[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-my-sister-stole-my-mate-and-i-let-her":3,"chapter-my-sister-stole-my-mate-and-i-let-her-my-sister-stole-my-mate-and-i-let-her-chapter-428":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","My Sister Stole My Mate, And I Let Her",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},764552,1010,"Chapter 428 THE LOT","my-sister-stole-my-mate-and-i-let-her-chapter-428",428,"\u003Cp>SERAPHINA’S POV\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, nothing happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the silence broke, splintering into low voices that rose and tangled into something sharp, edged with disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is she doing—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—is she insane—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That one—?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The murmurs spread in uneven waves across the tiers. Shadows shifted as bodies leaned forward, interest sharpened not by cruelty this time, but by disruption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t lower my paddle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the center of the pit, the masked figure stilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The handlers hesitated as well, their grip on the girl tightening as if waiting for instruction that hadn’t come yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside me, Kieran went very still, his jaw tightening; his hands curled on his knees, betraying tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sera,” he said under his breath, his voice low enough that it barely carried past me. “What are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t look at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truth? I had no fucking idea what I was doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for some reason, instead of dissuading me, the uproar only cemented my decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Trust me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that I was really listening, the room told me everything it hadn’t before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...that’s her—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—does she not know—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No one touches that one—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words slipped through the noise in fragments, but they were enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The realization assembled itself from the whispers’ tone, the room’s tension, the absence of appetite where there should have been plenty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My gaze stayed on the girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way she stood—unbowed, untouched in ways that didn’t make sense in a place like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way the handlers weren’t hurting her. Not like the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t just another lot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was part of the show.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was a constant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Displayed. Circulated. Offered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And never taken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one was bidding, not because she lacked value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because claiming her would cross a line none of them were willing to touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I had just stepped directly over it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The distorted voice echoed again, though this time it carried something different beneath the modulation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Opening bid acknowledged.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked figure inclined their head, as though reassessing something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do we have...confirmation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t directed at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was directed at the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the invisible structure that governed this place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At whoever was truly in control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension coiled tighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I straightened my arm, holding my paddle high above my head in emphasis, and leaned forward enough to make my voice carry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve placed my bid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ripple of whispers sharpened again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She doesn’t know—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She has to know—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Or she’s dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kieran’s hand brushed mine, not stopping me, not pulling me back, but there—grounding, steady, ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The auctioneer—if that was what the masked figure was—shifted their weight, recovering with practiced ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps,” they said smoothly, “our bidder is...overly eager. It would not be the first time someone mistook the nature of a lot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few low chuckles followed that, thin and humorless. Almost...nervous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let the silence stretch just long enough to make it clear I understood exactly what they were offering. An opening, a way out. A chance to retract without consequence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then I shook my head. “No mistake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The murmurs rose, sharper, louder, no longer bothering to stay contained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s pushing it—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—someone stop her—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—does she think she’s untouchable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The handler’s grip on the girl cinched again, but she didn’t flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze flicked toward me, and through her blank face, I tried to gauge what she was feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fear? Hope? Relief?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked figure stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You understand,” they said, voice still smooth but edged now, “that certain...pieces are not typically acquired through standard bidding procedures.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There it was: The warning, wrapped in civility. The line, drawn without being spoken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t recall any stated restrictions,” I said evenly. “Or is this an auction that only pretends to follow its own rules?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shift in the room—not loud this time, but deeper. More ominous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kieran’s presence at my side hardened. His body leaned toward me, gaze sweeping for threats—protective, on edge. Not intervening, but ready to defend if necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked figure did not move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, I thought they might push back. Might shut this down altogether.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, they spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rules,” they said, almost thoughtfully. “Are...flexible. Contextual.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then consider this context,” I replied, my voice steady, unhurried. “I placed the opening bid. No one else has contested it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swept my gaze across the tiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No paddles raised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No voices spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked back at the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So unless there’s another buyer,” I continued, “this lot is mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words settled into the space between us as the tension stretched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then stretched further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in that space, I made my decision fully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No backing down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever this girl was tied to—whoever she belonged to—I was not stepping away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not after seeing what this place was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not after understanding what she represented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this was a line, then I would erase it completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked figure exhaled slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, louder:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The word cut through the chamber, clean and final.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I lowered my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside me, Kieran let out a breath I hadn’t realized he’d been holding. His posture loosened, relief flickering across his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well,” he murmured, “so much for incognito.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My bad,” I murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next,” the masked figure said, turning back to the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d like to pay for my lot and leave now,” I called out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another ripple went through the crowd, and the masked figure turned back to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s customary to wait till the auction is completed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shrugged. \"Rules are flexible, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another tense silence ensued, and I bet if I could see their eyes, they would be blazing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very well.” I could have sworn they were gritting their teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The handlers moved immediately. One of them approached us, head inclined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Payment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I reached into my cloak, already prepared, and handed over what was required without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The handler accepted it with a short nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Follow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t look back, didn’t give the room the satisfaction of seeing anything in my expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kieran fell into step beside me without a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind us, the auction resumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As though nothing had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As though the line I had crossed had never existed at all.\u003C\u002Fp>",1029,"2026-06-03T02:27:49.405Z",1,"novelbin.me","c1c0a8e2ae21da93f0e39081000cdae4304ad5312964f892228c4c4b79575f7b","my-sister-stole-my-mate-and-i-let-her-chapter-429","my-sister-stole-my-mate-and-i-let-her-chapter-427",488,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-sister-stole-my-mate-and-i-let-her-cover.jpg"]