Chapter 175 The Auction humiliation
Ethan’s POV
The pink diamond earrings disappeared into the VIP section, and with them went my last shred of patience.
I’d barely put up a fight—three rounds of bidding before I folded like a cheap card table. If the buyer really was from V&A Group, there was no point bankrupting myself in a pissing contest I’d already lost.
But my mind wasn’t on the auction anymore. It was fixated entirely on that private box, on whoever was hidden behind those screens.
The Smith heiress. Had to be.
Everything hinged on making a good impression with her next week. This investor could save Silver Creek, could pull us back from the brink of financial ruin.
And I’d just watched her outbid me without breaking a sweat.
"That’s too bad." Clara’s voice was thick with disappointment. She let out a theatrical sigh. "I really wanted those earrings."
"You wanted them?" The words came out sharper than I intended.
She blinked at me, confused. "Well, yes. Why else would you have—" She stopped mid-sentence, realization dawning. "Oh. You weren’t bidding for me."
"We’re here to select a gift for the Smith representative," I said flatly. "Not to add to your jewelry box. I don’t have that kind of budget."
The color drained from Clara’s face like I’d slapped her. Her hand, which had been wrapped around my arm, fell away.
"I see," she said stiffly.
She looked like she wanted to say more, but before she could, several men in dark suits appeared behind us.
"Excuse me, sir." The lead security guard’s voice was professionally polite but cold. "May we have a word? Privately."
My wolf stirred uneasily. "What’s this about?"
"Just a moment of your time, please."
Clara and I exchanged glances before following them into the corridor outside the auction hall.
"May I see your invitation?" the lead guard asked, holding out his hand.
"I don’t have an invitation," I said, irritation creeping into my voice. "I purchased tickets." I pulled out the entry passes and showed them.
He barely glanced at them. "I’m afraid there’s been a misunderstanding, sir. You’re not an invited guest, which means you’ve violated our premium lot protocols.
We’ll be refunding your tickets. We need to ask you to leave the premises now."
"What?" Clara’s voice went up an octave. "You’re kicking us out?"
"Ridiculous," I growled. "What protocols did we violate?"
"Only guests with official invitations may bid on our exclusive collection items," he explained, his expression never changing. "It’s clearly stated in the terms and conditions on your ticket."
The rules did technically exist—designed to give invited VIPs first crack at the best pieces. But they were never enforced this strictly. Never.
People violated those terms all the time. I’d never heard of anyone actually being escorted out.
This was targeted. Personal.
Someone had complained. Someone with enough pull to make the auction house eject paying customers.
"This is absurd," I bit out. "Even if I didn’t notice the fine print, you don’t need to throw us out."
Clara stepped forward, her face flushed with indignation. "Do you know who he is? This is Ethan Holt, Alpha of Silver Creek Pack. And Silver Creek just secured major investment from V&A Group.
We’re backed by one of the most powerful families in the city. If you insult us, you’re insulting them!"
The security guards went very still.
For a moment, I thought her gambit had worked.
Then I noticed it—the way several guards were biting their lips, shoulders shaking slightly.
They were trying not to laugh.
"Is something funny?" Clara’s voice rose shrilly.
"Not at all, ma’am," the lead guard said, his voice strangling slightly with suppressed amusement.
"You’re welcome to... to register a complaint. Or perhaps have V&A Group file one on your behalf."
The last sentence nearly broke his composure entirely. His voice cracked mid-word.
"How dare you—" I started forward, my wolf surging.
Instantly, the other guards moved in, forming a wall of muscle between us and the auction hall entrance. Their hands didn’t quite go to their weapons, but the threat was clear.
Clara grabbed my arm, fear flickering in her eyes. "Ethan..."
"You’ll regret this," she hissed at the guards instead. "When V&A Group announces our partnership publicly, you’ll all wish you’d shown us proper respect!"
"Yes, ma’am. Right this way, please." The lead guard cleared his throat, gesturing toward the exit. "The parking garage is through those doors."
His professional mask had cracked completely now. He was visibly struggling not to burst out laughing.
My chest was tight with rage, my jaw clenched so hard my teeth ached. Clara looked like she’d swallowed poison, her face mottled red and white.
We’d come here to make connections, to show strength, to secure our future with V&A Group.
Instead, we were being thrown out like common criminals. Humiliated in front of the city’s entire elite.
But we were outnumbered. Outmatched. And making a scene would only make everything worse.
"Let’s go," I said through gritted teeth.
We turned toward the parking garage, Clara’s heels clicking furiously against the marble floor.
This wasn’t over. Someone had done this deliberately, called in a favor to have us removed. And I was going to find out who.
We’d just rounded the corner into the underground garage when Clara’s hand suddenly clamped on my arm.
"Isn’t that Aria?"
I followed her gaze.
And there she was.
Aria stood beside a sleek black town car, one of the auction house’s security team escorting her from what was clearly a private elevator.
She was laughing at something the manager was saying, her whole face lit up with genuine joy.
She looked stunning. Deep burgundy dress, diamond earrings catching the garage lights, her hair swept into an elegant knot. She looked expensive. Powerful.
Like she belonged in that VIP section.
My wolf went absolutely still, every nerve ending suddenly on high alert.
"What is she doing here?" Clara’s voice had gone tight with suspicion. "Ethan, she’s following us. She has to be. How else do we keep running into her?"
But I wasn’t listening to Clara anymore.
"I’ll go check. Get in the car first."
I tossed out the words in a rush and took off running toward Aria, not giving Clara a single second to react.