The room burst into roaring laughter.Dozens of mocking eyes bored into me,stripping me bare.
I bit down on my lip so hard I tasted blood.
This was the man I once loved.
This was the reward for every sacrifice I had ever made.
Slowly,I rose to my feet.
I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth…and I smiled.
"Let me show you what I’m worth."
The words were quiet,but the whole room went dead silent.
"Mrs.Shepherd,"the auctioneer asked cautiously,"are you sure?We’ll have to verify your capital."
I nodded,forcing down the pain clawing at my chest.
"But first,I need to make a call."
The line rang once.Twice.
Then a voice came through,warm,familiar,gentle.I almost broke just hearing it.
"Can I borrow some money?"I asked."And…remember when you said you wanted to have a child with me?I’m ready now."
There was a beat of silence on the other end of the line—followed by a low,steady voice.
"Give me five minutes."
I ended the call,wiped the tears from my cheeks and walked back into the auction room.
Lennon’s face had soured,clearly had not expected my firm resistance.
"Meredith,do you really think a phone call can save you?"he sneered."Tonight,you're destined to become the whole city’s biggest joke."
Laughter flickered around the room.The crowd’s faces glowed with smug delight.
"Look at her face,crying like a baby.The Evans Family can’t even afford a decent dinner,so how could she afford something as extravagant in an auction?You should just accept your fate.”
Even Winona joined in with a condescending smile.
“Why don’t you beg Lennon for forgiveness?Maybe he’ll be kind enough to pretend none of this ever happened.”
I did not answer.I just stood there—silent,composed—waiting for fate to turn.
Exactly five minutes later,the grand doors of the auction hall burst open.
Gasps rippled across the room as a team of men in sleek black suits entered with practiced precision.Their shoes tapped crisply on the marble floor as they made their way toward me.Without hesitation,they bowed.
“Ms.Evans,”one of them said,“our boss sent us to ensure your safety.He also asked me to deliver this message:all his assets have been transferred to your name.You may use them however you wish.”
I gave a small,composed smile and raised my hand slightly toward the auctioneer.“Please verify the funds.”
The auctioneer took my bank card with trembling hands and slid it through the machine.