Return Of The Supreme General

Chapter 2

THE AUCTION HOUSE

The hall of the Auction House was massive. People in fancy clothes walked around, talking quietly and sipping champagne as they awaited the entrance of the host, who had promised them a new lady.

"Did you hear? Tonight's item is something extraordinary," someone whispered from the gathering of lustful men, referring to Miguel’s sister, Elizabeth.

"Indeed, a rare piece, so I heard. She must be perfect enough to satisfy all my needs in bed," another man from the crowd said in response. Hearing this, everyone chuckled.

It was no ordinary auction; the prize on display was a human being—a young woman whose life had been shattered by the Golden Circle, the same people responsible for her parents' death.

Behind the curtain, Elizabeth sat huddled in a cold, iron cage. Her heart pounded in her chest as she listened to the sounds of the crowd just beyond the heavy drapes.

She could feel their eyes on her, even before they could see her. All she could do was imagine what each of those lustful men would do to her if any of them successfully bought her.

Her wrists were raw from the rough ropes that had bound her during transport, and her skin was marred with bruises. She was still really beautiful and extraordinarily attractive, despite the fact that her body was bruised.

Standing in front of the cage, two round-bellied men in black suits whispered to themselves.

"How much do you think she'll fetch? She is really attractive, we should sell her off at something tangible."

"Doesn't matter. What matters is who buys her. The higher the bid, the worse her fate. Whoever finally gets her will make her suffer, that’s the joy of it!"

"Get ready," a gruff voice commanded from outside the cage. The curtain was about to rise, and she knew there was no escape from the nightmare that awaited her.

The auctioneer, a man with a sly smile, stepped up to the podium. He looked out at the crowd, clearing his throat.

“Can I have your attention, please?!” he called, clapping his hands three times.

"Gentlemen," he began when there was absolute silence.

"We have a truly unique offering for you this evening. A rare treasure, one that will surely make any collector proud. You know what I mean by proud, don’t you? This thing we have for you tonight is going to make all your fantasies come true in just one night."

“Now, raise the curtains!” he declared to the two men standing in front of the cage. They nodded.

The curtain slowly parted, revealing the cage that held Elizabeth. The crowd’s murmurs grew louder as they caught sight of her—dressed in torn, dirty clothes that barely covered her bruised body. Her long hair hung limply over her shoulders.

Despite everything and how messy she looked because of the struggle, the men gawked at her.

“She is mine!” one voice said, almost salivating at the sight of Elizabeth, and the auctioneer huffed.

The auctioneer smirked as he saw the reactions of the audience in general. He knew he had them hooked. "This, my friends, is no ordinary woman. She is the sister of the man who dared to challenge the Four Great Families known as the Golden Circle. And now, she is yours to own, to command, to do with as you please."

“With just the right amount of money, you can have her as your puppet, a servant, a slave, a toy, and a lot more. Isn’t that what you all are here for?!” he said, and everyone cheered.

A wave of sickening excitement swept through the room. Elizabeth felt her stomach churn as she looked out at the sea of faces—men who saw her not as a person but as an object to be bought and used. Her hands tightened around the bars of the cage as fear welled up within her.

The auctioneer raised his hand to signal the start of the bidding. "Shall we begin the bidding at one dollar? Yes, you heard me correctly. One dollar for this exquisite creature."

The crowd erupted in laughter at the insultingly low starting bid. It was clear that this was more than just an auction; it was an act of humiliation.

Elizabeth closed her eyes, trying to block out the jeers and the lewd comments that filled the air.

A man from the Nelson Family—a portly figure with a cruel smile—stepped forward, eager to make his mark. He had once tried to ask Elizabeth out, and tried to get her to be his concubine, back when she was still living in comfort and security. But she had rejected him, turning him down with grace and politeness. He had never forgiven her for that.

He believed that tonight was the perfect time to torment her for her rejection...

"I’ll start with fifty million dollars," the Nelson Family man announced, his voice filled with lust. The room fell silent for a moment as the sum registered in their minds. Then, as if on cue, the crowd burst into applause, egging him on.

Elizabeth looked up in horror as the man grinned at her.

“Look at you now...” he said to Elizabeth with a lustful smile on his lips.

"You should have accepted my offer back then," he said coldly, his eyes filled with twisted satisfaction. "But now, you’ll be mine whether you like it or not. I could have had you with your permission, but you refused. Guess what, I think it is more pleasurable if I have you without your permission. And when I’m done with you, I’ll make sure everyone in this room gets their turn."

“Yes!” the crowd roared with approval, their cheers and laughter echoing off the walls.

Elizabeth recoiled in terror, tears welling up in her eyes as she tried to pull away from the bars of the cage. But there was nowhere to go, no escape from the nightmare that was happening before her.

Before she could fully process the horror of what was happening, he stepped forward—closing the distance. He was tall and imposing, with a cruel set to his mouth as he eyed Elizabeth like a predator sizing up its prey.

"Fifty million is a fair price," the Nelson Family man said, his voice cold and calculating. "But let’s see what she’s really worth." Without waiting for a response, he reached into the cage and began tearing at her clothes, his fingers rough and unrelenting.

The crowd’s excitement reached a fever pitch as they watched. Elizabeth struggled against him, her hands slapping at his arms as she tried to fend him off.

"Stop! Don’t touch me!" she cried out, her voice cracking with desperation. "My brother, Miguel, will come for me! He’ll kill you if you touch me!"

The man from the Nelson Family laughed.

"Your brother?" he scoffed, not even pausing in his assault. "He’s not here to save you. And even if he was, do you really think he could stop all of us? You’re all alone, girl. No one’s coming to rescue you."

Elizabeth felt the last shreds of hope slip away as his words sank in. She could feel the walls closing in around her, the reality of her situation pressing down like a weight on her chest.

Her mind raced, searching for a way out, any way to escape the nightmare that was about to consume her.

She considered ending it all right then and there. If she could just find something sharp—anything—she could end her own life before they had the chance to strip away what little dignity she had left.

Immediately the thought crossed her mind, the door to the Auction House suddenly flew open with a thunderous crash.

The noise silenced the room in an instant, and all eyes turned toward the entrance...

There, framed in the doorway, stood Miguel. His presence was like a force of nature.

The Nelson Family man froze, his hands still clutching the tattered remains of Elizabeth's dress. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as the two men locked eyes—one filled with rage, the other with sudden, paralyzing fear.

Miguel clenched his fists...