Pete walked out of the auction hall with long, decisive strides, his fingers interlocked tightly with Zoe's, moving with the kind of purposeful certainty that dared anyone to question him. The bright lights spilling from behind them poured onto their backs, casting long shadows that stretched across the polished marble floor like unfinished accusations waiting to be spoken aloud.Around them, murmurs rose and fell in waves, confused, indignant, endlessly curious. The very air itself seemed unsettled, as though the auction hall had not yet recovered from what had just unfolded upon that stage only moments before.Zoe leaned slightly toward Pete, her lips curving into a smile she tried, and utterly failed, to hide. Behind them, Petra staggered forward, her legs unsteady beneath her."Pete, stop right there!"Her voice cut through the hall, strained and hoarse, carrying more raw desperation than actual volume. The chatter around them died down almost instantly. Heads turned in uniso
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