Chapter 2

The man who went into the suite was kicked out. He looked disheveled and was bleeding profusely from his lower body.

Hugh had lost his composure. He lunged onto the man sprawled on the floor.

He kept punching him until he fell unconscious.

After the man was dragged away, Hugh walked with Lana in his arms. Her face was streaked with tears.

Our gazes met.

That familiar, sinister look in his eyes sent a chill down my spine.

It reminded me of the darkest moment in my life that I least wanted to remember.

Hugh was my father’s most trusted man, whom he had raised as his own son.

Back then, internal power struggles tore the gang to pieces.

My father had sent him abroad on a mission.

My seven uncles, who shared no blood relation with me, audaciously drugged me in their scramble for power.

I was tortured for a full forty hours.

By the time Hugh rushed back, I was lying in the hospital.

To keep the peace, my father chose to sacrifice me.

Ever since, I developed severe PTSD and often attempted to end my life.

During my last attempt, Hugh held me and carved seven bone-deep cuts over his chest.

He had the very same sinister gaze. It looked so calm that it sent chills down my spine.

“Taz, I’ll make sure every last one of those monsters gets what’s coming to them.”

The memory of that night crashed over me like a wave.

Before I could even collect myself, Lana stepped in front of Hugh and said in a choked voice, “Tasmin, do you really think you run this whole show? You’re just a loose woman who’s been passed around by everyone! What gives trash like you the right to lead the Sheargold family?”

The auction hall fell deathly silent as everyone gasped.

Even Hugh’s expression darkened.

The Sheargold family owned this auction house.

Everyone knew it was forbidden to speak of that incident.

Lana, however, had the nerve to bring it up in public.

“Hugh, I’m not afraid. I don’t care if she kills me—”

Before she could even finish her sentence, I fired a shot straight at her.

If Hugh had not reacted quickly, the bullet would have shot straight through her heart.

Lana was in so much pain that she nearly fainted, but she bit her lip hard and whispered something to Hugh.

Hugh’s breath caught. He immediately scooped her up and strode toward the exit.

The security guards at the auction house closed in from all sides.

Hugh had once been my father’s most trusted man and had exceptional fighting skills.

But he was outnumbered with Lana in his arms. Soon, he, too, was bloodied with wounds.

“Ms. Sheargold, that woman is nothing but trouble!” Bennet said urgently.

I looked at Hugh. His gaze was hostile.

Then, I looked at Lana. Her clothes were not even disheveled.

I blinked back the tears and let out a bitter laugh.

Every last shred of hope I had held for Hugh was gone.

“Let them leave.

“While you’re at it, tell the man from the Northside that I accept his engagement offer.”

…

After that incident, Hugh did not return home for three days.

During his absence, word from the Northside spread fast.

Everyone who had purchased those private photos at the auction met with one mishap after another.

Hugh had always been deranged, so I was not surprised.

What I did not expect was that Lana, reckless as she was, would still dare to provoke me.

She mailed the pregnancy test results and photos of the half-dead men to my house. Every line of her note reeked of smug contempt.

“Tasmin, what does it matter if you run the show? You still got passed around till they had to take your womb out. You’ll never have a kid in your life!

“This baby in my belly is Huey’s, which is something you couldn’t buy with all your prayers and offerings.”

I laughed in exasperation.

I burned everything she had sent to ashes.

The next day, Hugh stormed into my house in rage.

He kicked Bennet straight into the fountain. He was so angry that he could kill someone right then.

I waved my hand and sent someone to pull Bennet out of the fountain.

“What, being a psycho out there wasn’t enough for you?”

He threw the miscarriage report on the floor angrily.