At that moment Everyone was stunned by Sofia's motion.
The laughter from earlier faded into murmurs of genuine surprise.
Nobody had expected her to keep bidding—not after the way she had toyed with Mr. Shaw. They had assumed she was only messing with him, not actually interested in buying the necklace.
But now?
She had raised the bid again.
And that changed everything.
Mr. Shaw sat rigidly in his seat, his mind racing. He wasn't sure whether he should continue or not.
He had seen this pattern before.
Sofia didn't lose bids.
She had never backed down in an auction she participated in—not even once.
And she wouldn't start now.
If he continued, he would only be driving the price higher, forcing himself into a battle he couldn't win.
If he backed down, he would look weak, as if he had been scared off.
The weight of the situation settled in.
Sofia wasn't just playing with him anymore—she was making a statement.
