Chapter 4

"You're asking for it. I told you, staying home all day has rotted your brain. You can't take a joke, you won't have a drink—so what the hell do you want?"

I backed away slowly, staring at Rachel, dead serious.

"That's what I should be asking you. What the hell do you want, Rachel—"

Before I could finish, a sharp needle jabbed into the small of my back.

As the drug took effect, my head began to swell, and my hearing gradually blurred.

"Why waste words with him? One shot and the problem's solved. He's the grand finale item. If we delay any longer, those wealthy clients are going to get impatient!"

"You really came prepared. Michael's pretty cautious. If this hadn't worked, most of the people at the auction would've gone home disappointed."

Rupert leaned against Rachel's shoulder, his smug gaze fixed on me in open provocation.

"Michael's so lucky. So many people are fighting over his first night. Tonight's definitely going to be unforgettable for him."

Staggering, I barely managed to steady myself as I turned pleading eyes toward Rachel.

"Please… don't do this to me. I don't want to be with other women…"

Why wouldn't she let me touch her, yet willingly hand me over to strangers?

Hearing my broken pleas, Rachel only pulled Rupert closer into her arms and sneered.

"Don't you like women touching you? Since I can't overcome it, other women can fulfill a wife's duties in my place. Isn't that the perfect solution for everyone?"

She deliberately exaggerated every caress she gave Rupert. Each intimate touch against his body felt like another slap across my face.

Despairingly, I closed my eyes as the terror inside me slowly faded into numbness.

The next second, they stripped me completely naked and locked me inside a transparent crystal display case before dumping me backstage.

"Let me out…"

But everyone outside was on Rachel's side. No one paid the slightest attention to my cries for help.

"Several rich older women are already demanding an early preview of Michael. Who would've thought a man his age would be this popular? Until the final moment, nobody knows who'll win him, hahaha!"

Perhaps noticing the unpleasant expression on Rachel's face, someone patted her shoulder.

"Relax. After one unforgettable night, Michael won't remember any of this. When the auction money comes in, just split it among us girls."

The laughter roaring from outside the private room faded into the distance as I dug my nails into my thigh, forcing myself to stay conscious.

After what felt like forever, Grandma Marilyn finally appeared. She ordered her personal bodyguards to open the display case and wrapped clothes tightly around me.

"I never imagined Rachel would go this far."

She had me sign the divorce papers, then told the bodyguards to take me straight to the airport.

The moment I got in the car, my body finally gave out, and I collapsed.

-

Third-person POV

Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the auction hall hit a fever pitch.

"And now, our final showstopper—'Young Man's Dream'—has already reached a pre-bid price of 600 thousand dollars! And… someone has just signaled a blank check!"

After a thunderous wave of cheers, everyone—including Rachel—followed the auctioneer's gesture and turned to look.

The second Rachel saw Grandma Marilyn, her brows shot up in fury.

Grandma Marilyn raised the divorce papers and slapped them hard across Rachel's face.

"Since you don't want Michael as your husband anymore, from this moment on, he is no longer your husband."