LIGHT NOVEL Chapter 2: One Hundred Million – Sold!
In the grand venue, a man sitting in the shadows received a message on his phone.
Without hesitation, he raised the auction paddle in his hand.
"One hundred million!"
Gasps erupted throughout the room. The air buzzed with disbelief. A hundred million! For one night with the young lady of the Prescott family?
Murmurs filled the hall.
"Is he insane?" someone whispered.
"That's enough money to change the fate of a family for generations!" another scoffed.
It was true.
One hundred million could buy beauty, status, and power, yet here it was, being offered for just one woman.
Standing at the edge of the venue, Joseph smirked slightly, his dark eyes glinting with intrigue.
He found himself growing more and more curious about this mysterious bidder sitting so unassumingly in the corner.
Joseph raised his own paddle, intending to counter the offer, when suddenly his phone buzzed.
A call.
His expression shifted immediately as he glanced at the screen.
Few people had access to this number, and fewer still dared to call him during a moment like this.
Excusing himself quietly, Joseph stepped away from the crowd and walked out, his phone pressed to his ear.
On the stage, Aurelia's heart sank as she watched Joseph leave the venue.
Wasn't he about to raise his paddle? Had she misread him?
The auctioneer's booming voice cut through her thoughts.
"One hundred million–going once, going twice–sold!"
The gavel hit the podium, its sharp crack echoing through the hall.
The crowd erupted in applause, their conversations buzzing with amazement and judgment.
Backstage, Aurelia was escorted away by staff.
Her once-bright eyes were dull, her expression eerily calm. Those who had known her before could hardly recognize her now.
The lively, spirited girl was gone, replaced by someone cold, fragile, and broken.
"Miss Prescott, here is the check for one hundred million. Please follow me. Our boss would like to meet you. The car is waiting downstairs," the staff member said formally.
Aurelia looked at the check, her fingers trembling slightly as she accepted it.
The sight of the number made her stomach churn.
Her most precious thing—her dignity—was to be sold to someone she hadn't even seen.
But what choice did she have?
The Prescott family's decline had left her with no options.
The money wasn't for her; it was for paying back someone who had ruthlessly pushed her family into ruin.
If this was the only way to stop him, she would endure it.
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The black car glided through the streets of Everstone Hill before stopping in front of a towering luxury hotel.
Aurelia stepped out, her legs feeling weak as she looked up at the glittering building.
Of all places, it had to be here—the most prestigious hotel in the city, a symbol of wealth and power.
She followed the man leading her, her heart pounding louder with each step.
By the time they reached the presidential suite on the top floor, her hands were shaking.
Standing in front of the grand double doors, Aurelia felt her breath hitch when the man accompanying her pulled out a silk scarf.
"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice sharp with alarm.
"Miss Prescott," the man said politely, as though reciting a script, "our boss has certain preferences. Please allow me to blindfold you. I promise no harm will come to you."
A bitter smile tugged at Aurelia's lips. She should have known. Of course, there would be such conditions.
She stood still, letting him tie the scarf around her eyes.
The fabric pressed tightly, too tightly, against her face, and she bit her lip to keep from flinching.
The man guided her inside, his grip firm but not rough. When they reached the center of the suite, he gently pushed her down onto the bed.
"Please wait here. Our boss will arrive shortly."
The sound of the door clicking shut sent a shiver down Aurelia's spine.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Her heartbeat thudded in her ears as she waited.
Minutes passed, then what felt like hours. No one came.
Something wasn't right.
Her breathing quickened, and her hands twitched against the soft bedspread.
Should she remove the blindfold? What if she wasn't supposed to?