Chapter 13

I tiptoed out of the room.

The hotel corridor was empty.

But I faintly heard voices.

I instinctively followed the sound.

If I could just find someone, borrow a phone, and contact Liam, he would surely take me home.

Outside one of the suites, through a crack in the door, I heard the commotion inside.

"I hear tonight's grand finale item is a room key card! How rare is that?"

"A room key card? What's so exciting about that? But if it's the finale, does that mean... there's something interesting in the room?"

"You guessed it, supposedly there's a beauty in there."

"A woman? Guys like us, we're not short on women. Even if it's an executive suite, what's so rare about giving us a woman?"

"Young Master Sterling just got married a few days ago, could it be Valerie—"

"Shh! You want to die? You dare to mention the Valerie family heiress's name? You don't know how much Young Master Sterling dotes on Valerie!"

"Since Valerie was eighteen, and Mr. Sterling arranged Ryder's engagement to Valerie, Ryder's annual birthday ritual has been cruises, parties, fireworks, sports cars. He sends her properties and estates without a second thought."

"Just spending money isn't that exciting, but the key is Ryder is willing to put effort into Valerie. Several islands in Southeast Asia are for Valerie's vacations; the French wine chateau is also Valerie's favorite; the lavender estate only supplies Valerie; Valerie's skincare products, perfumes, all custom-made by Young Master Sterling himself..."

"Valerie wasn't studying abroad? My niece was at the same school and said that during every exam week, Ryder would personally fly to Valerie's school and tutor her hand-in-hand... Tsk tsk tsk, that's how a man should love a woman: not just willing to spend money, but, more importantly, willing to spend his heart and time!"

I bit my lip, listening.

Before Valerie and Ryder got married, I had no idea they even knew each other!

Now it seemed, I was just Ryder's way of passing the time, relieving boredom.

To put it bluntly, I was just a bed warmer!

I was about to leave and look for someone else to borrow a phone from when I heard more chatter.

"I found out what Young Master Sterling's room key card means tonight!"

"It's a woman!"

"But not just any woman!"

"It's Stella Reed, the Reed family's notoriously wild adopted daughter, who supposedly has a very unique 'flavor'!"

"Apparently, Stella offended Valerie, and this is Young Master Sterling's punishment for her!"

"What's even more exciting is, tonight this room key card isn't just being sold to one person; the top ten bidders will each get a turn to 'enjoy' Stella!"

"Young Master Sterling also said he just took Stella for a full body check-up yesterday, and the results are perfectly clean. If anyone's worried, he can provide Stella's health records for the past seven years."

"Young Master Sterling said Stella was his personal property, and he wouldn't have 'auctioned' her off if she hadn't offended Valerie so badly. This 'little firecracker' needed a lesson he was apparently reluctant to give her personally."

Boom!

These words exploded in my mind!

Ryder... how could he be so utterly heartless towards me?!

He was utterly inhuman!

My two-day check-up... no wonder I hadn't received the report. It wasn't for me at all!

I had actually thought he was worried about me vomiting blood, that there was still some ridiculous spark of our old love!

I couldn't even imagine what I would face tonight.

I bit my lip, running like a headless chicken down the hotel corridor.

I had to escape!

Someone grabbed my neck from behind.

This person was tall, their arm powerful, and the scent... it was familiar.

It was Ryder's usual cologne.

The man, choking my neck, roughly dragged me back towards the executive suite I had just fled.

I screamed.

"Ryder, you can't do this to me! Let me go! I told you I can't marry you, let me leave, let's cut all ties, cleanly and completely!"

However, the man holding me showed no emotion.

He pushed me into the executive suite.

Before closing the door, he left me with a muffled blessing.

"Enjoy your night, Stella."