114Vincent's grin faltered, his face contorting into a mask of disbelief and irritation. 'This can't be happening,' his mind screamed, fists clenching so tightly his knuckles turned white.Liz's mouth fell open, her earlier confidence shattering.Her eyes widened, shock painting her features. "Darw
115The atmosphere remained charged as Darwin concluded his address. Murmurs of respect, skepticism, and outright disbelief wove through the crowd like electric currents. Jake and Thomas, who had been standing at the back, exchanged looks of utter bewilderment. Pushing through the throng, they made
116 The shop was bustling with activity, patrons weaving through aisles filled with history. Darwin's gaze swept across the room, taking in the familiar yet always enchanting sight of ancient relics and treasures."Good morning," greeted Mr. Roth, the shop's owner, emerging from behind a towering s
117The shop, once bustling with benign curiosity, had morphed into an arena of tension. Darwin's composed demeanor stood in stark contrast to the wealthy man's escalating fury, their exchange becoming the day's unexpected spectacle."You've no idea the kind of mistake you're making," the man hissed
118With the clock as the focal point, Mr. Roth beckoned them towards the counter, the rest of the shop's patrons trailing behind, eager to witness the outcome of this unusual showdown.Once at the counter, Mr. Roth turned his attention to the gathered crowd. "This isn't just any clock," he began, h
119The crowd erupted into a frenzy of whispers and exclamations, their disbelief reaching new heights."He matched it again!""Unbelievable!""How much higher can they go?"Mr. Roth, realizing the situation was spiraling out of control, intervened once more. "Gentlemen, please, this has gone far en
120Angela, sensing the escalating tension, stepped between them, her voice firm yet pleading. "Enough, both of you. This is neither the time nor the place. We're here to celebrate my grandfather's birthday, remember?"The reminder seemed to cool the immediate hostility, though the air remained char
121Angela, noticing her grandfather first, broke into a relieved smile, the stress lines around her eyes softening. "Grandpa!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth. Henry, noticing the tail end of the confrontation, raised an eyebrow but said nothing of it for the moment. Instead, he focuse