Chapter 164

Lauren's POV

“Hey, are you seeing this?” I whispered through the earpiece, my eyes narrowing on the man sitting a few rows away.

“Yeah,” Roman’s voice came through, calm but edged with disbelief. “I’m just as confused as you are.”

My fingers tightened around the paddle on my lap. Ethan? Here? That made absolutely no sense. My chest tightened with suspicion as I continued watching him — his sharp suit, the confident smirk plastered across his face, the way his uninjured hand lifted that bidding paddle like he belonged here.

“Was he on the list of people who got invites to this event?” I asked quickly, my voice low so no one around would overhear.

“No, I don’t think so,” Roman replied. “They only send out invites to CEOs whose companies are doing well in the market. And right now, Black Corporation isn’t healthy enough to even get an invite. So how’s he here?”

I frowned, my mind trying to piece it together. “So he managed to find hi