Chapter 277: The Auction 2
Lara blinked, forcing a small smile.
"I’m fine," she assured him softly.
Her gaze drifted to the sleek smartwatch wrapped around her wrist. The glowing display confirmed what she already knew.
"There’s still plenty of time before the auction begins," she said. "I’m just going to get some fresh air."
Ares studied her for a brief moment before giving a quiet nod. Without another word, he watched as she crossed the ballroom toward the tall glass doors that opened onto the hotel’s side garden.
The moment Lara stepped outside, a cool evening breeze greeted her, carrying the delicate fragrance of blooming roses, jasmine and freshly trimmed hedges.
The noise of the gala faded behind her, replaced by the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant trickle of a marble fountain. Soft golden lights hidden among the flowerbeds cast a warm glow over the winding stone paths, transforming the garden into something almost dreamlike. Whoever had designed the landscape had created more than a garden—it felt like a secluded sanctuary tucked away from the glittering extravagance inside.
Hidden beneath the shadows of a towering oak tree, Aquilo watched her in silence.
She stood with her back to him, her white gown shimmering beneath the moonlight. For a fleeting moment, she looked like a bride waiting beneath the stars.
It was hard to believe she was the same girl who had once marched beside them in oversized fatigues, her youthful determination making up for what she lacked in experience. Back then, she had been all sharp edges and stubborn courage—a spirited teenager desperate to prove she belonged among seasoned operatives.
Time had been kind to her.
That determined girl had blossomed into a woman of breathtaking elegance without losing the quiet strength he had always admired.
Aquilo glanced down at the tailored tuxedo he wore. The crisp collar felt suffocating, and every polished button reminded him how out of place he was in clothes meant for gentlemen rather than soldiers.
Still...
He had endured the discomfort for one simple, almost foolish hope—that before the night ended, he might gather enough courage to ask her for a single dance.
His hand slipped into his pocket, retrieving his phone almost on instinct.
He opened the gallery.
Photograph after photograph filled the screen, each one capturing a different version of Lara from years gone by. She was laughing after a successful mission, frowning over maps spread across a table, teasing the team around a campfire, her hair tied back beneath a military cap. In every picture, she was still so young—a flower not yet in bloom.
His thumb hovered over the latest image before he looked up at the woman standing beneath the moonlight.
The girl in those photographs was gone.
In her place stood someone radiant, graceful, and heartbreakingly beautiful.
And somehow, despite all the years that had passed, looking at her still made his heart race as though it were the very first time.
...
Lara stood in silence, her thoughts drifting as she watched the artificial fireflies scattered throughout the garden. Their tiny golden lights floated lazily among the flowers, creating the illusion of stars that had descended to earth.
A faint, unfamiliar scent suddenly invaded her olfactory senses. Before she could identify it, a heavy hand settled on her shoulder.
Years of training took over.
In one fluid motion, Lara seized the wrist, pivoted on her heel, and twisted the arm into a painful lock.
A sharp gasp escaped her assailant.
Almost instantly, three dark figures materialized from the shadows, their movements swift and practiced as they surrounded them.
At the same moment, Aquilo emerged from the darkness beside Lara. One hand rested on the concealed pistol beneath his coat while the other remained free, ready to react at a moment’s notice.
"Let him go!"
The command came from one of the men dressed in black, his voice low and threatening.
Before the situation could escalate, Anton raised a hand.
"Stand down."
The bodyguards obeyed without hesitation. They melted back into the darkness, disappearing behind manicured hedges, sculpted shrubs, and stone rockeries as though they had never been there.
Anton let out a quiet chuckle despite the discomfort of his trapped arm.
"I didn’t realize Miss Reyes possessed such impressive reflexes," he said with a teasing smile. His gaze shifted toward Aquilo. "Nor did I expect the gallant Colonel Vibora to appear out of thin air."
His tone was light, but the irritation beneath it was unmistakable.
Aquilo met his gaze without flinching.
"It is our duty to ensure the safety of every guest, Mr. Trillo."
Anton slowly rubbed his wrist once Lara released him.
His jaw tightened.
For a fleeting second, something dark flashed across his face before it disappeared behind his practiced smile.
Colonel.
The title struck deeper than Aquilo could have known.
It had once belonged to Anton. It was a rank he had fought to earn... and one he could never reclaim.
"Oh?" Anton said, arching a brow. "Are you implying that I intended to harm Miss Reyes?"
His stare hardened into the kind that had reduced servants and subordinates to trembling silence.
Aquilo, however, remained perfectly composed.
Years in uniform had taught him not to be intimidated by powerful men.
"I made no such accusation, Mr. Trillo," he replied evenly. "Your men appeared without warning. Given their movements, it was reasonable to consider them a potential threat."
"They’re my security detail," Anton answered coolly. "They’re here to protect me."
The two men held each other’s gaze.
Neither looked away.
The night air seemed to grow colder as an invisible battle unfolded between them—one fought not with weapons, but with pride, authority, and unspoken history.
At last, Anton was the first to break the silence.
"I merely wished to admire the jewelry Miss Reyes is wearing up close," he said, a faint, patronizing smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I find those pieces... quite fascinating and will definitely bid for them."
His eyes lingered on the necklace resting against Lara’s fair skin, the diamonds catching the glow of the garden lights. There was something unsettling in his gaze—as though he were studying more than the jewels themselves.
"Besides," he continued, shifting his attention back to her face, "I’ve heard that Miss Reyes was the one who discovered the treasure."
The words were spoken lightly, yet they carried the weight of an accusation disguised as admiration.
His gaze remained on Lara for a heartbeat longer than courtesy allowed before drifting once more to the brilliant diamonds adorning her neck. A shadow passed through his eyes, gone almost as quickly as it appeared.
Aquilo noticed.
Without a word, he stepped forward, placing himself just enough between Anton and Lara to break the older man’s line of sight.
It was a subtle movement—one that could easily be mistaken for coincidence.
But there was nothing accidental about it.
It was a silent reminder that Lara was under his protection.
And a warning that Anton understood perfectly.
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