Chapter 48. Conflicting Emotions

Ethan’s POV

The auction hall was abuzz with the kind of chatter that only the rich and influential could conjure. Each conversation was a quiet hum of power, wealth, and subtle competition. As I entered alongside Lily, I was acutely aware of the weight of our arrival. Every gaze seemed to linger a moment too long, assessing and cataloging.

It was a moment I had grown used to over the years. Success had given me a confidence I once lacked—a confidence that made these events more tolerable, even enjoyable. Tonight, however, felt different.

“Ethan,” someone called, their voice tinged with recognition and respect. I turned to see an old acquaintance from the corporate world, his hand outstretched.

“Mark,” I greeted him with a firm handshake and a polite smile, slipping effortlessly into the role I had mastered.

As we spoke, Lily looped her arm through mine, her soft laugh punctuating the conversation at just the right moments. She had a way of disarm