impossible!!|–|
Chapter 5
The screen, which had displayed a glaring $0.00 moments aes, suddenly flickered.||
Then the numbers exploded|||
single digits to thousands. Thousands to millions. Millions to-
Billions.]
CRASH
The microphone hit the floor with a thud as the auctioneer gripped the podium for balance.
“Impossible… how could someone secure this mach banding so quickdyr
The guards holding me froze, their grips slackening in shock.
I straightened my sleeves: “Borry about that. Large transfers take time to clear. Hope I didn’t embarras everyone“]]
Speme collapsed back into their nests, utterly stunned[]
I turned to the host Tell me can 365 photos be bought out, or does the sky still have a prit?||
The host scrambled to regain his composure, wiping sweat from his brow, “Y-yes! Aham Bidder 38, sky’s the limit-
The room erupted in shocked murmurs ]]
The man who’d taunted marlier collapsed into h
Whispers tore through the crowd
his seat, fare ashen. His formine? Pocket change compared to the digits now flashing on screen.
“How the hell did a bankrupt heiress secure billions in minutes? ||
1 Mr. Reed lie to us? Has Emma been hiding her true wealth all along?“||
“Dr–whe backing her?”
“Nonsense! Who’s bigger than Mr. Reed]
1 stood up and walked step by step to Blake’s seat
Raising my hand, I delivered a resounding slap across his face:[]
74
The crisp sound echoed throughout the hall]
Blake’s head turned slightly, jaw tightening ||
Everyone held their breath.
Taking naked photos without my consent?” i demanded|]
Then, mother slap landed on his other direk:
Recording private videos without permission?“||
I raised my hand for the third time!
Suddenly, a peute gai darted between us ||
Sap
This blow landed squarely on Sophia’s face ||
Blake’s icy composure shattered. “Sophia!
Though Sophia had only received one slap, she acted as if she’d been gravely injured, collapsing dramatically into Blake’s arm|||
Before I could react, a hand fisted in the back of my rollar–yanking me harkivant.]
I hit the floor, pain exploding through my tailboar |
“Les go- 1 twisted, but a sickening CRACK wrenched through my wrist as a guard forced me onto my knees.||
Blake’s entire security team had moved in
And now. I was trapped.]]
sty breach hitched, the realization hitting me-
When I had slapped Blake, his guards hadn’t move
moved]
But the moment Sophia took a single slap-|||
He unleashed them on me.
Does it hurt?” Blake knelt beside Sophia, his eyes filled with concern.
Sophia shook her head, tears glistening as she glanced at me
“Blaké, don’t blame Emma. She was just upset and lashed out. As long as you’re okay. I dont mind–|
Blake froze.
Then he straightened
And walked toward me.]
CRACK!
His palm struck my face so hard any neck supped sideways
Bla-
CRACK
Another blow silenced me. The metallic tang of blood flooded my mouth
He didn’t even look at me as
as he turned away. “Keep going,” he ordered the guards. “Until Sophia says stop.
A wall of inuscle blocked my vision–one of Blake’s private security. His hand, thick as a brick, swung toward me.||
Between the lows, I caught glimpses of them my once beloved husband rating Sophia on his lap, tenderly examining her slapped cheek, carefully applying toe.
*Mr. Reed, she is coughing blood,” one guard reported, pausing lila asuult||
Blake’s hand, resting on Sophia’s waist, stilled)
He looked up just as I spat a mouthful of crimson onto the machie flour. My gaze locked onto his, teeth clenchel||
“Why?” My volor was raw.
What
“Why are you doing this to me? Dizzin
deserve this?”
For a bartbeat, silence
The Blake set Sophia aside
다
* Dizziness direatened to pull me under, but i forced the words aul. “I’ve never betrayed you. Never. So tell me
In three strides, he was on me, he seized my jaw with such force I thought my bones would shaner |{}
“Emina, you only married into the Reed family because you saved my life years ago. []
“But I know the truth now. It was Sophia who pulled me from that wreckage. You let me believe it was you let me marry you–while she suffered in silence!
inis words slammed into me like a freight train
Immediately looked at Sophia
A flicker of panic crossed her face before she rushed to Blake’s side, “Blake, Emma borrowed so much tonight Shouldn’t we help her repay it first? “||
Instantly, Blake’s murderous expression softened. He grabbed the microphone, his voice booming through the hall:[]
Ladies and gentlemen. Emma Calloway’s borrowed funds have absolutely no connection to Reed Group, She bears full responsibility for all debts. My legal team will soon reach an agreement with her, and I invite you all to witness it,”
Just then, the doors burst open. A suited man hurried in.|||
“Mr. Reed, that pigeon blood ruby Ms. Moore admired has appeared at Sotheby’s.“||
“Oh Blake raised an eyebrow, his tone displeased: If Ms. Moore likes it, buy it immediately! Why bother informing me?”
“Y–Yes sir
That man bowed–then froze, catching sight of me on the floor, blood smeared across my lips. His eyes widened briefly before he schooled his features.
“Wait” Blake stopped him. “Directly buy out the whole auction.“]
The man turned in surprise: “Sir… there are 138 items in the auction. Are you bidding on all of them?”
Blake treating auctions with a ‘sky’s the limit approach was his usual way.
But a complete buyout was unprecedented–this man had worked for Blake for years and had never seen such extravagance.
Then Blake’s thumb brushed Sophia’s cheek and said ge
gently.
Ms. Moore received an unwarranted slap today. I’m gifting her something to ease her distress.” ||
The man’s gaze darted to me again, something unreadable in his eyes, before he nodded and left.] “Blake“]
1 dragged myself upright, my thumb brushing away the blood at the corner of my lips, all that remained in
was wrong about you.
terribly wrong.
my eyes was icy despair.
