Maybe it was because I asked for a divorce—and Lennon simply could not accept that.In the days that followed,he changed.Almost as if he were trying to win me back.
He secured an invitation to the most prestigious auction in California and told me he was bringing me with him.
The venue was nothing short of breathtaking.Celebrities,politicians and business tycoons mingled in designer gowns and tailored suits,sipping champagne and trading smiles.
Lennon stood beside me,usually affectionate.He placed a warm hand on the small of my back,leaned in close and whispered into my ear.
"Whatever you want tonight,it’s yours."
I gave him a faint smile and said nothing.
Then,just as the next item was about to be introduced,the massive auction screen flickered.And in an instant,the feed switched.
A single image appeared.An image of me.
My hair tangled.My body was limp and exposed.Unconscious.
Gasps echoed through the room like breaking glass.
"What the hell is this?"Lennon shot to his feet,his face draining of color,then quickly reddening with fury.
The host scrambled to regain control,but the screen only grew more grotesque—photo after photo,each one faked but disturbingly convincing.Then,a shaky video.
"Oh my god…isn’t that Meredith Shepherd?"
"I always thought she was so elegant.No one could ever imagine she did something like that behind closed doors.
The whispers came like a storm,crashing into me from all directions.My skin went cold.I felt as though I had been plunged into a frozen lake.
None of it was real.I knew it.
But who would do something this cruel?
Then I turned my head and there she was.Winona Myers.
She stood at the back of the room,holding a glass of wine,her lips curled into a smirk.Slowly,deliberately,she mouthed the words,"You’re finished."
"Mr.Shepherd,please,we’re so sorry—"The auction manager rushed over,drenched in sweat as he tried to explain.
Lennon grabbed the man by the collar,his voice erupting.
"Shut it down!Now!Or I’ll make sure this place never hosts another event again!"
The man nodded frantically and ran to the control booth.
However,the damage was done.
Lennon turned back to me with eyes colder than ever."Meredith,what the hell else are you hiding from me?"
I tried to speak,but my throat locked up.No sound came out.
Slap!
This time,the blow was harder than before,knocking me clean to the floor.
My ears rang.My mouth filled with blood.I tasted iron as red droplets dripped onto the soft,pale carpet beneath me.
Lennon looked down at me,his voice filled with nothing but loathing.
"You really disgust me."
Then he turned,plucked a flash drive from his pocket and threw it to a nearby waiter.
"Forget the finale piece,"he barked."Play this instead.A lovely little video of Meredith Evans screwing a homeless guy."
I stayed unmoved.I stayed crumpled on the floor,blood pooling at the corner of my lips,as laughter filled the room—sharp,delighted,merciless.
"Oh my god...she was really doing that with a homeless man?"
"Tch,no wonder Lennon hasn’t brought her to any public events lately.Turns out he knew she was trash all along."
"A woman like that should be thrown into a cage like a wild animal."
I clenched the carpet beneath me.My nails dug into my palms so deeply I felt the skin tear.
On the massive screen,doctored images and faked footage looped endlessly—Lennon’s twisted production,designed to portray me as some depraved woman assaulted by vagrants.Every frame crushed me under the weight of shame.
And Lennon just stood there,watching it all without a flicker of remorse.Never once asking for the truth.
He had already chosen his version of the story—and the role I would play in it.
"Mr.Shepherd,the finale piece has been removed.You may display…whatever you wish."
The auctioneer handed over the remote control with shaking hands.
Lennon took the remote from him,towering above me like a god of judgment,his eyes cold and gleaming with a cruel glint.
"Meredith,"he said,"since you like attention so much,let me give you all of it."
He pressed the button and the next video began to play.
Something worse than humiliation.A new level of hell.
It showed me surrounded by filthy men,their bodies grotesquely close,violating the image of me with staged,degrading movements.
The audience erupted in horror.
"Oh god!This is sick!"
"Poor Mr.Shepherd…married to that?How did he stand it for so long?"
My whole body shook.I could not even see clearly anymore through the tears clouding my vision.
I knew the footage was fake—Winona had it made.I knew that.
Yet,I knew,no one wanted the truth.
Lennon did not even want justice.
He wanted to destroy me,making my life feel like hell.
Then the auctioneer spoke again,voice rising above the chaos."Ladies and gentlemen,tonight’s final item is…rather special."
"Mr.Shepherd here has decided to auction off his wife,Meredith Evans."
What—?
My head snapped up.I stared at him,not sure I had heard it right.
Lennon actually wanted to...auction me?
"The starting bid is one dollar,"Lennon said,his voice calm and cruel."Because frankly,that’s all she’s worth."
The room burst into roaring laughter.Dozens of mocking eyes bored into me,stripping me bare.
I bit down on my lip so hard I tasted blood.
This was the man I once loved.
This was the reward for every sacrifice I had ever made.
Slowly,I rose to my feet.
I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth…and I smiled.
"Let me show you what I’m worth."
The words were quiet,but the whole room went dead silent.
"Mrs.Shepherd,"the auctioneer asked cautiously,"are you sure?We’ll have to verify your capital."
I nodded,forcing down the pain clawing at my chest.
"But first,I need to make a call."
The line rang once.Twice.
Then a voice came through,warm,familiar,gentle.I almost broke just hearing it.
"Can I borrow some money?"I asked."And…remember when you said you wanted to have a child with me?I’m ready now."
