"Mum!" Alan shouted, immediately spotting his mother sobbing silently against the wall. He rushed to her side, and seeing the fresh bruises on her face, his anger flared.
"Who did this to you, Mum?" he questioned, boiling with rage.
Mrs. Mira wiped her tears, staring at her son as she forced a smile. "What... what are you doing here, Alan?" she asked, her eyes fixed on him.
Alan clenched his fists tightly. "That b— Dora told me she sent you here. I rushed over immediately, worried you might be injured, and I was right," he said.
Mrs. Mira chuckled softly. "Don’t say that... Luckily, I met a girl about your age. Not only did she help me out, but she also gave me a pill. She’s such a sweet girl. You should make friends with her; she’s probably still around here," she said.
Alan clenched his fists even tighter. He supported his mother so she could stand on her feet and stared straight into her eyes.
"Mum... even after this, are you still not convinced that heartless man never cared for you? Why don’t you just let go of him?" he questioned, his blue eyes brimming with tears.
Mrs. Mira opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out for a long time. "He... he..." Two tears escaped her eyes as Nova’s words repeated in her head. ’Some pain isn’t worth enduring.’
She almost lost her balance, but thanks to Alan’s quick reaction, he caught her before she could fall.
"Mum... you’ve been a slave to both father and daughter, but they never treat you like a human being. They don’t even care about your feelings. Mum, can you please wake up and forget him?" he pleaded.
Mrs. Mira took a deep breath. "I’m sorry, son. I used my feelings to hold you back. I shouldn’t have dragged you into this. I’m sorry," she whispered, closing her eyes. "I shouldn’t let my problems with him hold you back. When we get home, I’ll ask for a separation. That way, you will be free," she said, opening her eyes and staring into Alan’s eyes, smiling warmly.
Alan remained silent, knowing that his mother wasn’t entirely ready to give up on Mr. Halka, but she had at least taken a bold step for the first time in years.
"Let’s go to the hospital first, Mum," Alan said.
Mrs. Mira shook her head. "No need... I forgot to ask that little girl’s name. She said she could treat me, but you can help me look for her. She has blue eyes just like yours, extremely long black hair, and she was wearing a hoodie," she described.
Hearing the description, the image of Nova flashed in his mind. He lightly shook his head and smiled at his mother. "Alright, Mum. Let’s get out of here first," he said.
Mrs. Mira nodded, allowing Alan to support her as they walked out.
Inside the main auction hall, Nova glanced toward the entrance. Seeing Alan escorting his mother out, a low, dark smile appeared on her face.
"Of course you’ll have your revenge on him, but I’ll show him hell first," she thought, her eyes glowing with a dangerous light for a split second before she walked up to Cassian, who had been waiting for her, and sat beside him.
"I’ve missed you so much already," seeing Nova, Cassian immediately pulled her into a tight hug.
Nova rolled her eyes and chuckled. "The auction is about to start. Be serious," she murmured, noticing the crowd had grown significantly since she left.
Cassian’s smile brightened as he lifted Nova effortlessly, setting her right on his lap. "I just can’t be serious around you. What do I do? How about you give me a kiss? I might be serious for a minute," he whispered.
Nova rolled her eyes once again, noticing everyone staring at them, and sighed. "Don’t be serious then. You’ll be trending online by tomorrow, I can guarantee that, the headline will be...’the almighty mafia don is being childish at the auction" she said.
"That’s not a bad idea. No one will recognize me anyway," Cassian replied with confidence.
Nova laughed. "With that half-mask of yours? Only those who aren’t familiar with you won’t recognize you. Anyone with a brain who is familiar with you could tell your identity at a glance," she snorted mockingly.
"Darling..." Cassian pouted, completely roasted by Nova’s words. "They might not recognize me," he argued.
"Cassian!" a familiar voice echoed behind them. "You are here too? What a coincidence!"
Dora came into view, staring at Cassian with a gentle smile on her lips.
Cassian’s jaw dropped as he stared at Nova.
Nova shrugged, laughing silently as she stared back at him. "She just proved my point," she commented.
Hearing Nova’s voice, Dora finally noticed her. She looked over, only to be struck with terror when she locked eyes with Nova’s striking gaze.
Her heart quickened in panic, but she immediately took a deep breath, trying to regain her calm. She forced a smile on her face as she looked at Nova.
"We meet again, Mrs. Nova," she said.
Nova stared at her for a long moment, her smile never fading. "Miss Dora should relax. Don’t be so tense; it’s bad for your health," she said, her smile growing wider and darker.
Dora clenched her fists tightly together. "Thank you for your concern, Mrs. Nova... I... I won’t disturb you anymore. I shall take my leave," she said, hurrying back to take her seat while casting a look at Nova that was a volatile mix of fear and hatred.
Nova completely ignored her.
"My wife is so cool," Cassian commented proudly, playing with Nova’s fingers.
Nova chuckled. "I simply couldn’t handle you if I wasn’t cool," she replied.
"Mhm?" Cassian’s eyes widened with instant interest, his gaze fixed on Nova. "Do you mean in bed? Should we go for a few rounds when we get home?" he whispered, excitement filling his voice.
Nova stared at him in disbelief. "What are you saying? I didn’t mean that—" Nova couldn’t finish her statement before Cassian pressed a kiss to her lips, grinning happily like a young boy who was experiencing love for the very first time.
Nova could only sigh helplessly.
On the other side of the VIP section, Dora watched Nova and Cassian looking so happy and affectionate. She couldn’t help clenching her fists until her knuckles turned white.
"I was supposed to be the reason behind his smile! I’m supposed to be the one in that position you’re currently in, Nova! Just you wait," she thought, her eyes burning with hatred.
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Black Auction House. The rules of the Black Auction House remain absolute: anyone who violates any rule will face only one guaranteed fate—death. Now, let the auction begin!"
A hostess dressed sharply in a crisp white shirt and a tight skirt announced from the stage. Immediately following her announcement, the overhead lights went dark, leaving only a sharp, single spotlight shining down on the center stage.