Chapter 1
I thought I’d found the perfect anniversary gift for my husband Ryan–a rare 16th century Fabergé horse he’d been obsessing over for years
But at the auction, just as I was about to win, a mysterious woman swooped in with an astronomical bid, snatching the prized piece right from under me.
As I left the auction house, defeated, my phone buzzed with a notification: Ryan’s secondary card had just been charged at the auction house–for the exact amount of the Faberge horse.
In a panic, I immediately called the bank and froze his card.
At the collection counter. I watched with grim satisfaction as the beautiful mystery woman was turned away, unable to complete her purchase. Red–faced and humiliated, she fled amid whispers
and snickers from onlookers.
Two weeks later, Ryan and I were off on a vacation abroad. The tension between us had been
palpable since the auction incident, but he insisted this trip would make everything better.
After boarding our flight. I accepted a drink from Ryan. The next thing I knew, darkness enveloped
- me.
Later, I woke up locked in an iron cage. Through my disorientation. I realized I was on some kind of stage, surrounded by well–dressed audience members. The host announced in broken English: “Today we auction this woman. Highest bidder takes her!”
My blood froze when I spotted Ryan sitting in the audience, his eyes cold and vengeful.
“Claire,” he hissed, “you love stealing the spotlight at auctions, don’t you? Tonight, you can have all the attention you want!”
I stared in horror at the sea of faces below me, my scalp tingling with terror. Everyone in the crowd was passing around medical reports–my medical reports–evaluating me like merchandise.
“Look at this woman,” one man said loudly. “She’s been well–maintained. Every organ is healthy. Whether you take her home whole or bid on individual parts for your sick relatives, she’s top quality.”
“I’m surprised Mr. Ryan is willing to part with such a fine specimen. We shouldn’t miss this rare
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Auction Me Off? I’ll Make Him Pay in Blood
Chapter 1
opportunity.”
“I heard she’s Ryan’s wife,” another voice chimed in. “But when you’ve got new arm candy, why keep the old model around?”
Following their meaningful glances, I spotted Ryan among the crowd. Ice flooded my veins.
My body repeatedly slammed against the cage bars as I struggled against my restraints, the violent collisions echoing through the room. My fingernails dug so deep into my palms that blood trickled through my fingers.
Just yesterday, we had been lovingly planning our vacation together.
Now, his “just a friend” Coral–the same woman who had tried to buy the Fabergé horse–was nestled comfortably in his arms, wearing a triumphant smile.
“Ryan, why are you doing this to me?” My voice broke, hoarse with tears.
Ryan lounged casually in his chair, a playful smirk on his face. “My wife is such a class act,” he drawled. “It would be selfish to keep her all to myself. Good things should be shared, don’t you
think?”
The crowd erupted in eager cheers, demanding the auctioneer start the bidding.
Billionaires from various countries gathered around, waving their black paddles frantically in the air, shouting bids for my heart, my kidneys, my liver.
Ryan kissed Coral on the cheek before standing and walking to the stage. He kicked my cage hard, splitting my lip. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.
“Claire,” he said, his beautiful face twisted with malice, “as the sponsor of this auction, I’m giving you a special privilege–the right to bid on yourself. Now you can enjoy stealing the spotlight all you want and feel the same humiliation you put my Coral through!”
His elegant eyes gleamed with mockery and something darker–a deadly intent that made it clear he never planned for me to leave this place alive.
“Go ahead, make the highest bid if you can!” he taunted.
The crowd roared with laughter, craning their necks to watch our exchange.
Someone called out, “What bid could she possibly make? Didn’t you transfer all your joint accounts
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Auction Mo Off) 131 Moko Uim Day in Blood
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Chapter 1
to your name when you arrived, Ryan? Unless you’re willing to loan her some cash, your wife is completely broke.”
Ryan snapped his fingers in mock realization. “Oh my, I completely forgot! Only one person can be registered to each account. Too bad, darling. I need to buy Coral a necklace today, so I really can’t help you out.”
I stared at him in disbelief, unable to comprehend how these words could come from the man I’d loved for eight years.
“You tricked me into coming abroad, drugged me, kidnapped me, and organized this black market auction just to sell me off piece by piece?” My voice shook. “Why, Ryan? Because I froze your card
when Coral was trying to outbid me?”
Ryan stared down at me coldly, savoring my pain.
“Of course. Do you have any idea how helpless Coral felt that day? How she endured all those people
laughing at her? You can endure this too, right?”
With that, he turned his back on me, cutting off any chance for me to respond as he stepped off the
stage.
“Put handcuffs on Ms. Claire and seat her in the audience,” he commanded. “Let her watch herself
descend into the abyss while completely powerless to stop it. That will be truly satisfying.”
Standing below, Coral gave me a wicked wink.
“Don’t worry, Claire. I won’t try to outbid you this time!”
04:44
