227 As Darwin watched Zayne storm off, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered. He knew this wouldn't be the end of their conflict. With a deep breath, he turned his attention back to the gala, determined not to let Zayne ruin his evening. Zoe approached him, her eyes filled with con
228 The other bidders looked at him, surprised by the sudden appearance of the new challenger. A hush fell over the crowd as they processed Darwin's bid. A few murmurs and whispers filled the room, and then, as if a fire had been ignited, the competitive spirit took hold. " $45,000!" a voice reso
229 As the tension hung heavy in the air, the host regained his professional poise, his voice resonating throughout the room, "two hundred thousand dollars going once..." The bidding continued, but the real spectacle was in the shock and wonder that swept through the onlookers. In that rare moment,
230 "I still can't believe it! This ordinary man is actually outbidding Zayne Oakbar!" whispered one guest, their eyes wide with disbelief. "I know, right? Zayne Oakbar is practically royalty in the world of wealth. How on earth does he have this kind of money?" another murmured, shaking their hea
231 Meanwhile, Darwin's attention was entirely focused on a ring that bore an uncanny resemblance to the one missing from his family. A wave of urgency surged through his heart as his keen eyes recognized the familiar family crest engraved on it. Determined to reclaim this precious heirloom, his re
232 The bidding continued, with each new bid pushing the price higher and higher. Zoe watched in awe, unable to comprehend the vastness of Darwin's wealth. The numbers soared past $500,000 and then surpassed the million-dollar mark. "One million dollars," a prominent businessman called out, thinki
233 Darwin stood his ground, his heart pounding in his chest as he faced off against the enraged billionaire. His features remained composed, but inside, he was bracing himself for the storm that was about to come. "You!" the billionaire spat, his voice dripping with venom. "How dare you outbid me
234 The next day, Darwin woke up with a sense of guilt gnawing at him. He realized that he hadn't visited his friend Nick at the hospital as often as he should have. It had been two weeks since Nick was admitted, and Darwin had only been there twice. 'What a shame,' he muttered to himself, feeling