LOGIN[Elara]I can only smile at Beatrice’s words.Why? Because the time when she would have nothing more to say is just around the corner.Seeing my smile, however, she only grows more annoyed. “You really have no shame, do you? Here I am, telling you to have some dignity and get the fuck out of here before you say or do anything to embarrass yourself—and us— you have the audacity to smile at my face? What kind of stupidity is this?”The urge to smile even wider is ridiculous, but I try to get a hold of myself. I sigh instead. “What’s wrong with smiling? Anyone having a good day has every right to express how they feel. Isn’t that right, Damon?”“Elara—” Damon tries to intervene, but Beatrice cuts him off once more.“Don’t talk to him. Talk to me. I’m the one who decides what’s right and wrong. And I clearly just asked you to get the hell out of here, didn’t I?”“You did,” I say, nodding slowly. “But that’s the thing, Beatrice. I’m not obligated to do as you say. Let me remind you, in cas
[Damon]A round of applause fills the room, but all I feel is a gnawing sense of dread.What have we just done?Mom stands, her body shaking with what I assume to be excitement or fear. Maybe both.I grab her arm. “Mom, are you insane? We just bid the entire Blackwood estate on a fifty-fifty chance!”She looks at me, her eyes blazing with something I can’t quite place. “It was worth it, Damon. We’re going to save the company. We’re going to be the most powerful people in the world.”Before I can say anything else, the auctioneer turns his attention to the vials. “Congratulations to the winners,” he says, gesturing toward the second vial. “Now, let’s have our bids for Vial B.”The room buzzes again, but this time, I barely hear it. I just can’t—I can’t believe we just gambled everything on a guess.And if we’re wrong…I shake my head, forcing myself to focus. “Mom, what if we chose wrong? What if the real one was B?”She doesn’t answer. Instead, she watches as the bidding for Vial B be
[Elara]"Do you think I'm being cruel?" I ask, my voice barely a whisper as I watch everything go down at the auction from the privacy of a glass cabin.Griffin, standing next to me with his hands tucked into his pockets, doesn't even flinch. "Of course, not. This is what they owe you--what they owe Vera. This is justice, my love. It might not look pretty, but sometimes justice isn't."I nod, my eyes locked on Damon and his mother as they anxiously watch the auctioner reveal the two vials in his hands.One contains the Miracle drug—the real deal. The other? A dangerous poison that should not even exist. And both are sitting on a table, looking exactly the same."You think they'll bite? Or will they chicken out?" I ask, unable to help myself. Even though I know the answer, I still want to hear it.Griffin smirks, his gaze shifting to me. "Oh, they'll bite. People like them always do when desperation kicks in. Especially Beatrice. She'd sell her soul if it meant saving her precious litt
I nod, glancing at Mom. She looks calm, but I know she’s just as nervous as I am.The first item is brought out—a chemical solution that, according to the auctioneer, can instantly improve physical strength and agility for up to three hours.The bidding starts, and within minutes, the price skyrockets.Mom doesn’t even flinch. She keeps her eyes on the stage, her mind clearly focused on something bigger. Something that will actually make a difference for us.The next few items are just as outrageous—experimental drugs, exotic minerals, even classified documents stolen from government facilities.But none of them catches Mom’s attention.Until the final item is announced.“And now…” the auctioneer grins, his whole face glow
[Damon]“This is it!” Mom says, breathing a little louder and straightening her spine even more. “Remember, stick to the plan. No distractions. And do not, under any circumstances, draw attention to yourself. This is our final chance, Damon. We make it or not, all depends on how we handle this night.”I nod, realizing rather quickly how long it’s been since I’ve seen Mom this nervous.Then again, this isn’t just any event.It’s the Dark Knights—an event that shouldn’t even exist in the first place, and yet it does. All because people with money are constantly looking for something new to indulge in, while others, like us, are desperate enough to put their principles on the line to survive this cruel business world.I give her a nod, and soon we step out of the car together. The moment I walk onto the grand steps leading up to the auction house, I feel it: the tension, the power, the danger.It’s all around us.Men and women in expensive suits and gowns walk past us, their faces either
[Damon]After checking up on Elara, I return to the old Blackwood manor.Mom called several times after I dropped her back at the manor and took off to find Elara.I just wanted to make sure she was fine. And she sounded fine, if not completely off.She said she was tired, but her breathing sounded as if she had been working out.Or maybe that’s just me overthinking. I’ve been doing that a lot ever since those cops showed up at my door to inform me of Elara and Cora’s deaths. I can’t seem to trust anything, especially myself.When I step inside, I find Mom and Dad in the living room, sitting in complete silence.Mom is the fi
When the car pulls up, the small bubble of memories in my head bursts.“Sir, we’re here,” Jordan says quietly, pulling me back into the moment.For a long second, I just sit there, staring out the window. My hand is still on the door handle, but I don’t open it. I can’t make myself move. My chest f
My father places a hand on her arm, a silent warning. "Not now, Beatrice.""No, Archer, it is 'now'," she snaps, pulling her arm away. "Our son is in here crying over a woman who brought nothing but shame to our family, while our company is on the verge of collapse. This is not the time for sentime
[Beatrice]“That’s all for today,” I say, dismissing the staff.One by one, they file out of the room, and I finally get a chance to rest my back.I close my eyes. “Any word from Damon?”“No. Not yet,” Celine replies, sounding rightfully annoyed. “It’s already been three days since the funeral, but
[Damon]I look at the bright red ruby ring sitting proudly in the black velvet box.Nervous—for the first time.What if she doesn’t like it?What if she thinks it’s too little?What if she thinks it isn’t sincere enough?I sigh. Whatever. This is the first time I’m giving her something so expensive







