My Beloved Has Risen from Death’s Embrace

It was a bustling Wednesday at the Nexus Museum, a galaxy of talented people as renowned directors, investors, and entertainment moguls arrived with their celebrities in tow for the auction. The riverside was packed with hundreds of luxury cars.

Guided by Ryan, Xanthea entered the auction hall and took a seat in the third row alongside Matthew and Miranda.

“Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, welcome to the annual online literary rights auction hosted by the Cultural Bureau. The auction will officially start at eleven o’clock. Before we begin, please feel free to browse through the catalogues provided.”

Xanthea attentively flipped through the auction booklet. As she did, a butterfly hair clip loosely fixed by her ear quietly slipped from her long hair to the floor.

“Xan.” Matthew picked it up, gently lifting a curl of her hair, “Your clip fell. Let me put it back for you.”

“Thanks.”

Xanthea tugged her lips softly, tuming her face slightly when suddenly a commotion arose from the entrance of the pavilion.

“Mr. Lockwood is here!”

“What? Mr. Lockwood graced us with his presence today? I wonder which script caught his eye?”

“It’s got to be one of the top ten IPs. Everyone in the film industry knows they are hot commodities. There are countless extraordinary actors and actresses, and with Starlight Media owning half of them and their roster of big stars, they wouldn’t miss out on such a

resource!”

“Looks like the competition will be fierce today.”

As Xanthea looked up, she saw a group of staff escorting a figure of regal and elegant demeanor.

Orion? What was he doing here? Following him were Isabella, Shirley, and other key artists from Starlight Media.

Was he also here to bid for IPs for his artists?

As Orion stepped into the auction hall, his gaze immediately cut through the crowd to a striking young woman sitting by the aisle. Her eyes sparkled, dimples lightly showing, as she playfully smiled at the man beside her twirling her hair.

Her dazzling smile was like a piercing light, shooting straight into the depths of his eyes, forming an icy grip in the darkest comers. As Cedric, who followed Orion, stepped into the hall, he felt as if he had walked from a sunny day into an ice cave. All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Following Orion’s gaze, he too caught the moment.

Had he known Ms. Nightshade would be here with Matthew to bid, he would have kept it to himself. Now, he really had messed things

1. up.

As Isabella entered the hall, she waved cheerfully at the flashing cameras and photographers, effortlessly posing. Turning her head. casually, she spotted Xanthea in the third row

What was she doing here? Was she also bidding on the top ten IPs? Seemed she got the memo quickly and was ready to act

Unfortunately, she wasn’t going to let Xanthea have her way!

Today, those top IPs were a must–win for Starlight Media. Whatever Xanthea set her eyes on, she was prepared to compete fiercely. As Orion passed by the aisle, Xanthea stood up excitedly to greet him, but he seemed not to notice her, his expression cold, even his broad–shouldered suit radiating a frosty air of “stay away from me“, making her outstretched hand freeze mid–air.

There she was, in her bright lilac dress, and yet so easily overlooked?

As she awkwardly began to retract her hand, a perfectly manicured hand suddenly reached out and grabbed hers. Isabella held on tightly, her smile cold, “Xanthea, so you say you weren’t trying to charm our chairman? Caught you