The room fell quiet for a moment as people turned toward him.
Only one person raised the price.
“Seventeen million.”
Without hesitation, Elias responded.
“Twenty million.”
After that, silence filled the auction hall. No one seemed willing to challenge the price.
The auctioneer began the final countdown.
“Twenty million going once… going twice—”
“Sixty million.”
The new voice echoed clearly across the hall.
Gasps immediately spread through the crowd.
All eyes turned toward the person who had spoken.
Magnus.
Elias’s gaze shifted toward him instantly, anger flashing across his face.
“Mr. Graves,” Elias said coldly, his voice low with irritation. “Are you really not crossing a line here?”
Magnus gave him an arrogant look, completely unfazed.
“I can buy whatever I want,” Magnus replied calmly. “If you want something, you’re free to bid for it yourself. It’s not like I’m holding your wallet.”
Elias’s anger flared at the remark. He raised his paddle again.
“Eighty million.”
A wave of shocked murmurs spread through the hall.
Magnus immediately followed.
“One hundred million.”
Isabel, sitting beside him, was thrilled. Her face brightened with excitement as she assumed Magnus was bidding for her.
Her face glowed with happiness as she watched the stage. Every time Magnus raised the bid, her smile widened.
At the same time, she cast subtle, triumphant glances toward Sophia and the people sitting nearby, clearly enjoying the attention.
Around them, the crowd watched with growing excitement as the bidding war between the two powerful men pushed the price higher and higher.
Sophia gently placed her hand on Elias’s arm and leaned closer to him.
“There’s no need to get it,” she whispered. “It’s not even that good.”
Elias looked at her with a displeased expression and replied quietly, “Don’t worry about it. I can get it easily.”
“There’s no need, Elias,” Sophia repeated softly.
