The Blackthorne estate had many secrets, but none as forbidden as the Auction Hall. Hidden beneath the mansion, accessible only to the elite, it was where fortunes were lost and empires were made—not through money alone, but through power, blood, and secrets.
Eleanor had dressed carefully for the night. A sleek black gown hugged her curves, the slit high enough to allow movement but not vulnerability. A diamond choker gleamed at her throat, but it wasn't just jewelry—it was a silent declaration: she belonged to Alexander Blackthorne.
And yet, tonight, she wasn't just a wife—she was a player in the game.
Alexander's gaze never left her as they descended the underground passage, his grip firm on her waist. Protective. Possessive.
"You don't leave my side," he murmured against her ear.
She tilted her head slightly, lips curving in amusement. "Afraid I'll run?"
His jaw tightened. "Afraid they'll try to take you."
Her amusement faded at the seriousness in his tone. The auction wasn't just about wealth—it was about power, alliances… and people.
Sebastian walked ahead of them, his usual smirk replaced by quiet alertness. If even he was being serious, then Eleanor knew—tonight was different.
The doors to the Auction Hall were massive, carved from blackwood and lined with gold. Two guards stood at either side, armed, their expressions cold and unreadable.
As the doors opened, a hushed murmur swept through the crowd. Dozens of the world's most powerful people filled the grand hall, dressed in luxury, their eyes glittering with greed and calculation.
Chandeliers cast a golden glow over the velvet seats arranged in a theater-style layout, all facing a single elevated stage. The auction hadn't started yet, but anticipation crackled in the air.
Eleanor felt the weight of several stares on her, assessing, judging.
Alexander noticed. His arm tightened around her waist, his voice low and deadly. "Let them look."
Sebastian chuckled. "You do realize that's only going to make them more interested, right?"
Alexander ignored him, guiding Eleanor toward their private balcony overlooking the hall. Their seats were reserved, front and center, an unspoken reminder to everyone that the Blackthorne family ruled this world.
As they settled in, Eleanor spotted a familiar face in the crowd.
Lucian Vale.
He was seated directly opposite them, his emerald-green eyes watching her with interest. He raised his glass in a silent toast, a slow smirk playing on his lips.
Eleanor felt Alexander tense beside her. "I told you to stay away from him."
She kept her expression neutral, matching Lucian's gaze. "Maybe he should stay away from me."
Alexander exhaled sharply but said nothing.
A loud chime echoed through the hall. The lights dimmed, and the stage lit up.
The auction was about to begin.
The First Bid
A man in a crisp black suit took center stage. His presence commanded silence, and when he spoke, his voice was smooth, authoritative.
"Welcome," he began. "Tonight, we offer you power, knowledge, and the most valuable assets in the world. You know the rules—no names, no pasts, only the price you are willing to pay."
Eleanor swallowed. No pasts. No names. Only the price.
The first item was unveiled—a handwritten ledger belonging to a long-dead politician, containing secrets that could ruin entire governments.
The bidding began immediately. Millions were thrown into the air as if they were nothing.
Eleanor watched in fascination. Secrets had a price. Loyalties were bought. Trust was a currency.
As the night went on, the stakes grew higher. From confidential files to hidden alliances, every item auctioned had the power to change the course of history.
Then, the final item was brought forward.
The tension in the room shifted. A different kind of anticipation hung in the air.
Eleanor frowned. Why does it feel… different?
The announcer smiled. "Our last offering tonight is not a document, nor an object. It is… a promise."
Whispers erupted through the crowd.
The stage lights dimmed slightly, and a single spotlight illuminated a silver box. The announcer continued.
"This promise is one of loyalty, one that cannot be broken. The winner of this bid… will secure an unwavering allegiance."
Eleanor's heartbeat quickened. She looked at Alexander. His face was unreadable, but his grip on the armrest was tight.
Sebastian let out a low whistle. "Now that's interesting."
Eleanor frowned. "What does it mean?"
Alexander exhaled. "It means someone is selling themselves. Not as a servant, not as a prisoner—but as an unbreakable vow."
Sebastian grinned. "A human contract. Whoever wins the bid… owns the person for life."
Eleanor's stomach twisted. Someone was giving up their freedom.
The bidding started, and it was ruthless.
50 million. 100 million. 200 million.
The numbers climbed rapidly, until only two bidders remained.
One was Lucian Vale.
The other—
Eleanor's breath caught. Alexander.
She turned to him sharply. "What are you doing?"
Alexander didn't look at her. His cold blue eyes were locked onto the stage, his fingers tapping against the table as the numbers continued to rise.
Sebastian leaned back, intrigued. "Well, this just got fun."
Lucian smirked, raising the bid again. Alexander followed without hesitation.
The tension between them was palpable. It wasn't about money—it was about dominance.
The numbers skyrocketed past 500 million.
Eleanor's pulse pounded. She didn't even know who they were bidding for, but she could feel it—this was a battle.
Lucian leaned forward slightly, his green eyes flashing. He raised a single hand.
One billion dollars.
Gasps filled the room. No one had ever bid that high before.
Eleanor glanced at Alexander, expecting him to stop.
Instead, he lifted his hand. His voice was calm, controlled—deadly.
"Two billion."
The room fell into complete silence.
Eleanor's breath hitched.
Lucian held Alexander's gaze for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a slow, deliberate smirk, he leaned back in his chair.
"I concede."
The gavel struck the podium. "Sold."
Eleanor's mind raced. What just happened?
Alexander stood, adjusting his cufflinks as if he hadn't just spent two billion dollars in under two minutes.
Eleanor grabbed his arm. "Who did you just buy?"
Alexander finally turned to her. His blue eyes were unreadable, but his next words sent a chill down her spine.
"I just bought us an ally."
Eleanor's lips parted, but before she could demand answers, the silver box on stage opened.
A single figure stepped forward, bathed in dim light.
The sight made Eleanor freeze.
A woman.
And she looked exactly like Eleanor.
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Next Chapter: The Double Game
Eleanor comes face to face with a shocking truth. Who is the mysterious woman Alexander just bought—and why does she look exactly like her? As secrets unravel, danger closes in, and a betrayal threatens to destroy everything.