4
Ayana’s POV
By the time night fell, I staggered back home.
Stellan’s cruelty had already sealed my resolve. I would have my revenge.
Over the years, I had built some connections within the Breitbart Corporation. They might not look like much on the surface, but sometimes, the information they gathered could be fatal.
With that thought in mind, I began laying out a plan for revenge to be carried out six days later.
One by one, messages were sent out.
Then, unexpectedly, a girl on the inside hesitated before sending me something.
[Mrs. Breitbart, I don’t know if this news is true or not, but I think you should take a look.]
The next second, a file came through—an auction listing.
And among the items for sale… were private photos of me!
My hand clenched around my phone. My eyes widened in disbelief as I stared at the screen.
Another notification popped up. This time, it was from Zella.
Her tone was still as playful as ever, but her words cut like poison.
[Bestie, for the sake of old times, I’ll give you a little reminder. Your private photos are now being openly auctioned across several houses. If you want to buy them back, you’d better withdraw the lawsuit. Honestly, though, I think it might already be too late.]
At the end of her message was a cheeky, tongue-out emoji.
My blood ran cold. I nearly blacked out on the spot.
I quickly dispatched people to different auction houses while I myself rushed straight to the largest one.
By the time I arrived, they were already auctioning off my photos.
To prove authenticity, a massive screen displayed one of me in a swimsuit—my neck still marked all over with the bruises Stellan had left behind.
That photo… had been taken by Stellan himself!
My entire body trembled with rage. I tried to rush forward, but security blocked my path.
From the audience, a man smirked at me, his voice laced with mockery.
“Who would’ve thought Stellan’s wife had such a figure? To be so bold, putting her private photos up for sale—oh, this is going to be interesting.”
Another laughed loudly.
“I just wonder if, after tonight, she will go home to Stellan, breaking her legs or kicking her out. If that happens, I wouldn’t mind taking her off his hands for a little fun.”
Their words, their stares… They were sharp as arrows, piercing straight through my chest.
And at that moment, I understood. All these photos… had been given out by Stellan.
With trembling hands, I raised my bidding paddle again and again, desperate to reclaim even a shred of my dignity.
At last, after pushing the price higher and higher without care, I managed to win them back.
But just as I prepared to leave, staff members blocked my way. Polite smiles thinly veiled their disdain.
“Ma’am, this card has an empty balance.”
My heart thundered painfully in my chest.
So this was how far Stellan was willing to go. Was he truly determined to destroy me?
Hands shaking, I pulled out another card. These were all accounts he had given me after our marriage. I rarely touched them—since I had my own income—but I knew they should contain money.
The card reader beeped twice. The staff’s eyes grew even more disdainful as they handed it back.
I couldn’t hold back anymore. I dialed Stellan.
“Stellan, did you take all the money out of my cards?”
On the other end came the sound of heavy breathing. Behind him, faint and clear, was Zella’s coquettish laughter.
I didn’t need anyone to explain what they were doing.
Fury blazed through me, hot enough to burn them both to ash.
Stellan’s voice came, smooth yet impatient.
“Darling, I told you—the company’s in trouble. I figured you didn’t need the money, so I withdrew it. I had no idea Zella would put your photos out there. Don’t worry—as long as you agree to withdraw the lawsuit, even if the company collapses, I’ll still buy those pictures back for you.”
I was about to speak, but suddenly his breathing grew sharper, quicker, rushed.
“Ayana, I’m still working hard for your brother’s case here. Think it over, or borrow money from someone if you must. I’ll hang up now.”
He ended the call in haste, eager to lose himself again in Zella’s embrace.
Moments later, Zella sent me dozens of photos of her and Stellan together, accompanied by all the taunts she had thrown at me before.
I saved them—every single one.
The man I was staring at… was no longer the Stellan I once knew.
Or perhaps, I had never truly seen him for who he was.
My nails dug into my palms until blood seeped out, my gaze fixed on the photos being returned to the auction platform.
Below, the men jeered at me before resuming their bids as if nothing had happened.
My contacts who had gone to other auction houses also called, their voices heavy with guilt.
Because Stellan had frozen my accounts, they hadn’t managed to buy a single photo.
I stood frozen in place, watching as the images were purchased by a mysterious buyer.
And in that moment, I felt a strange relief.
As long as those photos didn’t end up in the hands of those filthy men, I could finally breathe again.
As for everything else… I no longer cared.
