Aiden Knight's POV
"Eighty million!" The voice echoes through the auction hall as Clara trembles beside me.
Her tears fall steadily onto the white tablecloth. Each bid feels like another knife twisting in her heart.
"I can't afford it," she whispers. "After cutting ties with my family, I barely have twenty million in liquid assets."
"Ninety million!" Another bidder jumps in aggressively.
I watch Clara's face crumble with each escalating number. The pain in her eyes is unbearable. This isn't just a necklace to her. It's her grandfather's soul, his final gift to the world, stolen in their darkest hour.
"Ninety-five million!"
The auctioneer scans the room with practiced eyes. "Do I hear one hundred million for this magnificent piece?"
I catch sight of movement in the VIP section. A young man in an expensive suit raises his paddle confidently. Everything about him screams wealthy privilege - from his perfectly styled hair to his gold Rolex.
