1 My parents’ treasured heirloom lockets – matching pieces that had been passed down for generations – suddenly appeared at the May Day charity auction. No matter how high I bid, my wife’s childhood friend always outbid me by precisely a hundred dollars. It was the hundredth time he’d brazenly tried to snatch everything I valued. But my wife, Victoria, merely shrugged. “They’re just two worthless pieces of old metal. It’s Andy’s birthday today. If he likes them, just let him have them.” I laughed, a bitter, furious sound, then firmly declared my “All-In” bid. When the auction ended, my parents’ lockets were back in my possession, just as I’d intended. Victoria, surprisingly, didn't seem angry. If anything, our relationship grew even closer, more affectionate. I indulged her every whim and fantasy in the year that followed. Then came our first wedding anniversary. I meticulously prepared an extravagant gift for my wife. Simultaneously, I received an invitation to an exclusive private auction. The sole item on offer: “999 intimate videos of the Blackwood heir.” Victoria appeared, arm-in-arm with Andy Wick, her eyes alight with a cruel amusement. “It’s Andy’s birthday. He wanted something a little more exciting. Since you love competing with him for things, I thought I’d let you bid to your heart’s content this time.” My laugh was bleak, hollow. So be it. Her wish was my command. Pixelated videos began to play on the giant screen. The scenes were painfully familiar: our wedding suite, the home I had meticulously built and cherished for her. “The Blackwood heir always seemed so proper and reserved. Never thought he’d be such a wild one in bed!” “Now that’s what you call a prize possession. I heard he pursued Victoria Vance for three years. She’s really lucky, isn’t she?” A group of older women whispered and winked, their comments laced with lewd delight. My fists clenched, nails digging into my palms, as I turned to Victoria, trembling. “Why?” Even though ours was an arranged marriage, we’d had three years of shared history, three years of building a life together. Despite Andy’s relentless provocations, nothing had seemed to disrupt the affection we’d shared over the past year. We’d even started planning for a child, hoping to conceive soon. Victoria nestled deeper into Andy’s embrace, her gaze scornful, utterly cold. “Because you always love to compete with Andy, and it upsets him.” Her smile widened. “You like your ‘All-In’ bids, don’t you? Well, here are 999 videos. Take your time, bid to your heart’s content.” Andy chuckled, planting a kiss on Victoria’s lips, his triumphant smile a painful stab to my heart. “Sweetheart, you really do care about me. But the Blackwood family is practically ruined. Julian, a mere house-husband, wouldn’t have enough money, even if he sold himself, would he?” The room erupted in derisive laughter. Malicious, assessing stares fell upon me. “The Blackwood parents are long dead, and the Blackwood Corporation is now in Victoria Vance’s hands. At this auction, the only ones with the funds to buy all those videos are Ms. Vance and Mr. Wick.” Victoria glanced at me, her indifference palpable. “I wouldn’t want such filthy videos to sully Andy’s eyes. I won’t be participating in this auction. Ladies, feel free to bid as you wish.” “Victoria, you’re so generous!” The women cheered. Andy embraced Victoria, teasing her. “Sweetheart, you helped our Wick family crush Blackwood, and you absorbed the Blackwood Corporation. Julian must be penniless now. Should we help him out?” Victoria’s eyes were full of adoration as she kissed Andy’s cheek. “Why bother with him? He owes you everything.” I stared at my wife, utterly disbelieving. She was a stranger. I stammered, “The Blackwood Corporation’s troubles… was that your doing?” Victoria scoffed, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Blackwood was an eyesore to Andy. I merely helped him get some satisfaction.” My fists clenched tighter, my heart feeling like it was being brutally squeezed. So, it was all a premeditated act of revenge, simply because a year ago, I’d reclaimed my parents’ heirlooms from Andy’s grasp? Victoria looked down at me, her tone imperious. “Julian Blackwood, I can give you a chance. Bid ‘All-In,’ or… kneel and apologize to Andy, a thousand times.” I took a deep breath, my voice firm. “I won’t kneel to him.” A flicker of surprise crossed Victoria’s face, followed by a mocking laugh. “Julian Blackwood, do you even have a choice? Or do you want to see the Blackwood name utterly disgraced?” I looked at the auctioneer, my eyes resolute. “Begin.” On the large screen, my humiliating moments were displayed in full. The auctioneer, hammer in hand, smiled meaningfully. “Lot number one: the kitchen video! Starting bid: one million dollars!” A collective gasp swept through the room. “The kitchen! Ms. Vance certainly knows how to pick a place.” “Never thought the esteemed Blackwood heir would be so… compliant! I bid two million!” I trembled, watching the scene on the screen. It was my birthday. Victoria had personally baked me a cake, and I, deeply touched, had been pulled by her into a night of passion in that very kitchen. She had a particular fetish, and I had gritted my teeth and indulged her, even agreeing to certain… props. 2 Now, I was the one on display, the very item being auctioned. Victoria sat calmly on the raised platform, her eyes filled with open mockery. That gaze, sharp as a blade, sliced into my already fragile heart. All eyes were on me, the mocking laughter echoing in my ears, threatening to drown me. I slumped back into my seat, my voice weak. “All-In bid.” The attendant didn’t light the ‘Sky Lantern’ above my head. Instead, he reminded me, a taunting edge to his voice, “Mr. Blackwood, your account has just been frozen.” “What?!” My face registered utter disbelief. After the Blackwood Corporation’s liquidation, there was still a ten-million-dollar deposit left – the last assets my parents had saved for me before their passing. “His assets are frozen? What’s he going to bid with now?!” “I thought he could at least buy one or two videos. Didn’t realize he couldn’t even produce a single cent.” I shot up from my chair, glaring at Victoria on the second-floor platform. “You did this!” Victoria’s tone was dismissive. “The Blackwood Corporation is in my hands. Isn’t it perfectly normal for an outsider’s assets to be frozen?” Andy Wick sneered. “If Mr. Blackwood is short on cash, perhaps he should humble himself and beg the wealthy ladies present. If he sweet-talks them, they’d surely be delighted to sponsor such a handsome young man.” The crowd burst into boisterous laughter, endorsing his suggestion. Some lecherous older women even tried to drag me directly to their private rooms. The auctioneer urged, “Mr. Blackwood, if you can’t produce the funds for your ‘All-In’ bid, this video lot will proceed with bidding.” I slapped away their malicious hands, my voice trembling as I dialed a loan number. “I need a hundred million dollars.” The predatory expressions on their faces faltered, replaced by bored smirks. The auction continued. The auctioneer smiled, bringing down his hammer. “Lot number one has successfully been claimed by Bidder 13. Congratulations on acquiring the kitchen video, Mr. Blackwood!” “Ah, what a shame! I wanted to see the Blackwood heir’s graceful moves in the kitchen!” “What’s to be afraid of? He’s taken out a loan shark’s deal – pay back thirteen for every nine you borrow. A hundred million won’t last long.” “Exactly. There are 999 videos in total. Let’s see how much more he can borrow.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The second video set appeared on the big screen. “Lot number two: the balcony video! Starting bid: one million dollars!” The auctioneer’s voice was full of glee as he described the video. The entire room erupted once more. “First the kitchen, now the balcony! They’re really having fun!” “I bid three million!” Even some perverted men next to me started closing in, reaching out. “Mr. Blackwood, why don’t you entertain me?” “Yeah, Victoria doesn’t want you, but I do. Serve me well, and I’ll buy this video for you.” “Get out!” I snapped, my voice ice-cold, driving them away. The men who had approached me looked disgusted. “He acts so pure, but he was wild as can be in the video.” “I bid five million!” “I bid ten million! When I get that video, I’ll have it played on loop at the Blackwood family gravesite!” A cold shiver ran through me. Trembling, I raised my bidding paddle. “All… All-In bid.” The auctioneer brought down his hammer, his smile profoundly meaningful. “Bidder 13 takes the ‘All-In’ bid again! Congratulations, Mr. Blackwood, on acquiring the balcony video!” The auctioneer’s hammer fell. Lot number three, lot number four… the intimate videos continued to be auctioned. I could only raise my paddle, trembling, again and again. Declaring “All-In” bids, time after time. Until I had purchased 99 video sets. “Lot number 100: the rooftop video! Starting bid: one million dollars!” “All…” “Mr. Blackwood, your remaining funds are insufficient to continue with ‘All-In’ bids,” the auctioneer reminded me, his smile taunting. The women in the room began to whistle. “No more money, huh? I’m looking forward to seeing how a family with such a scholarly lineage like the Blackwoods produced someone who would engage in such behavior in the wild!” “Entertain me, and I’ll buy this video for you.” I ignored the vulgar insults around me and dialed the loan company again. “Apologies, Mr. Blackwood, your current collateral is insufficient for further loans.” Despairingly, I lowered the phone, my gaze instinctively drawn to Victoria on the second-floor platform. Victoria was being fed by Andy Wick, and as if sensing my gaze, the adoration in her eyes instantly turned to contempt. All eyes in the room swiveled to Victoria. After all, she was the only one present who could help me buy the remaining 899 videos. Victoria merely looked down at me from her vantage point. “Julian Blackwood, what I said before still stands.” Kneel and apologize? A cold laugh twisted in my heart. Andy Wick, feigning generosity, said, “Given how long you’ve served Victoria, even if there’s no credit, there’s been hard work. How about I help you buy the remaining ones?” The other women’s smiles were knowing. “Mr. Wick is so kind-hearted! Even now, he’s willing to help his love rival.” “Yes, no wonder Victoria loves Mr. Wick. Julian Blackwood is just a low-class plaything. What could he possibly compare to Mr. Wick?” 3 I squeezed my eyes shut, vowing never to forget the humiliation they inflicted upon me. Andy Wick rose and walked over to my side. He lowered his voice, a triumphant smirk on his face. “Poor boy. Just divorce Victoria and walk away with nothing. I’ll give you a billion dollars to buy all the remaining videos. How about it?” “Get lost.” My voice was cold as ice. Andy deliberately stumbled backward, as if I’d shoved him hard, landing on the ground with a pained expression. “I… I was just trying to help you. How dare you intentionally hurt me?!” Victoria rushed over, helping Andy up from the floor, and then slapped me across the face. “Who gave you the nerve to hurt Andy?!” I wiped the blood oozing from the corner of my mouth, my gaze fixed on my wife, cold and distant. In all our years of marriage, this was the first time I’d seen her so enraged, and it was all for another man. “Continue the auction! Don’t leave a single one! Let the whole world see the true, despicable face of the Blackwood heir!” Victoria snapped at the auctioneer. Andy, however, pulled Victoria back, his voice gentle and soothing. “Sweetheart, I’m fine. He probably just can’t accept it right now. After all, he can’t stand seeing your favoritism towards me. It’s only natural for him to hate me.” Victoria shielded Andy behind her, her eyes turning even colder as she looked at me. “Andy is still defending you, and yet you are so malicious.” I found it utterly ridiculous. This was the woman I had poured my heart into for four years. “Victoria, let’s get a divorce.” “What did you say?” “We’re getting a divorce.” My gaze was earnest as I looked at Victoria. This marriage was always a scheme to get revenge on me. Now that Victoria had gotten what she wanted, it was time for it to end. Victoria seemed to falter for a moment, then a cold laugh escaped her lips. “Julian Blackwood, what cunning game are you playing now? Do you think I’ll pity you like this?” “I don’t need your pity. We’re over.” I signed the divorce papers without hesitation. Seeing my signature, Victoria’s eyes immediately darkened. Andy’s eyes held an unconcealed ecstasy as he looked down at me with disdain, as if I were a stray dog. A few minutes later, exactly one billion dollars appeared in my account. I looked at the auctioneer on the platform. “Continue the auction.” Andy put his arm around Victoria, sighing. “Sweetheart, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault…” “It’s not your fault.” Victoria didn’t comfort him as she usually would; her eyes were fixed on me. “I want to see what Julian Blackwood will use to buy the remaining videos, now that he’s left me.” The 101st video appeared on the big screen. “Lot number 101: the group video… starting bid: two million dollars!” The entire room erupted in an unprecedented frenzy. The mocking laughter from the women around me grew even louder. “The Blackwood family is a family of intellectuals, yet the Blackwood heir is playing such wild games! If old Mr. Blackwood knew, he’d probably crawl out of his coffin!” “Mr. Blackwood, if your needs are so great, just contact me!” “Five million!” “Ten million!” “I bid twenty million!” Listening to the escalating bids from everyone eagerly competing, the price soared higher and higher. The auctioneer smiled subtly at me. “Mr. Blackwood, do you wish to continue with your ‘All-In’ bid?” Victoria looked down from above, a triumphant gleam in her eyes. She seemed certain that I had no more money to continue, and would definitely return to her for help. “Julian Blackwood, my terms haven’t changed…” “No need.” I rejected her expressionlessly, calmly looking at the auctioneer. “Highest bidder wins. I withdraw from all remaining bids.” The entire room erupted in a commotion. Victoria instinctively frowned. The auctioneer, somewhat surprised, reminded me, “Mr. Blackwood, if you choose to withdraw from the bidding, we will remove the pixelation from the videos.” “Remove it.” My voice remained calm. The crowd became utterly ecstatic, everyone growing excited. “Quick! Remove the pixels! I can’t wait to see the Blackwood heir’s expression!” A countdown appeared on the screen. Three! Two! Everyone’s eyes were glued to the large screen, wanting to see the expression on that shameless man in the video. Andy Wick reminded me, with malicious intent, “Once the pixels are gone, the Blackwood family’s reputation will be completely ruined.” Victoria’s face turned utterly cold, her eyes filled with nothing but disgust as she looked at me. “He brought it on himself!” One! A flash of white light appeared on the large screen, and then the pixelation on the video completely vanished. Everyone stared at the big screen, utterly bewildered. Victoria’s pupils constricted sharply. “How is this possible? The man in the video… it’s not Julian Blackwood!”
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