Chapter 55. Dominance

Layla’s POV

The feeling of circles being drawn at the back of my palm made me withdraw my gaze from Orion, pulling me back to reality. I turned my head to the right, catching Ezra’s eye just as he shot me a reassuring smile. Instantly, the scowl on my face softened, if only a little.

His presence offered a sense of calm that I desperately needed amid the growing tension in the auction room.

My mind swirled with different scenarios, each more frantic than the last, as I felt his gentle touch on my hands.

“Don’t worry about them; it is not worth it,” he said, his voice low yet steady, trying to reassure me.

I appreciated his attempt to comfort me, but the unease gnawed at my insides like an unwelcome guest.

“I can’t help it, you know,” I managed, my voice shaky as I tried so desperately to keep my annoyance at bay.

It wasn’t just the auction or the people there. It was the pressure of the situation—being around powerful figures while fe