From the first time he saw her, Lucas Walker knew she as the rib that God had taken from him.
...
...
High seas.
A cruise ship was slowly moving across the water and an auction was taking place on the top deck.
Unlike other auctions, the items offered weren't jewelry or artwork or other physical assets, but people—young, beautiful women.
"This is our last item for the night. To surprise you all, I've prepared a special gift. I call her 'The Sleeping Angel'!" As the host's pleasant voice resonated, a large box sealed with red silk gradually descended from the roof. "The starting price for this item is five million USD. For every increase of one million, we will raise the box by five centimeters. Now, please place your bids!"
Five million USD?
Upon hearing this number, the distinguished guests from around the world were somewhat taken aback. They were not short of money, everyone here had a fortune worth several billion at least.
However, the starting price of this item was simply too high.
After all, the highest starting price for the nine girls who were previously auctioned was only one hundred thousand USD.
What kind of woman was worth such a high price?!
Fueled by this curiosity, everyone's interest in this last girl instantly skyrocketed.
"Six million!"
The first bid, modulated electronically to disguise the bidder's voice, came from VIP private room number three.
Every auction participant had their own VIP private room, separated from the stage by transparent glass. These glasses were one-way mirrors.
Meaning, the guests could see the auction items on the stage, but no one could see who was participating in the auction.
Absolute secrecy and privacy.
The rope around the large box slowly retracted, inching upwards.
A tiny foot was the first to emerge. It was a delicate, translucent foot, just like jade.
Under the lighting, it seemed carved from jade. Each toe was like a work of art—impeccably made.
As expected—a premium item.
"Eight million!"
The rope rised again.
The girl's calves and palms came into view. She was leaning against a comfortable mini-couch inside the box, half-sideways.
Long black hair poured down like silk, her exposed legs below the denim hot shorts gleamed like jade.
Two slender and beautiful legs, proportioned to perfection, young and tempting.
"Nine million!"
"Ten million!"
...
The bidding escalated, consequently, the box rose bit by bit.
Now the girl's body was fully revealed. She was clearly very young, and although her body was not voluptuous, it radiated youthful vitality.
"Twenty million!"
Following the bid from the guest in VIP private room one, the auction reached its climax. All eyes were focused on the gradually rising box.
Eager to see, what she really looked like.
As the box was lifted, the girl was revealed completely. Yet, they still couldn't see her face.
Because she was wearing a mask that covered the upper half of her face. Only a sharp chin and cherry blossom-like tender lips were visible. Her long eyelashes hung low over the eyes outside the mask.
Delicate and ethereal.
Yes, indeed, she was just like a sleeping angel.
There was a tiny blood-red gemstone earring on her delicate left earlobe, glinting under the light.
Inside VIP private room number nine, seeing that earring, the man's fingers, which had been resting leisurely on the table, abruptly tightened.
Then, he straightened up, leaned towards the microphone, and muttered two words.
"One hundred million!"
One hundred million for a woman?
Gasps echoed around, coming from everywhere except VIP private room number nine.
Even if she truly were an angel, she couldn't be worth this much, right?
After a moment of silence, everyone else chose to back down.