“What do you think is wrong?”
Katelyn bit her lip, considering before responding.
“Sophia brought Zoey here for the organ auction today, yet the T Organization runs its own underground market. Why bother with an auction here?”
They could have taken her life, harvested her organs, and sold them without a second thought. There was no reason for them to go through all this trouble to make a public auction.
Vincent knew her concerns. Looking gravely, he said,
“Hmm, no matter the reason for their choice, we need to stay alert.”
The complexity of the situation was greater than it seemed. Previously, no information on Sophia had been accessible, yet today, they had some. It appeared as if someone had intentionally leaked it.
At that moment, Sophia’s kick sent Zoey crashing to the floor, unable to get up. The prolonged abuse had severely damaged her limbs, and the fall only worsened her existing injuries. She contorted in pain, her face ghostly from the agony.
The onlookers, however, only found humor in her suffering, their faces twisted with cruel delight. A few took the chance to grope her, eliciting crude comments from the crowd.
“She’s infected, and you’re touching her? Aren’t you scared of getting sick?”
The man hastily wiped his hands on his clothes, retorting with a sneer,
“Ah, I nearly forgot.”
Laughter erupted from the group.
“You better sanitize yourself fast.”
The man who had touched Zoey quickly retreated to clean himself, cursing under his breath.
Sophia looked at Zoey with cold indifference, then casually took a seat and declared,
at ν﹒
“Her starting bid is one dollar. Feel free to bid as you like.”
The crowd exchanged wary looks. One dollar was a tempting offer, but Zoey’s contagious illness made them reconsider her usefulness. Her weak condition suggested she wouldn’t last long, even in a role as simple as a prostitute. She looked as if she were on the brink of death.
Despite her excruciating pain, Zoey clung to a thread of reason. Upon hearing Sophia’s announcement of the starting price, her resentment deepened. The humiliation was complete.
She was still a living, breathing person, yet her worth amounted to nothing more than a single dollar. Not a single one of these men saw any value in her. The heavy silence struck her like a stinging slap—sharp and unforgiving.
There was a time when she enjoyed a comfortable life at university, funded by Katelyn. Back then, many men sought her attention. But now…
Zoey lay crumpled on the floor, her arms wrapped around her knees. Fury built within her, but it found no escape.
If she had the power, she would make every person who had humiliated her suffer. She’d drag them to hell herself, toss them into the fire, and watch them burn alive. Only such retribution could satisfy the burning malice in her soul.
Onlookers stood by, merely watching the scene unfold. Suddenly, a fat man in his forties declared, “I’ll take her for two dollars.” The rest of the crowd showed little interest.
Sophia promptly agreed, “Sold, to you for two dollars.”
The transaction was swiftly concluded. For a mere two dollars, Zoey was passed off to the man.
.
.
.