After what felt like an eternity of spiraling thoughts, Ethan shook his head firmly, as if physically dismissing the idea.


    He couldn''t believe he would even think of such, knowing fully well how how ruthless the circle can be, and he doesn''t seedy Madison as one of them.


    She has never been in contact with the silver before, even though the sliver were just disciple to one of them circle member.


    However the thought ofdy Madison was still on his mind and wondered what if the men he meet the other day wheredy Madison disciple.


    At that moment even though he tried to believe and see if truly he needed to be careful.


    But then he couldn''t believe the thought and decided to ignore it.


    "Grandma isn''t part of the circle, he told himself. She''s smart, strategic, and maybe even maniptive at times, but she''s not involved in something like that."


    That was his conclusion he chose to believe, for now.


    Then he decided to to enter thepany again.


    With a steadying breath, Ethan started his car and shifted his focus. There was an auction he had nned to attend, and it was time to redirect his energy. He had his sights set on a rare red gemstone ne—a perfect gift for Serenity''s grandmother''s birthday party, which was happeningter that day. He knew the ne would stand out, a piece worthy of marking the asion.


    The drive to the auction hall was smooth, the city''s streets bustling with midday energy. When he arrived, the grandeur of the auction venue loomed before him. Thepound was spacious, filled with sleek cars and meticulously dressed individuals who were undoubtedly there for the same reason as Ethan.


    As Ethan approached the building in his car, a security checkpoint came into view.@@novelbin@@


    At that moment he slowed to a stop, rolling down his window as one of the guards stepped up. The man, dressed in a crisp uniform, gave Ethan a once-over before speaking.


    "Invitation?" the guard asked curtly, his expression unreadable.


    Immediately Ethan handed over the sleek card he had received, its embossed lettering catching the light.


    Upon collecting the card the guard examined it for a moment, then nodded, signaling for Ethan to proceed.


    But as Ethan moved forward, he noticed something odd. A group of men approached the entrance on foot.


    They were dressed sharply, their demeanor confident, but the security guards didn''t stop them. The men walked past the checkpoint as if it wasn''t there, their interactions with the guards limited to just polite nods.


    Ethan frowned slightly, his instincts immediately alert.


    "Who are they?" he wondered. They didn''t seem like ordinary attendees. Their presence felt deliberate, almost calcted. He parked his car and stepped out, adjusting his suit jacket as his eyes followed the group.


    As Ethan walked toward the grand entrance, his mind flickered back to the stories he''d heard about high-profile auctions.


    They weren''t just about rare items—they were hubs for power yers, ces where influence and connections were as valuable as the items on the block.


    At that moment Ethan straightened his posture, his calm demeanor hiding the questions swirling in his mind.


    "Let''s see how this unfolds," he thought as he approached the auction hall.


    At that moment Ethan''s calm demeanor barely masked the irritation simmering beneath as he gestured toward the men who had entered freely.


    "Why weren''t they stopped?" he asked, his tone sharp enough to make the security guards shift ufortably.


    At that moment One of them, clearly the senior among the group, stepped forward.


    "That''s Robert Wesley," he said, his voice almost reverent.


    "He''s one of the top names in the business world. We don''t need his invitation card to know who he is."


    Upon hearing what the man just said.


    Ethan''s eyes narrowed slightly. Before he could respond, Robert Wesley himself turned around, his confident stride bringing him closer.


    He was the epitome of wealth and power—his tailored suit, the casual air of superiority, and the faint smirk ying on his lips made it clear he was ustomed to people knowing their ce around him.


    At that moment Wesley''s eyes swept over Ethan, sizing him up in a single nce.


    "You should search him," he said to the guards, his tone dismissive, as though Ethan were an afterthought. "Make sure everything''s in order. Thest thing we need is a thief sneaking into the auction."


    Upon hearing Wesley word''s the guards hesitated, visibly caught between their obligation to follow orders and the tension they felt radiating from Ethan. As if to punctuate Wesley''smand, he added, "It''s for everyone''s safety, after all." His smirk deepened, a thinly veiled taunt.


    The security men, now visibly nervous, saluted Ethan awkwardly, unsure of how to proceed.


    Ethan''s jaw clenched, his knuckles tightening briefly, but his expression remainedposed. He wasn''t about to let someone like Wesley get under his skin.


    Not that he didn''t know who was who, and definitely the circle will be looking for the Godly Investor now.


    Without a word, Ethan reached into his pocket. His movements were slow, deliberate, calcted. All eyes were on him as he pulled out his invitation card. The sleek ck card caught the light, the embossed gold lettering shimmering faintly.


    The moment the guards saw it, their expressions changed. Their earlier confidence drained away, reced by shock and a hint of fear. At that moment the senior guard''s mouth opened slightly, his eyes darting between the card and Ethan''s impassive face. This wasn''t just an ordinary invitation—it was a level of exclusivity even they weren''t ustomed to seeing.


    Immediately Ethan extended the card toward the senior guard, his calm gaze holding steady.


    The guard hesitated before taking it, his hands trembling slightly as if the card itself carried the weight of Ethan''s unspoken power.


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    The silence stretched for a moment, broken only by the faint sound of Wesley scoffing.


    "A fancy card doesn''t mean anything," he said, though the tension in his voice betrayed a flicker of unease.


    Still Ethan didn''t respond. Instead, he locked eyes with the guard, who quickly returned the card with a shaky salute.


    The ck card had spoken volumes, and Ethan didn''t need to say a single word.