271The room buzzed with hushed voices, a chorus of disbelief and speculation, as Tobias’s footsteps faded into the night. The tension was suffocating, and the party that had once been lively and filled with laughter now felt like a courtroom. Glasses clinked uneasily, chairs scraped against the polished wooden floor, and furtive glances were exchanged.Mrs. Penrose, still clutching the ornate clock to her chest, stood at the center of it all. Her face was pale, her lips trembling as she tried to form words. Finally, her voice broke through the murmurs. “I can’t believe this. I trusted him… I trusted him.” Her tone wavered between disbelief and raw pain.“I don’t know how you didn’t see it coming,” Lily said, stepping closer to Mrs. Penrose. Her voice carried a smugness that only deepened the awkwardness in the room. “I’ve been saying it for years—Tobias is all charm and no substance. Always too smooth, too eager to please. I knew he’d slip up eventually.”“Not now, Lily,” Mrs. Penros

273“Authentic?” Mrs. Penrose repeated, her tone incredulous. Her sharp eyes flicked to the ornate clock resting on the velvet-draped table. “You’re sure?”Dr. Grayson, an older man with a calm, authoritative air, nodded firmly. “The craftsmanship, the materials, the markings—everything checks out. This clock is a genuine piece.”A wave of murmurs rippled through the room. Guests exchanged glances, their expressions ranging from shock to outright disbelief.“Wait a moment,” interrupted a young woman near the side, her brows furrowed in disbelief. “Are you saying this is the Taillefer Clock? The one from the Hawthorne collection?”“Yes, Miss Clement,” Dr. Grayson replied, his tone unflappable. “The very same. Its authenticity is indisputable.”“That’s preposterous!” another man exclaimed, his voice rising above the hum of murmurs. “It was stolen decades ago and presumed destroyed.”“I’m afraid the facts speak otherwise,” Dr. Grayson said, adjusting his glasses as he glanced at the cloc

275Mrs. Penrose’s eyes widened in alarm. “You wouldn’t dare.”“Watch me,” Lily replied, lifting the clock with surprising ease.The guests who had lingered gasped audibly, their whispers growing louder as they watched the drama unfold.“Lily, put that down,” Mrs. Penrose hissed, her tone sharp with panic.“No,” Lily said firmly. “Not until you do the right thing.”Allvar crossed his arms, watching the exchange with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. “You’ve got a lot of spirit, I’ll give you that,” he said to Lily.“And she’s got a lot of nerve,” Mrs. Penrose muttered under her breath.“Grandma,” Lily said, her voice steady but tinged with frustration, “this isn’t about pride or appearances. It’s about respect. You accused Allvar of lying without any evidence, and now that he’s proven himself, you owe him an apology.”Mrs. Penrose hesitated, her gaze darting around the room. The weight of the guests’ stares bore down on her, and for the first time that evening, she seemed genuinel

277Allvar stirred, the pounding ache in the back of his head dragging him back to consciousness. His eyes fluttered open, and he squinted against the glaring light of a flashlight pointed directly at his face. Groaning, he tried to sit up, but his arms and legs were bound with thick zip ties. The rough gravel beneath him scraped against his palms as he shifted. A pair of heavy boots stepped into his line of sight.“Well, well, look who’s awake,” a deep, mocking voice said. The speaker crouched down, revealing a man with a scar running down the side of his face. His smirk was cruel, and his dark eyes gleamed with malicious amusement. “Did you sleep well, Mr. Allvar?”Allvar blinked, his vision clearing as he took in the scene around him. At least five men stood in a loose circle, all armed with knives, bats, and one with a gun slung casually over his shoulder. Their faces were hard and unfriendly, and their postures spoke of danger.“What is this?” Allvar demanded, his voice hoarse bu

279The stillness of the night was interrupted by the shuffle of footsteps and hushed whispers. A group of men, dressed in dark clothing, emerged cautiously from the shadows, their faces masked with unease. They huddled around Allvar’s unconscious body, their breaths visible in the cold air.“Is he... dead?” one of them whispered, his voice trembling as he nudged Allvar’s motionless form with the tip of his shoe.“Don’t just poke him, you idiot!” another hissed, smacking the first man lightly on the shoulder. “Check properly!”“Why do I have to do it?” the first man protested, his eyes darting around as though he expected Allvar to suddenly jump up. “What if he’s faking it?”“Faking it?” the second man scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Did you not see the blow he took? Nobody’s faking after that. Now hurry up, or do you want the boss breathing down our necks?”The man hesitated, shifting nervously. “Fine, fine! Just... keep an eye out, okay?” He crouched down, his fingers trembling as he re