Chapter 14

That voice was Ryder's.

Though muffled, as if he'd been drinking, I was certain.

The door clicked shut.

At the same time, the large screen in the room lit up.

I saw it was live-streaming tonight's hotel auction.

And currently on screen was the bidding for the very last item!

I saw the room key card displayed on the auction block, and the men below were practically wild, raising their paddles one after another!

"Ten thousand!"

"I bid fifty thousand!"

"One hundred thousand!"

"One hundred fifty thousand! Can't go any higher, right? I want to be the first to taste the Reed family's adopted daughter!"

"One hundred fifty thousand? I bid three hundred thousand! I want to be the first!"

I bit my lip so hard it almost bled, watching those almost madmen, trembling uncontrollably!

I rushed to the phone line, desperately trying to repair it, to call for help.

But it was futile.

The large screen flickered a few times, pausing the live stream of the auction.

It was replaced by a security camera feed.

I saw Ryder.

He was enjoying a candlelit dinner with Valerie.

Valerie clumsily cut her steak, and Ryder smiled indulgently.

He reached out, holding Valerie's hand, showing her how to apply pressure.

But Valerie still seemed unable to learn, so Ryder simply swapped his plate with hers.

Valerie clearly knew what was happening tonight, and even what I was going through.

Because she suddenly looked up, straight into the camera's lens.

And gave me an undisguised, malicious smile.

She mouthed—`Enjoy your wild night, Stella.`

I frantically searched for something in the executive suite.

This room, which I knew so intimately, where Ryder and I had spent countless wonderful nights.

I remembered putting a hair removal razor in a certain drawer once, casually.

Since it was a personal item, and this room was considered Ryder's and my private space, not open to others, the cleaning staff had never touched my things.

The live stream was off. I didn't know how far the auction outside had progressed.

The hotel clock ticked, a death knell.

Finally, I found what I needed – the delicate hair removal razor.

Tears began to fall, sobs catching in my throat, my hands trembling as I clumsily dismantled the blade.

I was only twenty-five years old. I was still young.

Even though my lover betrayed me and my family had always disapproved of me, I always felt my future was long, and I deserved a very good life.

Now, it seemed my life would end tonight.

I would rather die than be humiliated.

The auction must have ended. Footsteps echoed in the corridor.

Then a card swipe.

The electronic doorbell chimed.

I still couldn't bring myself to end my life.

Clutching the blade, I fled to the bathroom.

My heart was pounding so hard that all I could hear was my own ragged breathing.

I didn't hear the man who entered call my name.

Finally, I made up my mind.

I slammed the bathroom door shut and locked it.

Then, I grabbed the blade, aimed it at the faint blue vein on my wrist, and, without hesitation, sliced down hard!