Aurelia had never thought a heartbeat could feel like thunder.
Yet as she stood among those masked elites in the chandelier-lit ballroom, every pulse of hers felt like a warning drum. The air buzzed with secrets — the kind that were never spoken out loud, only bought, traded, and buried.
And all of them… were watching her.
Not because she belonged.
But because Ethan Kane — the untouchable billionaire CEO, the monster in a tailored suit — had walked in with her on his arm.
His hand still rested lightly at her lower back, a simple touch that somehow controlled the entire room. The message was clear:
She is mine. Touch her, and I'll end you.
Aurelia didn't know if that made her feel safe… or trapped.
Probably both.
Ethan leaned down slightly, his lips close enough that his breath warmed her ear.
"Smile," he murmured. "You're driving them insane."
She angled her head up with a polished smile she'd seen actresses fake online.
"You're enjoying this," she whispered.
He didn't deny it.
Instead, he guided her toward the center of the ballroom — where a single elevated table gleamed beneath a spotlight. Velvet box. Gold-etched envelope. A scandalous hush.
A charity auction, yes…
But everyone knew this wasn't about charity.
The prize tonight wasn't jewelry.
It was a person.
The host announced grandly:
"Item Number Seven:
A private dinner and negotiation rights with Mr. Ethan Kane!"
The crowd erupted into a frenzy.
Women practically clawed at the bidding paddles. Men smirked like this was another power game they could win. Numbers soared higher and higher.
Aurelia's chest tightened.
She didn't want him to be sold.
She didn't want to watch anyone else touch him.
She didn't want—
Wait. What was she thinking?
He was her captor. Her protector. Her… complication.
Her fists clenched slightly — and Ethan noticed.
He always noticed.
He leaned in again, voice velvet and iron.
"Whatever you're thinking, don't," he told her quietly.
"I'm not thinking anything," she lied.
His eyes lowered — slow, heavy — to her lips.
"That's the problem."
Her breath caught.
That single look hit like a spark against gasoline. Every nerve lit up, every instinct screamed, danger.
Then — a raised voice shattered the charged silence.
"I bid one million!"
Gasps swept the ballroom.
Aurelia's eyes widened.
The bidder was a woman — mid-thirties, fiercely beautiful, wrapped in emerald silk. She stared at Ethan like ownership was her birthright.
"That's Victoria Langford," someone whispered behind Aurelia.
"She's been trying to claim Ethan for years."
Aurelia's pulse jumped with something sharp and ugly.
Jealousy.
She hated it. She also couldn't stop it.
Victoria smirked straight at her, predatory.
"That man deserves someone who knows how to handle him."
Aurelia felt like she'd been slapped.
Ethan's fingers curled protectively at her waist — subtle but undeniable.
"And yet he walked in with me," Aurelia said before she could stop herself.
Victoria's eyes narrowed, filled with venom.
Ethan's grip actually tightened — approval blazing in his gaze.
But then—
"Two million," a masculine voice drawled.
The room shifted.
A tall man stepped forward, platinum mask gleaming, smile cold as a winter knife. Several gasps and backing steps told Aurelia enough:
Whoever he was…
People feared him.
His eyes slid to her — hungry, knowing.
"Aurelia Rose," he said her name like a sin. "Did you miss me?"
Her stomach dropped.
No.
No, it couldn't be.
Lucas Hale.
The man who'd ruined her father.
The man whose lies destroyed her life.
The reason the world believed she was a thief.
Her legs trembled.
Ethan instantly moved in front of her, blocking Lucas from view — a shield of muscle and power.
"Walk away," Ethan warned, voice low enough to kill.
Lucas laughed.
"Come now, Kane. We both know she belongs to me."
Aurelia's blood ran cold.
"That's not true," she forced out.
Lucas tilted his head mockingly.
"You forgot our contract? The debt your father owed me? The price he paid for failing?"
She froze.
Her father had never told her the full truth…
Ethan looked back at her sharply — reading her panic, memorizing every twitch.
Lucas raised his paddle again.
"Three million. And if I win… she comes with the dinner."
A thunderous murmur filled the room.
Ethan's face changed.
No warmth.
No teasing.
Just pure lethal fury.
"She is not part of this auction," he growled.
Lucas shrugged casually.
"She is if I say she is. I own her family. Therefore, I own her."
Aurelia flinched.
Shame and fear crawled under her skin… but then Ethan turned toward her fully, cupping her chin with surprising gentleness.
"Look at me," he commanded.
Her eyes lifted to his — stormy silver, burning.
"You are not property," he said, voice like a vow.
"You are not his."
He straightened, gaze cutting through Lucas like a blade.
"You belong with me."
Her heart tripped — messy, startled — but there was no time to react before Ethan raised his hand.
"Ten million."
Silence slammed down.
Even Victoria staggered.
Lucas's smirk faltered… briefly.
But then — a cruel, knowing glint.
"You think money buys everything? You don't know the depth of what binds her to me."
Ethan stepped closer, a predator ready to rip another apart.
"Then enlighten me."
Lucas leaned in, voice just loud enough to carry.
"Her father was convicted for stealing corporate assets."
Aurelia's throat closed.
Lucas smiled wider.
"And Aurelia helped him — forged documents, hacked accounts, hid the funds. She isn't innocent. She's a criminal."
Aurelia's lungs burned.
That was a lie — but a convincing one. The world had believed him before.
Ethan didn't move…
But something in his expression cracked — darkened.
He wasn't doubting her.
He was promising retribution.
"For every word you just spoke," Ethan said slowly, "you'll regret breathing."
Then he placed a single black card on the auction platform.
The host nearly fainted.
"Sold— to Mr. Ethan Kane!"
Applause erupted out of fear, not excitement. Victoria stormed out. Lucas stopped clapping, mask unable to hide his irritation.
But the real suffocating silence happened when Ethan faced Aurelia again.
He brushed his knuckles along her cheek — gentle but claiming.
"I don't care what he thinks he knows," he said.
"But you're going to tell me everything."
Her heartbeat kicked.
Not from fear.
From the intensity in his eyes… and the truth she couldn't avoid:
She wanted to trust him.
He offered his arm again — but she whispered:
"What if he's right? What if trusting me is your biggest mistake?"
Ethan's gaze softened into something dangerous and intimate.
"Angel," he murmured, "you underestimate just how much trouble I enjoy."
A warm shiver shot through her.
But then—
Lights cut out.
The music halted.
And a distorted voice boomed from the speakers:
"Ethan Kane has been compromised.
Code Black initiated.
Secure the target."
Armed guards poured in.
Not targeting Lucas.
Not the crowd.
Aurelia.
Lucas laughed darkly.
"You thought you owned the game? You are merely a player."
Hands grabbed her — rough, gloved, dragging her backward.
"Aurelia!" Ethan lunged forward, but three guards blocked him, guns raised.
Her scream ripped from her throat.
"No — Ethan!"
He fought wildly, fury unchained.
"Get your hands off her—!"
Lucas's final whisper echoed as she was forced toward a back exit:
"Debt must always be paid… sweetheart."
Her vision blurred — the last thing she saw was Ethan breaking a guard's jaw with his bare fist, roaring her name like a promise of war.
Then darkness swallowed her.
And she was gone.