"Seraphina Thorne, say that again!"

Seraphina’s lips curved slightly. She stepped forward and blew a mock breath into his ear, her tone dripping with irony.

"I didn't realize you enjoyed being insulted so much, Mr. Cross. Can you hear me clearly, or would you like to lend me the microphone?"

Chapter 8

Ethan was so enraged he actually laughed. With a cold sneer, he shoved Seraphina away and turned his gaze from her to the crowd, making a public announcement.

"There are still two weeks left until our one-year deadline. I know many of you suppressed your anger toward the Thornes for my sake. I won't make you wait for nothing. At this gala, the highest bidder will win the rights to use Seraphina Thorne for the next fifteen days."

Someone scoffed, "She's damaged goods. Why would I pay for that? I’d find her dirty even if she were free."

Another grew excited. "I wouldn't say that. I’d love to feel the high-and-mighty heiress groveling between my legs, begging for my favor. If you won't pay, I will."

At his words, the men who had looked disgusted moments ago now wore expressions of subtle, oily lust. Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room.

Ethan watched the flickering emotions on Seraphina’s face with satisfaction and clapped his hands.

"The bidding for fifteen days with Seraphina Thorne starts at 100 dollars."

The amount was so insulting that the laughter died down. For a moment, no one dared to bid.

Eva giggled and playfully punched Ethan’s chest, leaning against him with a coy pout.

"Ethan, you’re so mean. How could you do that to Sera? Look, everyone thinks you're joking and no one is bidding. How about this? I’ll bid ten cents."

Ethan pulled her close and pinched her nose affectionately.

"Eva, you’re too kindhearted. Seraphina isn't even worth a hundred dollars."

The room erupted in laughter, and the tension broke.

"I’ll give 66 cents!"

"I’ll give one dollar!"

Waves of crushing humiliation swept over Seraphina. Her heart felt like it was being ground under a heavy stone; her head and lower abdomen throbbed with rhythmic pain. She dug her nails deep into her palms and bit her lip until it turned white, finally clawing back a shred of lucidity.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and forced a thin smile. Raising her hand, she spoke with trembling lips. "I bid one hundred thousand dollars."

The crowd gasped. Ethan, caught in the heat of his amusement, looked at her with irritation.

Eva looked confused. "Sera, you’re buying yourself? Do you even have the money?"

"If I sell every one of my organs, I’ll have a hundred thousand," Seraphina said airily, as if discussing someone else's business.

"I bid two hundred thousand."

A steady male voice cut off her escape.

Seraphina’s face turned ghostly pale. A hundred thousand was her entire world; she didn't have a penny more. She had assumed that out of respect for Ethan, the crowd would follow Eva’s lead and bid lower and lower just to shame her.

She hadn't expected anyone to actually challenge Ethan.

Seeing her miserable state, Ethan’s brow furrowed, a sudden, inexplicable irritation rising in his chest. He couldn't understand it. Over the past year, Seraphina had cursed him, hit him, and even tried to sabotage his relationship with Eva—yet she had never once lowered her head to apologize.

To humiliate her and break her pride, he had tortured her in every way possible. This auction was supposed to be the final blow. He had expected her to break down in tears and beg him not to sell her.

Instead, she would rather sell her organs than bow to him.

Ethan was livid. What infuriated him even more was that someone actually dared to bid such a high price for her under his very nose. His cold gaze swept toward the source of the voice.

Seraphina also looked up. When she saw the man, she began to shake violently, her teeth chattering. An ugly memory from her childhood exploded in her mind.

The image of President Zheng—looking grandfatherly while his hands reached under her skirt—resurfaced. If her father hadn't discovered it in time and crushed Zheng with ruthless force back then...

Seraphina didn't dare imagine what would have happened if she had been taken by him.

Chapter 9

Her throat felt as if it were blocked by a sodden sponge. When she spoke, the words were broken and so faint they were almost silent.

"Ethan... don't... don't let him take me..."

Eva stepped between her and Ethan, tugging on his sleeve. She whispered an explanation in his ear. "Ethan, Mr. Zheng used to be a close friend of Sera’s father. I know you still can't quite let go of her, so I reached out to him privately. He’s the best choice."

Her face was a mask of bitter, noble sacrifice as she even nudged Ethan toward Seraphina, saying softly, "You should take her to his house yourself."

A heavy sense of guilt instantly eclipsed Ethan’s complex feelings for Seraphina. He pulled Eva into a tight embrace, his voice turning tender enough to melt.

"Eva, don't think like that. You’re the only one I love now."

Eva huddled against his chest, looking moved as tears flowed freely, though a hidden, lethal malice flashed in the depths of her eyes.

Ethan held Eva tight, ignoring Seraphina’s deathly pale face. He waved a hand dismissively. "Sold. Mr. Zheng can take her."

Zheng gave a gentlemanly nod and reached out a hand toward Seraphina, smiling. "Little Sera, let's go."

Terror turned Seraphina’s legs to water. She slumped to the floor, reaching out feebly to grasp the hem of Ethan’s trousers, forcing her voice to work one last time.

"Ethan Cross, you can't do this to me. You’ll kill me... I’m already carr—"

Eva knelt down and gripped Seraphina’s thin hand, squeezing hard.

"Sera, Ethan already knows exactly what kind of man Mr. Zheng is."

Ethan jerked his leg back, not even bothering to look at her. "Seraphina, can you stop acting like a victim? Do you have any idea how much you disgust me? If it weren't for Eva’s kindness, you wouldn't even be worthy of shining Mr. Zheng's shoes."

His words slammed into her heart, sending it into a bottomless abyss where it shattered into pieces.

Zheng’s eyes crinkled into a pleasant smile as he began dragging the dazed Seraphina across the floor toward the exit.

"I certainly won't disappoint Mr. Cross or Miss Vance."

Seeing Zheng’s obvious impatience, a flicker of doubt crossed Ethan’s mind. But Eva pressed closer again, reclaiming his attention.

"Ethan, don't worry. She’ll be fine. Dance a waltz with me."

Through eyes filled with despair, Seraphina watched as Ethan swept Eva gracefully into the center of the dance floor.

On her first night at the Zheng estate, Seraphina was stripped bare and thrown into a specially made iron cage in the courtyard, left to endure the biting night wind.

Zheng swirled a glass of red wine before pouring it over her from head to toe. He leaned in close and took a deep breath, a distorted smile on his face.

"So fragrant. Little Sera, did you miss your uncle? I’ve missed you terribly all these years."

Wet strands of hair stuck to her cheeks. Seraphina’s heart hammered so hard against her ribs that her eardrums throbbed. She curled into a ball in the corner of the cage, trying to suppress the rising tide of panic.

She forced herself to speak. "Mr. Zheng, don't forget... you swore an oath on your wife and children to my father. You promised never to show your face to me again."

At those words, the expression on Zheng’s face turned frantic.

He let out a manic laugh, threw open the cage door, and dragged Seraphina out by her hair like a stray dog. He threw her onto the gravel path and looked down at her with chilling eyes.

"You bitch! You dare mention them! If it weren't for your family, I wouldn't have lost my wife and child! I’ll kill you!"

Chapter 10

He whipped the belt from his waist; the metal-studded leather hissed through the air with a terrifying sound.

Crack!

Zheng cursed as he rained blows down on her without mercy. Seraphina wailed, curling her body to protect her stomach at all costs.

"I belong to Ethan Cross! If you kill me, aren't you afraid he’ll come for you?"

Perhaps the mention of Ethan’s name brought back a shred of his reason. Or perhaps the sight of the bright red welts against her pale skin stimulated his twisted nerves.

Zheng dropped the belt. His eyes were bloodshot as he rubbed his hands together and lunged at her.

"If Ethan Cross cared about you, would he have aired those videos in public? Would he have auctioned you off? Little Sera, stop being stupid. Stay with your uncle, and I’ll take good care of you."

Seraphina dodged his lunge. Ignoring her exposed state, she used every ounce of her strength to kick Zheng squarely in the chest.