Sophia’s P.O.V

I could feel the storm still simmering behind me—the hum of whispers, the stifled gasps, the thick tension that refused to be swept away, but I kept walking, my heels tapping confidently against the polished marble floor as Vee stayed glued to my side.

We moved further from the chaos, slipping past admiring stares and curious glances until we reached the private seating area just adjacent to the main hall where the auction would soon commence. My heart was ...