Mr. Perkly’s gaze met hers across the room, his face ashen with disbelief. Panic flickered across his features as he stammered, visibly shaken. Desperately, he called out to the auctioneer, demanding the sale be canceled, hoping for any loophole to undo his loss.
But his pleas fell flat. The auction terms were crystal clear—all sales were final. No exceptions. The truth seemed to crash over him, and his shoulders slumped, the weight of his defeat settling on him as the crowd looked on.