
The room erupted in cheers and gasps. Ethan felt weak in the knees but stood tall. He had done it. The system's promise echoed in his mind, and he hoped it would come through.
Carter sank to the ground, defeated, while Sophia turned away from him, disappointment clear on her face. Mark stood back, shaking his head. Ethan had won this round, but the battle was far from over.
Ethan's phone buzzed, and he looked down, breathless, when he saw the new message from the system. His fate was about to be decided.
The bright light of the phone shone directly into his face, and a congratulations message popped out on his phone. "System message: Congratulations on the successful defeat of Carter. You had managed to humiliate him and have won the auction. Money will be deposited into your account in a bit."
The auctioneer walked closer to Ethan with a smile on his face. "I can't believe you could pull this through, Ethan. Congratulation once again," he said, offering him a handshake.
"He said he was going to do it, and he did." One of the students shouted from the crowd.
"I told you that we should back down. This one you." Mark shouted in anger at Carter; his face hardened.
"Do you think I was expecting any of this? The show isn't over. I am going to watch how Ethan is going to pay for this antique. I am sure he was bluffing with the amount of money he said he was having."
"Before the show comes to an end, I will be inviting Mr. Ethan to come to the podium and do us the honor of paying for the antique." The auctioneer said with a smile
Elena looked at Ethan and smiled. "Go ahead; you deserve this moment," she said with a smile on her face.
Ethan walked to the podium with a lot of noise and clapping from the students. Carter and Sophia anticipated the time when they were going to pay for the antique. Ethan slowly brought out his phone and pushed the button. " Sent!" He said
beaming with smile as Carter collapsed to the floor right in front of him.