Anna's world shattered into a million pieces when she received the devastating news of her father's passing. Her father, the head of a powerful business empire, had suddenly been taken from her. Grief consumed her, but little did she know that her sorrow would only deepen as she found herself alone in this world. Little did she know, her stepbrother luca's, who had always coveted her father's fortune, was planning his next move even before her father's body had gone cold.
As she sat there, lost in her thoughts, suddenly the door to the room swung open with a loud bang. Anna's heart skipped a beat as her stepbrother stepped through the door. His cold, calculating gaze scanned the room before settling on her. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized he was the one who had arranged this terrible fate for her.
"What do you want?" Anna asked him flatly.
Her stepbrother sneered at her, his eyes filled with contempt. "What do I want? Do you really expect me to answer that, you foolish girl?" He took a step towards her, his tone dripping with venom.
As her stepbrother approached her, Anna felt a sense of dread wash over her. She knew he was here to taunt her, to revel in her suffering. And yet, she refused to let him see her fear. Instead, she met his gaze head-on, her eyes blazing with defiance.
"Leave me alone," Anna hissed at him. But it was no use, Lucas remained unmoving, a cruel smile playing at his lips. "Oh, dear sister, I'm afraid that's quite impossible. You see, I've gone to a lot of trouble to ensure you end up exactly where I want you to be."
Anna's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean? What have you done?" she demanded, anger surging within her.
Lucas chuckled coldly, relishing in Anna's confusion. "You really don't realize the bind you're in, do you?" He taunted. "Your father's fortune, his entire legacy, it's all been signed away. To me."
Anna's heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to make sense of Lucas's words. "That's impossible!" she cried out. "Our father would never let you have it all! He promised me!"
"Ah, but that's where you're wrong," Lucas sneered. "Our father was a weak man, always prone to rash decisions. He promised you all kinds of things, didn't he? But he never bothered to put any of it in writing."
Tears welled up in Anna's eyes as the realization dawned on her. "You tricked him," she accused, her voice trembling. "You manipulated him into signing it all away! You're a monster, Lucas. I hate you!"
Lucas's eyes glinted dangerously. "You hate me?" he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Good. Let that hatred fester within you, Anna. It will only make this next part all the more delicious."
Anna could hardly believe what she was hearing. "What are you talking about, Lucas? What more could you possibly do to me?" she pleaded, desperation creeping into her voice.
Lucas let out a cold, heartless laugh. "Oh, I have plenty more in store for you, my dear sister. First, I'm going to make sure that you suffer just as much as I did. Then, just when you think there's no more pain left for you to endure, I'm going to sell you off to the highest bidder. And I'm not going to hold back, either."
Anna's stomach dropped as Lucas spoke, her body shaking with terror. "You can't be serious," she whispered, struggling to keep up. "Please, don't do this. This isn't you, Lucas. You've changed since our father passed. Why are you punishing me like this?"
Lucas' face contorted with anger, his eyes narrowing at her. "You think I'm the one who has changed? Do you have any idea how it felt to watch our father give everything to you, while I was left with nothing?" he seethed, his voice dripping with venom. "You were his favorite, always the one he cherished and doted upon. And now, now you will pay the price for his affection. You will suffer, as I have suffered."
Tears streamed down Anna's face as she pleaded with her brother. "This isn't right, Lucas! You can't do this to me! Please, have mercy on me! You know I didn't want this, I never wanted any of it!"
Lucas looked at her coldly, his eyes devoid of emotion. "Mercy? You think you deserve mercy? You don't know the meaning of the word." He turned towards the door and gestured for her to follow him. "Come, your punishment awaits you."
Anna hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had no choice but to follow him, to face whatever terrible fate he had planned for her. As she followed him out of the room, she couldn't help but wonder what kind of nightmare she had stumbled into.
As they walked through the dimly lit hallways, the faint sound of an auctioneer's voice could be heard in the distance. Lucas led her closer to the voice, and soon they found themselves standing at the back of a small, luxurious auction house, the atmosphere thick with tension and anticipation. The auctioneer, a gruff-looking man with a sly grin, was busy drumming up interest in a new item.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the auctioneer announced, his voice booming through the room, "welcome to our exclusive auction. Today, we have a very special item up for sale. A young lady, freshly blossoming into womanhood. She comes from a high standing family, making her quite the prize."
As the auctioneer continued his speech, Anna felt sick to her stomach. She couldn't believe this was happening, that she was nothing but a commodity to be sold off to the highest bidder. She glanced over at her brother, her eyes burning with anger and hatred. But Lucas seemed unaffected, almost enjoying the spectacle of his sister's suffering.
The auctioneer continued to describe Anna's perceived 'qualities,' his words growing more descriptive and lewd as the bidding war grew more intense. She felt like a piece of meat, being appraised and judged by the leering men in the audience. She felt humiliated, helpless, and terrified.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the gavel finally struck, and the auctioneer announced the new owner of the lot. "Sold!