“The auction item is awake! Look at those bright, intelligent eyes; no wonder she’s a high-IQ elite!”
“Let’s get this started quickly. With genes like hers, I must have her!”
As their words sank in, a cold wave of understanding crashed over me, and fear spread like wildfire through my body.
In that moment of utter despair, I cast a desperate, pleading look toward Hugo and Nova, standing on the stage.
I had never done anything to hurt them.
Please, don’t do this to me. Though they both wore masks, I knew it was them.
Our eyes locked, and Nova leaned toward me with a twisted interest, her long, manicured nails tracing my arm. “Damn, such a natural beauty. To use her only as a tool for reproduction, what a waste, don’t you think?”
Hugo only pulled her tighter into his embrace, sneering with disdain. “Such a filthy thing. Does she really think one of these tycoons would want her? Just being able to bear heirs for them is her blessing!”
The laughter swelled, growing louder until it almost split my eardrums.
A strange heat began to spread through my body, feverish, unnatural.
But it was my heart that sank deeper still, sinking beneath the weight of despair that consumed me entirely.
The auction began, and the bidding started.
From five dollars, the price climbed, slowly creeping toward two million.
“I’ve never been to an auction like this in my life. At first, I thought bidding dollars by dollars was tedious, but now? It’s too much fun!”
They eagerly immersed themselves in this twisted game.
Time itself felt like poison, every minute, every second, slowly eating away at my insides.
After a fierce bidding war, the hall suddenly erupted in a chorus of shrieks.
“Oh my god! Someone lit the Sky Lantern! Let’s see who it is; it's President Rossi!”
The entire venue exploded with excitement.
“President Rossi is nearly eighty, yet still so full of life!”
And I, like helpless prey on a butcher’s block, descended deeper into numb despair amid this prolonged torment.
“Now, President Rossi has handed over his unlimited black card to me. Anyone else still bidding?”
“Since it’s unlimited, what’s the point of bidding anymore? Then today’s auction winner is—”
The host, practically bouncing with excitement, raised the hammer, poised to strike.
But just then, the doors of the hall were suddenly smashed open.
“Something’s wrong! Something’s wrong outside—”
Before the messenger could finish, a familiar voice cut through. “Who dares lay a hand on her?!”
