Chapter 4
In the end, Bella didn’t have a choice–she was dragged along to the auction.
She sat there, stiff and uneasy, while the room buzzed with excited bidding. Paddle after paddle shot up. Sean, of course, looked completely at ease, every bid he placed making people around them gasp in awe.-
“Fifty million!” the auctioneer shouted, barely able to contain his excitement. “Fifty million from Mr. Rangel! The sapphire necklace goes to Mr. Rangel!“}
Calista curled into Sean’s side, a smug smile playing on her lips. “Sean, this necklace is absolutely stunning.”}
“Just for you,” Sean said softly, tucking a stray lock of her hair behind her ear.
“Isn’t Mr. Rangel a bit too generous with his mistress?” someone whispered behind Bella.}
“That’s nothing,” another voice replied. “Last month, Ms. Marshall just mentioned she liked that Pacific island. It’s worth over a hundred million. But the next day, the deed was in her name.”>
Bella squeezed her number paddle so tightly her knuckles turned white.§
Sean used to spoil her like this too. In her past life, all this tenderness had belonged to her. Now, the same warmth was lavished on someone else.
Bella,” Calista suddenly leaned in, her voice syrupy sweet. “See anything you like? I’ll have Sean bid for it and gift it to you.”}
Bella’s answer was cold and flat. “No, thanks.”
“Let’s wait for the next item,” Calista pressed, refusing to let it go. “Maybe something will catch your eye.“>
The auctioneer tapped his gavel. “Our next item is a bit unusual, ladies and gentlemen. Please turn your attention to the screen–“> The moment the screen lit up, the whole room erupted.
Photos of Calista, completely naked, filled the giant display. Each one was more explicit than the last, nothing left to the imagination.
“God, her skin’s so smooth…”
“Look at that pose–what a tease…“)
“Wonder what she charges for a night…”
The crude comments spread like wildfire. Calista’s face turned from crimson to chalk white.
“Turn it off! Turn it off!” she screamed, stumbling to her feet, shaking all over. “That’s not me! It’s not me!”
She spun toward Bella, eyes wild, tears falling. “Bella! Do you hate me this much? Did you have to humiliate me like this? Are you trying to kill me?”
She covered her face and fled the room.
Sean’s face was like thunder. “I’ll buy every single copy!” he barked. “Take those photos down. You have three seconds. Any longer, and I’ll see this auction house shut down for good!”
His glare swept the room. “If anyone so much as whispers about this outside, you’ll regret it.”
Finally, he looked at Bella, his voice cold as ice. “I’ll deal with you later,”
Bella felt numb all over as she stumbled back to the villa, her mind blank and her body frozen.
How had those photos even ended up at the auction? She didn’t like Calista, sure, and she could be reckless, but she’d never do something this cruel. She didn’t even have those photos!
Sean would never believe her though. He’d just think she was making excuses.
She sat on the sofa, nerves wound tight, waiting all night. When dawn finally broke, the front door slammed open with a violent crash. Sean stormed in, rage in his eyes. “Bella!”
He grabbed her by the chin, his grip bruising, “Do you know Calista tried to drown herself?!”
His voice was raw, almost broken. “If I hadn’t gotten there in time, she’d be dead!“}
“It wasn’t me…” Bella choked out. “I didn’t leak those photos. ”
“Not you?” Sean laughed bitterly and shoved her away. “Are you going to tell me she did it to herself?”
Bella had no words.
She tried to protest, but Sean cut her off. “We’re only married in name. But you keep hurting the girl I love. There are consequences for that.”
The words stabbed her right in the heart.
2048
Chapter 4
He’d once said, “If anyone touches Bella, I’ll ruin their whole family.” Now, he was saying it for someone else.}
“Bella, you’re going to the hospital now. You will apologize to Calista. Right now.”
Bella’s eyes burned, but she looked him dead in the eye. “I didn’t do anything wrong. What am I supposed to apologize for?”
Sean just smirked and snapped his fingers.}
Two bodyguards came in and pinned her arms.
“Take her to the basement,” Sean ordered, walking away. “She can come out when she admits what she did.”>
The basement? Punishment?
Bella stared at him, stunned. He was really going to have her electrocuted just to force an apology?}
Before she could react, she was dragged into a cold, dark room and strapped to a metal bed. The guards worked fast, buckling her wrists and ankles tight with leather straps.
“Ah-!”
The second they flipped the switch, a jolt of electricity shot through her. Bella arched off the bed, only to be slammed back down by the straps.
She bit her lip so hard she tasted blood.
Ready to apologize?” One of the guards pressed the button for a stronger current.
It felt like a thousand needles stabbing her from the inside out. She heard herself make a sound that didn’t even seem human. Her mouth filled with blood as her teeth shredded her lip.
ངན ཧ ཝཱ =ཇོ ཉ ཧ 4 ï
She shook her head, hair plastered to her face with cold sweat.
She hadn’t done anything wrong. Why should she say sorry?}
Another shock hit, even worse.
Her vision blurred. Her muscles jerked uncontrollably.}
“Ah… please…”
A third time.
A fourth.
A fifth.
A tenth.
“Please… stop…”
Finally, she broke, her sobs wracking her body. Tears and blood streamed down her face.
“… I’m sorry… I’ll apologize…”
“I’ll apologize!“}
Chapter 5
