Scarred Seductress

The Auction

Selene’s weak eyes fluttered open, consciousness creeping back in with a faint groan. Her head throbbed, her breaths ragged and fast—she was in pain.

“You’re awake…” a man’s voice cut through the thick air of the room.

“You look a little different, I must say, Samantha… or do I call you Selene?”

Selene stole a quick glance around and swallowed hard, her eyes settling on the cuffs holding her hands together, a cold shiver shooting down her spine.

She panned her gaze toward the quiet figure smoking across the room, his back to her.

“It’s only been months since you moved to New York, Selene… and you’re already kissing the ass of your next victim…” he spat, turning slowly—only to meet Selene’s furious stare instead of a surprised gaze, as though she had known even before seeing his face. No one else would dare go this far with her but one man.

“I’ve always known you were a gold digger…” he sneered, closing in slowly as his eyes roamed over Selene’s body, her dress barely holding on.

He scoffed and tore his eyes away. “You married the old man just for his money… left him with no heir, then murdered him in cold blood right after he stupidly signed everything over to your name.”

He lowered himself to Selene’s level, his hand seizing her chin, forcing her eyes to lock with his.

“You’re really something, little w***e… I mean, not only did you sneak your way into my turf without fear, but you killed my brother and took everything that belonged to my family.”

Selene yanked herself free and rolled her eyes, anger burning hot. For so long, she had occupied her mind with thoughts of revenge, she had completely forgotten she’d stepped on a few people to get here.

“So tell me, Selene…” he drawled, “what do you suggest your punishment should be?”

“Punishment?” Selene smirked, surprise flashing across his face at her unwavered expression. She had no fear of him.

“Do you have a death wish?” Selene shot back, glaring straight into his gaze, her voice low and venomous.

“A death wish?” He chuckled, straightening slowly as he shook his head. She was still the same woman—the one he had warned his dying brother never to marry. Scheming. Fearless. Impulsive.

He had seen something wild in her eyes the very day his brother introduced them and had done everything within his power to sabotage the marriage. But his stubborn brother, infatuated by her beauty back then—a beauty she had now completely altered with surgeries—pushed ahead anyway. And in less than a year, she murdered him.

“I should be asking you the same, Selene…” he spat, then kicked her across the face.

A painful cry tore from her lips as pain exploded across her skull, blood spilling as a small cut split her lip.

“You must think you’re something now, walking around with my brother’s money at your disposal,” he sneered again, pacing the room as rage bled through his voice.

Selene spat blood, a small smile stretching her lips.

“Well, we’ll see how far that money can go for you, Selene.” He sneered, then chuckled proudly and cleared his throat.

The door clicked open.

A guard walked in.

“Sir…” he bowed.

“It’s time,” he said.

A scoff tore from his boss.

“The guests are waiting.”

“I’ll bring her myself,” he replied, dismissing the guard with a wave of his hand.

Selene darted blazing glares between them, for the first time a sliver of fear creeping in.

“What are you up to?” she managed, ignoring the pain rippling through her head as her mind spiraled.

He ignored her, walking over and yanking her to her feet.

“What do you think, Selene…”

He threw her over his shoulder, ignoring her screams, her fists pounding uselessly as she struggled to free herself. He carried her down a quiet hallway and soon stepped into the bright lights of a lavishly decorated hall—more like a gala—with only a handful of men present.

Their hungry eyes settled on Selene as he led her into a glass cage and tossed her onto the floor.

Selene’s eyes snapped wide as realization struck. He was pawning her off like merchandise—and the men present were there to buy her.

“Have you lost your mind?” she fired breathlessly, her gaze darting wildly.

He laughed and nodded toward a woman standing quietly in the corner, as though awaiting his command.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Selene yelled, struggling desperately against the cuffs.

“What am I doing?” he growled. “I’m doing exactly what I’ve wanted to do since the second I laid eyes on you, little w***e. I’m selling you—and the next time there’s an auction here, your son will definitely make the list.”

Selene swallowed hard, fear crashing violently through her. She had long carried guilt over his brother’s death and had vanished with his money to pursue her own war. Never had she imagined her hesitation to end him would come back like this.

“I didn’t kill your brother… I can explain—”

“Save your strength, Selene. You’ll need it later, I promise.”

He signaled the woman and lunged at Selene, tearing at the remaining fabric clinging to her skin.

“Please… we can settle this.”

“Name your price, Riccardo,” one of the men sneered loudly. “She’s beautiful, I must say.”

Selene’s eyes flew to him, desperate, pleading.

“She’s worthless,” Riccardo replied coolly. “All beauty, nothing special.”

His gaze locked onto Selene’s, the indifference forcing a hard swallow down her throat. His mind was made up.

“She has a son… and has spent her life warming the beds of countless men.”

Laughter rippled through the hall, hungry eyes roaming her mercilessly.

“She looks fine to me,” one man jeered.

“So do we get her son too when we buy her?” another asked.

That was it.

Selene’s bloodshot eyes snapped back to Riccardo, her teeth biting hard into her lip.

There was only one way out now—not running. Not explaining.

The woman tore away a piece of fabric, revealing the burn scar on Selene’s arm—the one she usually hid beneath foundation, the reason she had worn long sleeves tonight.

“She even has a scar?” one of them sneered. “How damaged is she, Riccardo?”

Riccardo smiled. “Why don’t you pay and find out for yourself, sir?”

A tear slipped down Selene’s cheek as the men argued among themselves, as though deciding her worth.

“The bidding starts at one million,” Riccardo announced.

Murmurs erupted, hands lifting.

“Two million.”

“I’ll make it three.”

Riccardo’s gaze met Selene’s, a slow smile curving his lips. Three million—more than what she’d taken from his brother. Enough to prove this was never about money.

“The bid is three million… going once… twice—”

“Twenty million.”

The voice sliced through the chaos.

Silence fell instantly.

And all eyes turned—including Selene’s.