Chapter 1

By the time Hugh arrived, the auction was already underway and had reached the second-to-last photo.

“That girl looks so innocent. I would’ve never guessed that she’s a total freak behind closed doors. That last one is the best. I’m about to lose my mind.

Hugh’s expression darkened when he heard the way the crowd talked.

Seeing how fast he strode toward me made me grip the wine glass tighter.

When his tall frame stopped in front of me, I could sense the overwhelming pressure from him.

He noticed my unpleasant expression. He softened his aggressive demeanor and said in a gentler tone, “Taz, that girl is young and doesn’t know what she’s doing. I’ll explain everything, but just give me some time. For now, please take the photos down.”

I stared at him in silence.

After a long, silent standoff, he lowered his gaze and pleaded, “Taz, please just take the photos down.

Let her go, and I promise you’ll never see her again.”

Back then, even when the subordinates of my father’s seven trusted men ruthlessly crushed his legs, he had never pleaded with them for mercy.

Yet, he was begging me for the sake of another woman.

I could not stand the sight of him begging with those eyes.

I dropped the wine glass, which shattered on the floor. I raised my hand and struck him across the face.

He did not dodge. He just let me take it all out on him.

In the end, he took my swollen palm and gently blew on it.

“Taz, you can hit or scream at me all you want, but Lana isn’t like us. She can’t handle this kind of punishment from you. This would ruin her entire life.”

I pulled my hand back, giving him a smile that did not reach my eyes.

“Fine.”

The moment those intimate photos were taken down, Hugh visibly let out a breath of relief.

Before he could say anything, a wave of even fiercer cheers erupted from the audience.

The final highlight of the auction had been brought out.

Lana Barlow looked innocent as a lamb and was curled up inside a massive glass display case, wearing the very outfit from those photos.

The men, who were already worked up, went wild when they saw her.

Bids rang out from all sides. Each one was higher than the last.

I watched Hugh’s eyes turn red from rage.

Still, I felt nothing. I did not even feel satisfaction at seeing him like that.

“Tasmin, call this off! Make them stop!”

“Mr. Castillo, that reckless woman went looking for trouble with Ms. Sheargold first. She even had the nerve to poke at Ms. Sheargold’s sore spot. If anything, this punishment feels like letting her off easy.”

My steward, Bennet Zeke, could not help but speak up from behind me with a frown.

Hugh tried to suppress his rage as his clenched fists trembled at his side.

Only when the gavel came down did the tension break.

A heavyset man hurriedly scooped up Lana and carried her into the private suite.

I looked at Hugh and said, “Hugh, let’s go. I’m willing to pretend none of this ever happened—”

“Huey, please save me…”

Muffled sobs came from inside the suite.

Before I could finish, Hugh was gone.

Then, a gunshot rang out, and the hall went dead quiet.