Chapter 0045
Agnes & Elijah
Agnes
We moved from the ballroom at the gala to the auction hall for the next part of the gala–the auction. I took in the elegant surroundings, the polished floors and glittering chandeliers, feeling a bit more relaxed now that Elijah had solidified my place at his side to everyone. We settled into seats a few rows from the podium and waited for the auction to start./
I glanced toward a group of shifters laughing and my breath caught in my throat when my gaze landed on a face I hadn’t seen in years.
It was as though time stopped. The world around me blurred, and all I could see was him.
Mason. My first love.
The man who had been my everything back in college, and who had disappeared without a trace, leaving a hollow ache in my chest that had never truly healed. Memories I had long buried came rushing back–late nights studying together, stolen kisses under the stars, whispered promises of forever.
I hadn’t expected to see him here, of all places. And to my surprise, he looked the same as the day he left me. Mason stood tall and youthful, his handsome features highlighted by a strong jawline, tousled blonde hair, and striking green eyes that seemed to pierce through the room with a quiet intensity.
My heart pounded, confusion swirling inside me like a storm. I blinked, trying to convince myself it wasn’t real, that I was seeing things. But it was him.
It was really him.
Elijah, standing beside me, must have noticed my reaction. He followed my gaze, his eyes narrowing when they landed on Mason. A dark look crossed his face, and I felt a shift in his energy–an intensity that hadn’t been there a moment ago.
The bidding started, and I didn’t have time to ponder Elijah’s expression, and I pretty much zoned out on most of the auction, unimpressed with the expensive items being offered.
Mason joined in on bidding for some rare artifact I hadn’t even bothered to pay attention to. I could feel Elijah’s tension escalate, his fingers twitching as he raised his paddle to outbid him–escalating the price to ridiculous
levels.
I stared in disbelief, my mouth slightly open as Elijah continued to outbid Mason, far beyond the item’s worth.
“What are you doing?” I whispered, glancing at Elijah’s sharp profile.
He didn’t respond. His focus was solely on Mason, like this was a battle he had to win, no matter the cost. The tension between the two men was palpable, but Mason seemed oblivious to what had sparked Elijah’s competitive
streak.
When the auctioneer finally declared Elijah the winner, I released a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. The absurdity of it all washed over me–a battle over a meaningless artifact, but one charged with a deeper, unspoken conflict. I could sense it wasn’t about the item at all.
Elijah had been staking a claim, and I was the prize.
Afterward, Mason approached Elijah, his face a mask of exasperation.
“That price was ridiculous,” he said, his voice tight. “But I’ve had my eye on that sculpture for quite some time.
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Chapter 0045
I’m willing to pay more, but it’ll have to be in installments.
I stood awkwardly beside Elijah, watching the interaction unfold, when Mason’s eyes finally turned to me. His brow furrowed, recognition dawning slowly as he looked at me–really looked at me.
“Agnes?” His voice was filled with disbelief.
I nodded, my heart thudding painfully in my chest. Mason’s reappearance dredged up emotions I hadn’t anticipated. The rawness of seeing him again, hearing him say my name, was almost too much.
He had changed, but the familiarity was still there, buried beneath the years and the heartache.
Mason stepped closer, his green eyes searching mine, an air of hesitation about him.
“Agnes, I need to explain what happened… why I disappeared.”
I crossed my arms, trying to steady my breathing as my heart pounded in my chest. “Go ahead.”
He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his blonde hair
“It was your sister, Ava.”
The mention of her name made my stomach churn, but I stayed silent, waiting.
“Ava… she played us both,” Mason continued, his voice thick with regret. “She told me that you wanted nothing to do with me anymore, that you’d moved on, and that I should too. She even convinced me that contacting you would only make things worse.”
I swallowed hard, the sting of betrayal washing over me.
“She told me the same thing about you,” I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. “She said you had moved on, forgotten me like it was nothing.‘
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Mason’s face twisted in pain.
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