Chapter 3
The host’s anger silenced everyone.
I was fitted with handcuffs by the staff. Keeping my spine straight, I stumbled my way to the water basin outside the door.
Only when the cold water touched my wounded hands did the tension in my muscles finally release.
I collapsed beside the basin, completely drained.
The tears I’d been holding back for so long finally poured down my face.
My phone was still in my pocket, but all the money in my accounts had been transferred out–the balance showed exactly zero dollars.
If someone bought me tonight, I couldn’t even imagine the torture that awaited me.
They might use me until they grew bored, then dismember me and sell my parts. I’d never know peace, even in death.
And my mother–who had been in a vegetative state since her car accident and was still in the hospital back home–would lose her medical care when I died. She would pass away in utter desperation.
With nowhere left to turn, I finally made my decision.
Gritting my teeth, I opened the encrypted email app on my phone and accessed a contact I hadn’t used in years.
The rushing water splashed against the stone basin walls while an eerie silence surrounded me. This dilapidated place felt like it concealed monstrous demons, ready to leap out and tear me to pieces.
I clicked “send” on the encrypted message, then let my hand drop heavily.
Five minutes later, I dragged myself and my chains back to the auction room. When I pushed open the door, everyone turned to look at me with excitement.
Some faces showed surprise, others mockery, and many displayed impatient anticipation.
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Auction Me Off? i’ll Make Him Pay in Blood
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Chapter 3
Ryan was holding a cigarette between his fingers, momentarily shrouded in smoke that briefly masked his inscrutable expression.
He then pulled Coral closer and glanced sideways at me, enunciating each word clearly: “Baby, I
love you. That’s why anyone who dares to hurt you will pay the price!”
I walked back to my seat without a sideways glance, leaving a trail of bloody footprints on the floor.
My voice, raspy and broken, announced: “Let’s begin now.”
The room buzzed with excitement.
The auctioneer looked questioningly at Ryan.
He smirked and nodded. “Since Claire is so eager, let’s officially start.”
The lights in the auction hall shifted. The first item appeared on the big screen: my hands.
Every inch from wrist to fingernail was captured in high–definition detail, with even the pores clearly visible.
Absurdly, my right hand still wore the 10–carat wedding ring.
It was like a Shakespearean tragedy, forcing everyone to witness my pathetic situation.
Sitting there, I felt worse than dead.
Ryan chose this moment to move next to me, with Coral on his arm. He leaned close to my ear and whispered: “We’ve been married a long time. Coral is generous–if you apologize to her and agree to divorce me with nothing, I’ll help you just this once.”
A cold smile formed on my lips.
So he didn’t just want my life; he wanted to steal our joint assets too.
Then he’d play the victim of a failed marriage and publicly marry his mistress.
I remained silent, answering his provocation with nothing.
Then the bidding started.
“Ms. Reed’s hands, starting bid five million, increments of one million.”
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Auction Me Off? I’ll Make Him Pay in Blood
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Chapter 3
Immediately, paddles shot up across the room, quickly driving the price to twenty million.
Ryan’s voice continued beside me: “Think carefully, baby. Soon it’ll be too late.”
The bidders were leaning forward now, eyes greedily fixed on my clenched fists, waiting for the
final hammer.
That’s when I, who had been silent all this time, slowly raised my hand.
My eyes were filled with desperate determination.
I spoke with unwavering resolve: “I place the highest bid!”
04.44
