The words hit Simone like a physical blow. Because Marcus was right. The Greene family patriarch was not a man who tolerated being disregarded, especially not by family members who'd just made massive financial decisions without approval.If Simone ignored this call, his grandfather would assume the worst—that Simone was too ashamed to face consequences, or too arrogant to answer to family authority. Either interpretation would be catastrophic.But answering meant explaining. Meant admitting to the bidding war. Meant facing his grandfather's wrath right now, in public, with hundreds of people potentially overhearing."I know it's true," Simone said through clenched teeth, his voice shaking. "I KNOW what will happen if I ignore him. But you're not making this any easier! You're just—you're just stating the obvious and making me feel WORSE!"His anger at the situation, at Alex, at his own stupidity, all began redirecting toward Marcus. The assistant who was supposed to advise him, who'd

Simone stood there, phone still pressed to his ear, staring at nothing. His entire world had just collapsed. His position in the family threatened. His inheritance potentially forfeit. All because of one night of ego and poor decisions.Marcus approached cautiously. "Sir? What did the patriarch say?""I have to return it," Simone said dully. "Return The Last Eye. Get the money back. Or I'm disowned."He looked at Marcus with hollow eyes. "Start making calls. Find out the auction house's return policy. Whatever fees they charge, whatever penalties—just handle it. I need that eight hundred million back."As Simone began the humiliating process of trying to undo his own purchase, the crowd around him whispered and recorded, capturing every moment of the Greene heir's spectacular fall from grace.Meanwhile, near the entrance of the auction hall, Mia and Alex were preparing to leave. The evening had been exhausting—emotionally draining in ways Mia hadn't anticipated. She'd watched her drea

Alex's smile became almost cruel. "Tell Simone that I'll be here for exactly ten more minutes. If he wants to sell The Last Eye, he comes here himself. Personally. And he asks nicely. Otherwise, Mia and I leave, and he can deal with the consequences of his cowardice on his own."Marcus stood frozen, the black case still in his hands, clearly torn between his orders from Simone and the reality of what Alex was demanding."Ten minutes," Alex repeated, checking his watch. "Starting now. After that, the offer expires. Permanently. I'll never accept The Last Eye from Simone Greene under any circumstances if he can't find the courage to face me in the next ten minutes."He gestured dismissively. "So go tell your employer. Tell the great Simone Greene, heir to the mighty Greene fortune, that a 'nobody' is giving him an ultimatum. Let's see if he values his pride more than his family position."Marcus hesitated one more second, then turned and ran back toward the interior of the auction hall,

Mia stood there, holding the black case containing The Last Eye, staring at it like she couldn't quite believe it was real. The legendary artifact. The symbol of eternal love she'd dreamed of owning for years. And Alex had just acquired it for her—not for eight hundred million, not even for one hundred million really, but through sheer strategic brilliance and force of will.She looked up at Alex, her eyes shining with tears she was trying not to shed. "I don't know how to thank you. This is... this is beyond anything I could have—"The words failed her. So instead, Mia did something impulsive—something driven purely by emotion rather than careful social calculation.She leaned forward and kissed Alex on the cheek.The gesture was quick, light, more grateful than romantic. But the warmth of it, the genuine affection behind it, made Alex's breath catch slightly."Thank you," Mia whispered. "For everything. For standing up for me. For seeing what I needed even when I couldn't say it. Fo

Alex lowered his eyes, his expression becoming thoughtful, contemplative. His mind was already working through possibilities, calculating his next steps, planning how to handle the inevitable confrontation with both the Greene and Vinda families.But he didn't share these thoughts with Mia. Didn't explicitly state what he would do or how he would protect her from the forces arrayed against her freedom.Some things needed to be shown, not told. Some revelations required the right timing, the right circumstances. And right now, after the emotionally exhausting evening they'd just experienced, wasn't the time for grand declarations or detailed explanations.Mia stared at him for a long moment, searching his face for answers, for reassurance, for some sign of the plan he clearly had forming in his mind. She could see the wheels turning behind his eyes, could sense that Alex was working through something significant.Finally, she decided to trust him. To go along with whatever he had plann