Chapter 02: Aunction

Chapter 02: Aunction

Aria’s POV

Everything’s ruined. The wedding was cancelled, and my stepmom got mad at me. What’s worse? The media is tearing me apart. Everyone’s blaming me for ruining the wedding. I stayed in my room, sulking, when someone knocked.

I still hadn’t recovered from the shock of yesterday when she slapped me. I wasn’t expecting that. I thought she would comfort me, but instead, she looked at me furiously.

“Look what you’ve done, Aria! You don’t know how important that wedding was—yet you ruined it!” she exclaimed. I had already explained everything to her, but here she was, still mad and accusing me of bringing shame to our family.

“Mom, he cheated on me. I saw him and my best friend kissing. He even confessed that they’ve been together for years,” I reasoned, but she only let out a heavy sigh, placing a hand on her forehead as if overwhelmed.

“For God’s sake, Aria! What’s important is that you marry him! I already spoke with his family, trying to cover things up, but now they refuse to listen—because of what you’ve done.”

I couldn’t believe she was saying those words. I thought she would understand.

“Is the wedding more important than my freedom? I don’t want to be tied to someone who cheated on me.” I sat on my bed, crying as Richard’s betrayal replayed in my mind.

“You don’t understand, Aria. That wedding should’ve happened, but now, it won’t.” She sat beside me, letting out another deep sigh.

“What don’t I understand? That he cheated on me and I’m expected to go through with it anyway?” I wiped my tears. I understood her frustration, but insisting on continuing the wedding was too much.

“Where is that woman!” I heard heavy footsteps. The door swung open, and Lianth stepped into my room, her hands on her hips and her glare sharp.

“Look what you’ve done! You’re dragging the family name through the mud because of your stupidity!” She lunged at me, but Mom stopped her just in time.

“Lianth, calm down. Go back to your room,” she ordered, but Lianth just glared at her mother.

She wasn’t wrong—we were on the news because of what happened. And Richard’s family was blaming me for everything. It was a disaster.

“This bitch! People are attacking our family because she ditched that wedding! Why can’t you just do something right for once?” she screamed, furious.

“You’re too stupid to think about the consequences of your selfish decisions! After that stupid bankruptcy, now this?!”

I was stunned—and confused. Bankruptcy?

“What do you mean?” I asked, but she just rolled her eyes at me. Was there something they weren’t telling me?

“Why don’t you tell her, Mother?” she said with venom in her voice.

“Listen, Aria. That marriage was important. But now, everything’s ruined. Your father’s company went bankrupt. Hundreds of thousands lost in failed investments and overspending. We’re in serious debt,” my stepmom confessed.

I didn’t know what to say. Lianth looked at me like it was all my fault.

“If your father hadn’t gotten so deep in debt—and now you’re ruining our family name on top of it!” she snapped.

“I-I had no idea we were struggling.” I was devastated.

My stepmom approached me, gently taking my hands in hers. She sat on the bed and wiped my tears.

“Aria, you need to fix this,” she said. I frowned, unsure of what she meant.

“You’re young, beautiful, and still… valuable. To the right kind of men.” Her words sent chills down my spine.

“What do you mean?” I asked warily. She tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, her lips curling into a faint smile.

“We don’t have a choice, Aria. There’s a private auction. High-class. Discreet. Just one night. You’ll earn enough to pay everything back.”

I recoiled in horror.

“I’m not a whore to be auctioned!”

“There’s no way I’ll do that. I still have my dignity.” I stood up, but Lianth slapped me across the face.

I held my cheek, shocked. What was wrong with her?

“You even dare to refuse? That’s the only way you can help pay your father’s debt, stupid! And you’re still thinking about dignity? What about our family’s name? You ruined it! We’re already drowning in debt, and now in humiliation too!”

“It’s not my responsibility to pay the debt! And auctioning me off isn’t right,” I said firmly. But then, another slap—this time from my stepmom.

“You show no pity for this family! It’s just one night!” she yelled.

“I’m not doing it.”

“You’re useless and selfish! Get out of this house!” Lianth screamed, throwing my clothes out of the closet.

I cried while picking up my things.

“Ma’am Dianne, here are the papers you asked me to prepare,” a man entered, handing documents to my stepmom. My eyes widened as she opened the folder.

“If you don’t do what I say, then it’s not my fault. Richard’s family will sue you for backing out of the wedding. These debts? They’re in your name. You’ll be chased down and labeled a scammer,” she warned, showing me the papers.

“That’s a lie! I won’t obey you!” I cried, wiping away tears.

“Then leave this house! I’ll cut off your credit cards and make sure you suffer for this!” she screamed, grabbing my arm and dragging me out.

She pushed me to the ground. I cried from the pain and the betrayal.

“Come back when you change your mind,” she said before slamming the gate behind me.

I had no choice. Before night fell, I returned to the house. My stepmom greeted me with a sly smile.

“I knew you’d be back. Take a shower. Your things are on the bed. We’ll leave after you’re done,” she said, walking away.

On the bed lay a revealing red dress. I did what she asked, against my will.

After my shower, I wore the tight red dress. Lianth entered the room.

“Sit down. I’ll do your makeup.” It wasn’t a suggestion—it was a command.

She couldn’t meet my eyes. I could still feel her rage.

“You should be thankful Mom’s still helping you pay your dad’s debt, even after the humiliation you brought on this family,” she muttered. I stayed silent.

“It’s done. Make sure you look attractive at the auction. We need someone to bid millions on you,” she said coldly before leaving.

Tears rolled down my cheeks. I carefully wiped them so I wouldn’t ruin the makeup.

An hour later, we arrived at our destination.

“Just follow them,” my stepmom said, leaving me with two men in black suits. My knees trembled. I was terrified.

“I’m scared…” I whispered, but the men stared at me without emotion.

“This is just for tonight. After this, you’re free. Remember why you’re here,” Dianne said before walking away.

Why didn’t my dad tell me about our situation? Why do I have to go through this?

I walked nervously into the underground auction. It was luxurious… and cruel. Women dressed like dolls were paraded before elite bidders—mafia leaders, billionaires, politicians.

Someone grabbed my hand, pulled me into a room, and pinned a number to my chest. I was about to push her away when she spoke.

“Don’t move. Just do what I say. I hate complaints,” said a sharp, authoritative voice behind me.

Then she blindfolded me.

“This is to make it thrilling for the buyers,” she whispered. A shiver ran down my spine.

My heart raced. The music blared. I tried to fix my dress, but the woman adjusted it—pulling it up even more.

“Men like seductive women. Remember, all of you are here for one reason—money. If you want them to bid millions, show them something,” she said.

I gulped, understanding exactly what she meant.

“Welcome, gentlemen! The bidding is now open!” the auctioneer announced.

“Okay, girls! We're starting! These gentlemen are elite—so don’t ruin the show,” the woman said. Some girls giggled. I stood frozen.

The bidding began. The prices were high—life-changing.

“The bid is now open for the girl with blond hair!”

“Twenty thousand dollars.”

“Thirty thousand dollars.”

“Fifty thousand dollars.”

“Fifty thousand dollars, going once… going twice… sold to Mr. Shade! Congratulations!”

Cheers erupted. Women were being sold like objects.

“Now, may I call on the next one?”

“It’s your turn, darling.” The woman guided me onto the stage. I gulped, blindfolded, unable to see the crowd.

“Gentlemen! This item is a rare gem. Pure. The fallen princess of a ruined empire. The bid is now open!”

I don’t know what to feel. I’m terrified as the crowd grows louder.

“This one seems interesting—five hundred thousand dollars!” someone shouted. It sounded like an old man bidding on me.

I wanted to run away from this place, but I couldn’t. I was doing this for the sake of our debt.

“Eighty thousand dollars!” another voice rang out.

“One hundred thousand dollars!”

“The gentlemen are going wild tonight! One hundred thousand dollars—going once!” the auctioneer called out.

“Five hundred thousand dollars!”

The crowd erupted with noise from the sudden jump in the bid.

“Five hundred thousand dollars for this item! Does anyone else want to bid?”

It felt like they were selling my dignity.

“This is the first time we’ve had a bid this high—five hundred thousand dollars! Going once! Going twice!”

I closed my eyes, terrified I’d be sold to an old man.

“One million dollars.”

Silence. The crowd went still—and so did I.

I couldn’t believe someone had actually bid that much for me.

“This night is thrilling! One million dollars! Going once… going twice… any other bidders?… Sold to Mr in black suit!”