Clutching the freshly acquired auction piece, I, Olivia Hayes, a top-tier global operative, was poised for extraction when my world shattered. Across the hall, at another auction, my daughter hung suspended from the dais, her limbs bound by iron chains. The colossal screen behind her blared: "Lot #17: Chloe Hayes – Exclusive Rights." Her three childhood friends, flanked by a frail-looking girl, closed in, their faces twisted into sneering grins. “What’s wrong, Ms. Hayes? Run out of cash? Why aren't you bidding?” “Last time, you pushed Tiffany down the stairs over some cheap necklace. Today, it’s your turn to suffer.” The crowd below erupted in jeers, someone maliciously raising the bid. “Take one piece off, I’ll add a million!” “Why not just strip her bare for inspection? What if she’s a fake, hahaha!” “Ms. Hayes, beg me! Beg me, and I’ll buy your night!” Standing on the second floor, my knuckles gleamed white. For years, I’d been on missions, my hands stained with enough blood to fill a river, yet never in my darkest nightmares did I imagine my daughter would be reduced to a commodity, priced and displayed on an auction block. Excellent. They’ve touched my family. I’ll make them understand what it means to wish for death. 1 The auction manager's breath hitched. “Ms. Hayes, I’ll halt the auction immediately! They will apologize to you!” My gaze, colder than arctic ice, swept over the assembled faces. “Why the rush? Let them keep bidding. The higher the price, the cheaper their lives become.” Not a single one of them would escape. Below, Ethan Miller’s voice cut through the clamor, sharp and cold. “Chloe Hayes, if you apologize to Tiffany, we might just let you off the hook this time.” “Otherwise, we don’t mind letting everyone enjoy a little slideshow.” My daughter, defiant, lifted her head, tears shimmering in her eyes. Ethan watched her pale face, a cruel smirk twisting his lips. “Still clinging to that high horse, even with death staring you down? Don’t blame me for getting rough.” The moment his words died, the massive screen flickered to life. Dozens of photos flashed across the display, each showing Chloe disheveled, her eyes glazed and distant. “Whoa, who knew! Ms. Hayes has quite the figure!” “Tsk, that skin, so fair and tender, I’d die happy on it. Don’t you dare outbid me! Another million!” “Only Mr. Miller is generous enough to share such good stuff with us.” Amidst the torrent of vile words, Chloe’s eyes burned crimson. “When I get out of here, I’ll tear every single one of you apart.” Noah Davis, arm draped around the girl named Tiffany, scoffed. “Please, by the time you get out, you’ll be used goods! And then we’ll ship you off to Europe!” “You pushed Tiffany down the stairs over a necklace – why didn’t you think about a day like this?” Tiffany Vance, nestled between the three men, suddenly began to sob. “No, Noah, you’ve got it all wrong. Last time… last time she didn’t mean to push me. I… I just fell.” At her words, Zane Evans’ brow furrowed. “Chloe, Tiffany just wanted to borrow your necklace, and you shoved her down a flight of stairs.” “Now Tiffany’s forgiving you, begging for your release, and you don’t feel any remorse?” My daughter lifted her gaze, her voice raw. “That was my mother’s necklace! She didn’t deserve to wear it! And I didn’t push her, she… she just…” Before she could finish, Zane’s eyes glinted with cold malice. “Tiffany’s trying to help you, and you’re ungrateful? Don’t blame us for what happens next!” He then raised his paddle, declaring loudly: “Five million!” At his bid, the room buzzed, and other paddles rose, quickly driving the price to ten million. Tiffany dabbed at her tears, her voice a tearful whine: “Please, don’t bid anymore. Sister Chloe can barely afford it. She’s so poor now, how could she buy her own night?” “Sister, maybe you should just give up. It’s just one night with a man, it’s no big deal.” Rage surged through me, a hot torrent. My eyes were locked on Tiffany. She was draped in a designer gown, looking like a newly rich socialite, and around her neck hung the limited-edition necklace I’d given my daughter. Then I looked at Chloe. Her clothes were torn and frayed, her exposed skin chafed and bleeding. Years apart, and my daughter, Olivia Hayes’ daughter, had been so utterly humiliated? I quickly made a call, instructing my assistant to investigate everything that had transpired in my absence. As a top-tier operative, I was rarely home. For security, I’d contacted my daughter monthly via encrypted calls, but she’d always insisted she was fine, never breathing a word of this. The full story, the complete chain of events – I had to uncover it. On the auction platform, my daughter’s voice trembled beyond recognition. “We grew up together! Why are you doing this to me?” “That time you said you were celebrating Tiffany’s birthday, but you just drugged me… was that to take those photos?!” Noah didn't even spare her a glance, instead busying himself wiping away Tiffany’s tears. “Tiffany spent a month in the hospital because of you, and you didn’t even apologize. This is what you deserve.” “If you’re willing to kneel and kowtow three times to Tiffany, and say you’re sorry, we’ll end this auction.” A chorus of jeers erupted from the crowd. “No way, Mr. Davis! We still want a taste of Ms. Hayes!” “Come on, keep bidding! We have to get her!” “I’ll raise it by two million!” “Fifteen million!” The bids came in quick succession. My daughter trembled uncontrollably, her head bowed in silence. Just as the auctioneer prepared to strike the hammer for the third time, my daughter’s head snapped up. “Twenty million!” The entire hall fell silent. 2 The next moment, a roar of mocking laughter erupted from below. “Don’t pretend, lady! It’s just one night with us, you won’t lose anything, hahaha.” “Twenty million requires a financial verification, you got that kind of cash?” My gaze bore into my daughter, a knot tightening in my chest. Twenty million was a mere pittance to me, but judging by Chloe’s current state, she likely couldn’t produce that much. Sure enough, a few minutes later, the auctioneer emerged from backstage and announced the verification results. “Upon review, Ms. Chloe Hayes’ liquid assets do not meet the bidding deposit requirements.” The laughter intensified. Tiffany giggled softly. “Sister Chloe, don’t push yourself! All I wanted was your apology.” Ethan shot a contemptuous glance at the stage. “Chloe Hayes, don’t bite off more than you can chew. If you can’t pay, stop pretending.” “Before we brought you here, I checked your accounts. You only have fifty thousand left.” Zane’s face was etched with disbelief. “Fifty thousand? We spend more than fifty thousand on one dinner with Tiffany! I can’t believe you’re this broke.” “However, if you truly have no money, I can help you out.” With that, he signaled a waiter. The waiter nodded, stepping onto the stage and positioning himself opposite my daughter. Zane’s icy voice echoed through the hall. “One article of clothing equals five million. If you take off four pieces, you’ll have twenty million.” “How about it? Sounds like a good deal, doesn’t it?” As his words finished, the waiter reached out to tear at my daughter’s clothes. The instant his fingers grazed her skin, Chloe struggled violently. “No!” The crowd below went wild again. “Take it off! Hurry up and take it off!” “Nice! Mr. Evans knows how to have fun!” Chloe looked at her three childhood friends below, terror in her eyes, only to see them shedding their own jackets, scrambling to drape them over Tiffany. My heart plummeted. My daughter’s scream tore through the air, hoarse and desperate. “Get away! Don’t touch me!” But the deafening cheers from the crowd below drowned out her voice, shattering it. The sleeve of Chloe’s dress ripped, exposing a large swathe of her skin. Instantly, slimy, sickening gazes lingered on that bare flesh. The waiter, his face devoid of emotion, stated: “Ms. Hayes, it’s just four pieces of clothing. This way, you’ll have enough money.” Chloe desperately clutched her dress, her lips trembling. I was shaking with fury, about to order the auction halted. But at that moment, my daughter removed the bracelet from her wrist and raised it high. “I have money! I’m still in!” The waiter immediately stepped back. My daughter’s trembling hand offered him the bracelet. As the waiter took the bracelet backstage for verification, a wave of laughter erupted. “She’s a real pigheaded one, still trying to play rich when she’s cornered!” Tiffany covered her mouth, a soft laugh escaping. “Sister Chloe, have you lost your mind? What’s a broken bracelet worth?” Tiffany’s confidence stemmed from the fact that she’d long since stripped my daughter of all her valuables. She was certain that cheap bracelet wouldn’t fetch much. But when the waiter announced the bracelet was worth thirty million… Tiffany’s face abruptly contorted. “How is that possible?!” Even the three men beside her looked incredulous. “A worthless bracelet? How could it be worth that much?” 3 I surveyed the bracelet in the waiter’s hand, understanding dawning on me. That bracelet was my daughter’s one-month birthday gift. I’d paid two hundred million for it back then. Now, it was only fetching thirty million. The auction house owner cautiously knelt at my feet, barely daring to breathe. Below, someone with a keen eye gasped. “This… this can’t be the bracelet once worn by the British Queen, can it? The design isn’t modern, but the price is ridiculously high.” “I remember that bracelet was auctioned at Hayes & Hayes back then, wasn’t it bought by the Hayes family? How is it in this woman’s hand?” “The Hayes family?” Someone drew a sharp intake of breath. “You mean that mercenary dynasty? They operate in both legal and illicit circles, rich beyond measure.” “But the Hayes family hasn’t made a public appearance in over a decade. I never thought I’d hear their name at this auction.” The whispers from the crowd reached Tiffany’s ears. She suddenly dropped to her knees, burying her face in her hands, sobbing. “All I wanted was an apology from you, Sister! Why do you have to deliberately make things hard for me?” “Ever since Dad recognized me as his adopted daughter, you’ve always hated me, always bullied me. Sister, do you really dislike me that much?” My heart clenched. Adopted daughter? At that moment, my assistant’s call came through, relaying everything that had happened over the past few years. Turns out, Tiffany was the daughter of an escort. Her mother had hooked up with my husband, Robert Hayes. Robert then brought the escort to live in our home and even recognized her daughter as his adopted daughter. Ah, good. While I was away these past few years, Robert had been busy with such despicable affairs. Robert Hayes, Tiffany, and her mother – I wouldn't spare a single one of them. Ethan gently lifted Tiffany into his arms. Noah soothed her, wiping away her tears. Zane clenched his jaw, furious. “Chloe Hayes, do you really want to drive Tiffany to her death?!” “Do you honestly think we don’t know how much she’s suffered since moving into your family’s home?” Noah’s face was grim, his eyes burning as if they could tear a person apart. “Chloe Hayes, we originally planned to go easy on you, but it seems unnecessary now.” He stood up and yelled to the large crowd of bidders behind him. “Anyone who bids on Chloe Hayes’ exclusive rights tonight will receive a 5% profit share on future collaborations with the Davis Group!” Ethan and Zane chimed in. “The Miller Corporation and Evans Holdings, too!” A sudden burst of excited shouts erupted from the crowd. “The three young masters are truly generous!” “I’ll offer another three million.” “Forty million!” Within seconds, the bidding had skyrocketed to fifty million. Tiffany smiled silently, her face radiating triumph. My daughter’s face grew whiter by the inch. She couldn’t possibly produce that kind of money. Once these people got their hands on her, they would undoubtedly torture her relentlessly. Convinced they would win, the bidders began to openly humiliate my daughter. “Little lady, once you’re mine, I’ll show you exactly what paradise feels like!” Someone threw a wad of cash at the waiter’s chest. “Tear off her clothes! These bills are yours!” Simultaneously, the auctioneer’s booming voice echoed through the hall. “Fifty million, going once.” “Fifty million, going twice.” Amidst his pronouncements, my daughter suddenly looked up, her eyes blazing with fierce resolve. “I’m still in. Eighty million!” The entire hall erupted in chaos. “Is she crazy?! How can she conjure up money while hanging there?!” “Hahaha, she even mortgaged her bracelet! Where would she get the money?” Tiffany, nestled in Ethan’s embrace, feigned a sigh. “Sister, don’t struggle. Where would you get eighty million…” Amidst wave after wave of mocking laughter, my daughter handed a black card to the waiter. The entire hall held its breath as the card reader beeped, processing the data. A moment later, the waiter’s voice rang out loudly. “Ms. Chloe Hayes’ account balance: two hundred million nine hundred thousand dollars. She is qualified to bid!”
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