A mysterious man
1803 Words
Meanwhile, the scene that just happened a few minutes ago didn't affect the auction as Cynthia stepped forward for the auction to start.
Everyone went back to sit to show how ready they were already.
A man stepped on the stage. He was wearing a black suit and an eye patch.
“We are starting the auction now, but there's a small rule,” he hesitated and looked at the people's faces before he continued. “The bidders shouldn't bid less than five hundred thousand dollars.”
Everyone cleared their throats, but no one could say a word.
“And with that, the bidding has started,” the man smiled and finally left the stage.
Just then, some men in black pushed an antique painting onto the stage.
Everyone's eyes widened. It was then paintings of the Watch Night, the one Betty had broken a few minutes ago. If so, how then was another one on the stage?
Then they realised that Betty must have smashed the fake one. But why would Lucas do something like that to Betty?
Well, it wasn't news. Everyone knew the Sterling family went bankrupt after Betty called Damon. Everyone knew because Ethan was around that day. Besides, the Sterling family didn't only go bankrupt; they were insulted.
And this looked like a perfect comeback. What had happened a few minutes ago was a public revenge by the Sterling family on Betty Lavender for what she had done.
“This is ‘The Night Watch’ painting, and it will start with eight million dollars! The bidding can start now!” one of the men initiated.
The people stared, shocked. After the Sterling family went bankrupt, they liquidated all their assets. Well, maybe excluding the rare and expensive painting.
Actually, when Lucas invited people to come to the auction, they thought it was all going to be about the paintings alone because it was the only asset the family had currently. And a sale of it would pull them out of the crisis.
But then, it wasn't just worth eight million dollars. The painting is worth more. It's worth over 500 billion dollars.
How then can the one currently on the stage be for just eight million dollars?
Definitely, it was also fake.
Lucas knew what he was doing. He couldn't bear to part with the real ‘Night Watch, so he devised another plan. To sell the fake one and use it to get the Sterling family back on track.
But at this point, no one could back away or even say a word concerning it. There was no use getting on Lucas’ wrong side. He was the confidant of General Haines in the West. Getting into trouble with him was a bad idea.
“I will take it for 8.5 million dollars,” a man started. “I'm from the Perry family.”
“We will take it for 9 million dollars! From the Donald's family!”
Even though it was fake, people continued to bid until it eventually got sold for ten million dollars.
Then, another vase came on stage. Yet again, it was all fake.
Well, the Sterling Bank has nothing currently. So, all their items tonight would probably be fake. And they would be forced to buy them with tangible amounts.
Meanwhile, in the basement, the Lavenders' family was still tied. While some had fainted at the sight of Betty's blood, the others were wailing.
Everyone was devastated and scared.
Everyone knew who Lucas really was. Even though they had no idea or even the mind to go against him to start with, they knew it wouldn't go down easily. Sir Lucas Sterling doesn't forgive so easily.
That was one of his flaws. So, it was hard for people to cross him.
“Please, Betty. You have to say something. You have to think,” Ann yelled suddenly from where she was. The ropes around her wrist were already hurting her.
“Yes, Betty. You have to do whatever Sir Lucas wants. Don't get him more upset,” Sean beseeched softly.
Betty cried harder as she tried to think about it. It was a long time ago already. She barely remembered it, even though she was always reminded of the consequences every day until recently, when Drey helped her to regain her beauty back.
“You are not talking, Betty. I don't like when someone keeps me waiting,” Lucas muttered and moved the knife towards her forehead.
He was careful this time not to scratch her, but Betty's heart almost stopped beating in fear.
“I don't know; I sincerely don't!” Betty screamed suddenly.
She tried again and remembered she had no idea who owned the villa before she even entered the fire.
“Oh, you must truly wish for death.”
“I don't know him; I'm saying the truth. I merely heard his cry for help, and I jumped inside to help him. He was badly injured when I pulled him out. So, I went to get help. When I got back, he was gone. He was so badly injured, his face was unidentifiable. I couldn't see him. The only thing I know is that he is a boy, but I have no idea what his name was or what he even looks like,” Betty rushed out.
She was crying now, her tears mixed with the red liquid and making her feel even more miserable than she already was.
Lucas scoffed. “You don't want to talk?”
Betty started to shake her head. “I've told you all I know. I'm so sorry, but I don't have what you are asking for.”
Sean broke down into tears. “I knew she would be the death of us. Please, sir Lucas, this was all her fault. Please, don't punish us for what she has done.”
“Yes! We were not in with her. Please, let us go.”
“She's always causing trouble for the family. Just get rid of her and let us be.”
Betty closed her eyes and cried even harder. What kind of family did she have? Everyone was blaming her, and she didn't even know what to do. Weren't families supposed to support each other? Her own family has always gone against her.
When her skim incident happened, everyone had mocked her, including her family. She suggested going for plastic surgery, but her family said they couldn't afford to waste such a huge amount of money on her.
Most times, she wondered if she was truly one of the Lavenders.
Lucas stepped back and studied Betty for a moment. It looked to him that Betty doesn't really know the person she saved the other day.
But he wasn't done with her. He was going to use her as a scapegoat. She would be an example to anyone that thinks they could actually go against the Mighty Sterling family. He was going to show them the end of people that oppose him and the family.
“You! Take her to the auction ground,“ he ordered.
At this order, two men moved forward and untied Betty slightly so they could pull her off the chair.
“Please, I have no idea who he is. I'm so sorry about everything. Please, forgive me!” She beseeched as the men pulled her up violently and started to drag her out.
They pushed her forward violently, yanking her here and there. Suddenly, Betty's hair was covering her face, and she couldn't see clearly. And her hands were still tied together.
As Betty moved, she heard some voices coming from somewhere around her. Hope swelled up inside of her.
“Please, help me,” she called for help with the hope that someone would hear her and help her.
The men's eyes widened with shock as Betty was led to the stage. They couldn't believe their eyes at what Betty had been reduced to.
Her dress was ripped here and there, and as they pushed her towards the floor, she bruised her knee.
“Please, help me,” she muttered, but no one could step forward. Everyone watched her but was scared to help.
Lucas stepped out almost immediately, and everyone jerked back. His shirt was stained slightly, and it looked like blood.
Everyone at the auction were big men in Orange Park, but even some of them were affected by the sight of it.
But Lucas wasn't done. He held onto Betty's hair and yanked it back so everyone would be able to clearly see her stained face.
“Whoever has defied us and will defy us should be careful! The Sterling family does not forgive!” Then, he gently moved the knife a little above her other cuts and drew a line.
Betty's scream filled the whole hall. She fell into despair. She was scared and couldn't even stop crying.
It looks like Louis had no plan of letting her go, and she was tired already. The pain on her face was too much.
“Just kill me! Stop torturing me and get done with it already!”
Outside, Drey and Charles were ready to step inside.
They moved inside through the backdoor because the front door was heavily guarded by Lucas’ men. When in, he sent Charles ahead to see the situation of things.
And he took the only way he could really see what was happening. It was the upper room at the hall. With it, Drey could easily see what was happening at the auction.
Suddenly, Betty screamed, alerting him. He hurried closer to see what was happening. Why would Betty scream like that? That aside, it felt like a cry of pain, a cry for help.
“Please, he's going to kill me! Help me!” Betty yelled the more.
Drey couldn't believe what he was looking at. His blood boiled suddenly, and he clenched his fist in anger.
On the stage, Lucas regarded the crowd for another moment before he turned to Betty again. He slowly moved to her back, with the knife still on her face.
Betty winced whenever the knife moved along the previous cuts.
“You know something,” he suddenly whispered into her ear. “I will give you the last chance. If you can reveal who you rescued ten years ago.”
Betty shook her head briefly. “I don't know! I have no idea!” She yelled.
“Tell me who he was! Where is he? Where is the man you saved ten years ago? Lucas yelled.
The door burst open suddenly, drawing attention away from Lucas.
“It's me,” a deep voice, laced with murderous intent, echoed throughout the whole hall.
His voice sent shivers down people's spines. Who was this man!
- Writer
