Chapter 48. My Wildest Dream

Grace’s POV

As the auction continued with an endless parade of extravagant items being paraded beneath the gilded chandeliers, I felt the unsettling weight of Orion’s disinterest pressing down on me. His attention wavered, and I could sense his focus drifting far away, fixated on something—someone, rather.

I had seen that look before, the distant narrowing of his eyes when his mind was no longer present with me, and it sent an immediate chill through my chest.

At first, I attributed it to stress, a valid assumption given the high stakes of the evening. But as I glanced sideways, I caught sight of where his gaze lingered for far too long: Layla. The sight of her sent a shiver down my spine.

I froze momentarily, resentment bubbling within me like a dormant volcano on the brink of eruption. Why her? The question gnawed at me as I watched Layla, resplendent in a shimmering emerald gown that caught the light of the chandeliers, her laughter seemed to draw e