Chapter 2

I knew he was humiliating me.

In the old days, he never gave me a gift worth less than a million dollars. Even a handkerchief had to be the finest.

Now he was using this to remind me of the price of betraying him.

I stood under the spotlight, looking at the man I'd once loved most, and at that glaring number in his hand.

Bianca turned to the crowd. "What, no one's raising the bid? Do you think she isn't worth it?"

"Don't worry, everyone. She's disloyal, sure, but it's only for one night. Use her and toss her."

At her words, the men who'd been itching to bid raised their paddles at once.

"Three dollars!"

"Four dollars!"

"Four dollars and five cents!"

At that, Bianca burst out laughing. "Mr. Harlow, you're being awfully cheap."

The man called Mr. Harlow looked at me with disdain. "Everyone's bidding this low. If I went higher, I'd just be overpaying."

Bianca laughed. "Then how about you let me have her? My budget for her is only five dollars."

"Though I've no interest in women. Once I win her, I'll just pick some man here and hand her over."

Everyone caught her meaning and tactfully set down their paddles.

At that I couldn't take it anymore. I shoved hard past the guards blocking the door.

My sudden move startled them, and before they recovered I kicked open the manager's door.

He paled at the sight of me storming in. "How did you get off the stage!"

Before he'd finished, I yanked the contract out of the drawer and slammed it on the desk.

"I agreed to work as an authenticator, not to go up on the auction block! This breaks every rule you have!"

With that I turned to leave. Just then, behind me, came the sound of shattering porcelain.

The next lot had been smashed to pieces, just like that.

"If you dare walk out today, I'll tell that boss of yours you broke it."

"If I'm not mistaken, you're only a little short of buying your freedom. Are you sure you want to stir up trouble like this?"

"Remember the last accident at the docks? It wasn't your fault, but the boss still broke three of your ribs, didn't he?"

In that moment my fingernails dug deep into my palms. I wanted to tear the man in front of me apart.

"Now. Get back up on that stage."

"Miss Ferraro just texted. She isn't done playing yet."

I hesitated, then let out a long breath, forced the tears back, and turned to walk back to the stage.

The moment I stepped up, a ripple of scornful laughter rose from below. I ignored it and spoke quietly.

"Since Miss Ferraro's budget only goes so far, five dollars it is."

"Feel free to pick whichever man you like."

Lucian's eyes darkened in an instant.

Bianca saw his reaction clearly. Something vicious flickered in her eyes, and she turned to me with a smile.

"The listing only says one night's use. It never said that night was limited to one man."

She turned to face the whole room.

"The Don bought me so many gifts today, so let me be generous for once."

"Tonight I'm throwing a party. Every one of you here is welcome to come."

She lifted her hand and pointed at me.

"As for her."

"Whoever wants her to pour drinks, dance, kneel and serve, or do anything else..."

"Be my guest."

The whole room broke into jeering cheers, and someone raised a glass to her.

"Miss Ferraro, that's ruthless. With you in the Castellano family, who would ever dare turn traitor again?"

I listened in silence. The host gave the final call, going once, going twice, and brought the gavel down.

"Congratulations to Mr. Lucian Castellano, who has won one night's use of Miss Aria Bennett for five dollars."

Hearing it, all my anger and grievance curdled into a thick sense of absurdity.

I never imagined that one day our names would appear side by side in a sentence like that.

I still remembered five years ago, tangled together in bed night after night, him crying out my name and me crying out his.

Back then we were each other's most beloved.

At the memory, my eyes reddened despite myself. I looked up again and met Lucian's gaze.

His eyes were dark, disgust still hanging heavy in them.

The next second he spoke. "A cheap little lot, and you still won't get lost?"

Get lost.

Those words again.

I remembered five years ago too, when he'd decided I was a traitor and had me sold. Back then I didn't believe it.

Didn't believe he could be that heartless.

So I knelt in the pouring rain, begging to see him just once, asking only that he admit the decision to my face.

Then I would leave.

But in the end he never came out. He only had a guard bring back one reply.

Get lost.

It seemed five years had done nothing to soften his hatred.

I didn't linger. I walked quietly back to the wings and took out the registration ledger.

I wrote my own name in it, then quietly noted the price beside it. Five dollars.

After that, no one had much interest in any of the lots. Maybe the best show of the night was already over.

That went double for Lucian's name.

It hardly appeared again.