Chapter 26

The auction hall was abuzz with anticipation, the tension could be felt as the first item of the evening was revealed. From Room A, a shadowy figure watched intently, their presence barely noticeable behind the opaque glass. In Room C, another cloaked figure peered through the transparent barrier, their gaze fixed on the auction floor below. Room B, reserved for the patriarch of the Wales family, was where the real action seemed to be unfolding.

As the first item was wheeled onto the stage, the crowd's murmur grew into excited whispers. It was a lavishly decorated antique clock, its golden frame encrusted with jewels. The auctioneer, with a radiant flair, began the bidding.

"Opening bid for this exquisite timepiece is set at one million dollars," he announced, his voice echoing through the hall.

In Room B, the patriarch of the Wales family, a tall, imposing man with a steely gaze, watched the proceedings. His guards, dressed in sharp suits, flanked him closely.

"Ten million," the patr