The final number appeared on the screen.
And then-
Silence.
For a brief moment, no one in the entire hall seemed to breathe.
The giant display at the front of the auction room showed the last bid clearly, brightly, as if to make sure no one could pretend they hadn’t seen it.
Adrian.
Winner.
The hostess looked down at her tablet, confirmed the result twice, then raised her head.
“The final bidder,” she announced clearly, “is Mr. Adrian.”
The words echoed through the hall.
Then the room exploded.
“He won…”
“He actually beat Evans Coles…”
“This is impossible…”
“No, this is terrifying…”
Catherine felt her knees go weak. She had to grab the armrest to steady herself.
Elena’s eyes widened, her lips slightly parted, her mind completely blank.
Even Kai, who had been standing behind Adrian the whole time, let out a quiet breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding
Across the hall, Evans Coles stood there, completely still.
His screen had already gone dark.
The numbers had already frozen.
There was no mistake.
He had lost.
For several seconds, no one dared to look at him.
Then-
He slowly stood up.
His face was calm.
Too calm.
But anyone who knew him well could see the stonin in his eyes.
He turned and walked out without saying a word.
Several people hurried after him.
Among them was his father.
The older man’s face was dark, his jaw clenched, his steps heavy with suppressed anger.
As they walked down the corridor, Evans suddenly spoke.
“Find out who he is,” he said coldly.
“I don’t care how.”
“I want everything.”
His father’s eyes narrowed. “Someone who can beat you at the bank’s own ground… is not simple.”
Evans’s fists slowly tightened.
“That’s why,” he said, “I want him stripped bare.”
Back in the hall, the hostess was already announcing the end of the special auction.
But most people were no longer listening.
All their eyes were on Adrian.
Some were shocked.
Some were curious.
Some were afraid.
And some… were already calculating.
Adrian stood up calmly.
There was no excitement on his face.
No pride.
Just quiet.
As if what he had just done was nothing special.
His phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.
He took it out and glanced at the screen.
Reyes.
He answered.
Her voice came through, half amused, half helpless.
“Why didn’t you let me take the lead, Young Master?”
Adrian smiled faintly.
“I’ve got this, Reyes,” he said calmly. “You’ve done enough.”
There was a short silence on the other end.
Then Isabella laughed softly.
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“Fine. But don’t forget you owe me a drink.”
Adrian hung up and slipped the phone back into his pocket.
Around him, the crowd was still buzzing.
And then
Lucas appeared.
He walked straight toward Adrian, his expression complicated, a mix of disbelief, suspicion, and something darker.
He stopped in front of him.
“Be honest,” Lucas said. “Are you some rich woman’s kept man?”
Several people nearby froze and looked over.
Elena’s face changed instantly.
“What are you saying?” she snapped.
Lucas ignored her.
He stared straight at Adrian.
“What did you offer her?” he demanded. “What kind of deal did you make that made the owner of that supreme card not only not fight you… but even let you use her card?”
Sophia, who had been standing nearby, immediately spoke up.
“Maybe he saved her life,” she said lightly, her eyes flashing. “And she’s using her card to pay him back.”
Her words were casual.
But the poison inside them was sharp.
Several people’s expressions changed.
Whispers started again.
“So he’s just borrowing someone else’s power?”
“That would make sense…”
“No wonder…”
Elena clenched her fists.
“That’s not true!” she said quickly. “You don’t know anything, so stop talking nonsense!”
Before Adrian could say anything, a cold voice cut in.
“Enough.”
Margaret cut in.
She had walked over at some point, her expression stern, her posture straight.
She looked at Elena sharply.
“This is not your place to speak.”
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Elena’s face stiffened. “Mom
“I said enough,” Margaret said coldly. “You’ll only embarrass yourself. Are you going to fall for this fake man, onces his secret is exposed he’ll end up being in jail”
Elena’s lips trembled, but she said nothing more.
Lucas laughed softly.
He looked back at Adrian.
“You should think carefully,” he said. “If you’re really just hiding behind someone else, that won’t last forever.”
Adrian looked at him calmly.
“I don’t need it to last forever.”
Lucas’s eyes narrowed.
He took a step closer and lowered his voice.
“I’m going to see Ryan Coles soon.”
The name alone made several people’s expressions change.
“Do you know what that means?” Lucas asked coldly.
“It means your little game is about to end.”
The air turned heavy.
Even Sophia felt a chill.
Ryan Coles.
That wasn’t someone you could joke about.
Adrian finally looked directly at Lucas.
His gaze was calm.
But deep.
“Then go,” he said simply.
Lucas stopped walking.
He turned back slowly, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Adrian again.
Adrian, who had already turned slightly away, paused and looked back at him.
“Wait,” Adrian said calmly. “Why are you telling me you’re going to see Ryan Coles?”
Lucas raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“That’s not my business,” Adrian continued, his voice steady. “And it’s not yours either. So why announce it to me?”
Lucas stared at him for a second, then laughed.
“I just thought you should know,” he said lightly. “So you’ll understand very soon that I’m the one who deserves Elena in every way. Not you.”
Elena’s face changed instantly.
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“Stop it!” she said sharply, stepping forward. “Both of you.”
She looked at Lucas, then at Adrian.
“You’re both acting like this is still about me. It’s not. We’re divorced.”
Her voice trembled slightly, but she forced herself to stay firm.
“Adrian is doing fine. And I’m happy about that. I’m also doing well. I don’t want unnecessary enemies. And I don’t want this kind of fight.”
Margaret immediately frowned. “Elena, that’s enough-”
“No,” Elena said, turning to her mother. “I’m not done.”
She looked at Lucas, then at Sophia.
“You need to stop bullying him,” she said. “Just because we’re divorced doesn’t mean you should try to humiliate him in every situation.”
Sophia’s face darkened.
“Why are you supporting him?” she snapped. “Have you forgotten what he did?”
She pointed at Adrian.
“He used to steal from your mother while you were married!”
Her voice grew sharper.
“That huge amount that disappeared last time–have you forgotten?”
The air froze.
Elena turned to Adrian in shock.
“What…?” she whispered.
Adrian looked at Sophia.
Then he smiled.
A cold, quiet smile.
“Did you also forget,” he said calmly, “that I saw you planning with that accountant to withdraw that money?”
Sophia’s pupils shrank.
“You-”
“I didn’t steal it,” Adrian continued. “I transferred it into my name.”
Everyone froze.
Elena’s eyes widened.
“What?”
Adrian turned to her.
“I was going to tell you,” he said. “That’s why I asked you to come see me. I wanted to explain it before you went to meet her.”
Sophia’s face turned pale.
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“You’re lying!”
Adrian looked at her.
“How can I expose your ‘secret,‘ right?” he said quietly. “When I was the one who helped you.”
He turned slightly, his gaze sharp.
“You told me you were trying to get some business together. You said you needed startup money.”
He looked at Elena.
“But you had refused to help her because you were still in school and hadn’t graduated yet.”
Elena’s fingers slowly tightened.
“So,” Adrian continued, “I thought I’d take the fall.”
The hall felt eerily quiet.
“I moved the money to my name so it would look like I took it,” he said. “So she could use it without anyone suspecting her.”
Sophia’s lips trembled.
“I was supporting her dream.”
Elena’s mind went blank.
“You… did that… for her?” she asked in disbelief.
Sophia suddenly burst into tears.
“Stop it!” she cried. “Stop framing me! You’re twisting things! You’ve always been like this, always pretending to be kind—”
But Adrian didn’t even look at her anymore.
He had already turned away.
“I’m done,” he said flatly.
He walked away.
“Adrian!” Elena called out.
He didn’t stop.
He didn’t look back.
He just left.
Elena stood there for two seconds.
Then she turned slowly toward Sophia.
Her eyes were no longer gentle.
“Where did you spend the money?” she asked.
Sophia froze.
“I–Elena, why are you yelling at me?” she cried. “You already yelled at Adrian twice because of this, and now you’re yelling at me too?”
She tried to grab Elena’s hand.
“I’m the victim here…”
Elena pulled her hand back.
“Don’t turn this around,” she said coldly.
Her chest was rising and falling.
“You said he stole it. You said he betrayed us.”
She stared at Sophia.
“So tell me.”
“Where did the money go?”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
