I was kidnapped and dragged away to an organ auction by my husband’s mistress.

A hood was thrown over my head, and I was shoved onto a cold, unforgiving display platform.

I could hear the voices of my husband Mateo and his friends nearby.

Why is he here?

"Mateo, why are you here instead of staying with Queenie? Is your girl Seline miss you?"

Mateo's voice responded, light and carefree. He tugged Selina Wood closer to him.

"Yeah, Selina's been throwing a tantrum about cosmetic surgery. Queenie thought the company needed me, so she kicked me out of our honeymoon."

So he lied to me and already had a mistress outside.

I struggled fiercely, hoping Mateo would notice. But Selina was annoyed by my movements, and with a press of a button, I felt a jolt of electricity shoot through me.

The pain in my belly was excruciating, sharp enough to make me gasp. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. My baby, hold on.

The sound of an auction bell rang out, its crisp note signaling the start of the bidding.

"35 thousand! I'll take the corneas!"

"85 thousand! Leave the left kidney for me!"

Soon, my body was marked with several circles, parts already sold, already gone.

Then, Mateo's voice broke through the noise as he lazily raised his auction paddle.

"200 thousand! I'll take the heart for Selina."

Laughter echoed from the crowd. "You're generous! Queenie's wedding ring didn't even cost 85 thousand. She'll be furious if she finds out!"

Mateo exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his chuckle light as he spoke again, like he was reminiscing.

"Selina's been with me for five years, plus she always knows how to please me while making out. She's earned it.

"Queenie's sweet and understanding, though. I'll buy her some flowers when we get home."

The words hit me like a slap. The comparison was brutal. Tears poured down my face in a fresh wave.

We had been in love for eight years, finally stepping into marriage. Everyone envied us—perfect love, perfect happiness. But I never knew half of that love was already given to someone else.

Through the hood, I vaguely saw Mateo's gentle hand in Selina's long hair.

And there I was, sprawled on the platform, helpless.

Someone yanked me roughly from the stage, my feet lost on the steps. I tumbled forward, crashing to the cold floor below.

Laughter echoed around me, sharp and mocking, but it was Mateo's voice that stung the deepest. It cut through the noise like a blade.

Before I could even gather myself, a rope tightened around my neck, yanking me forward. My steps faltered, my body struggling against the pressure, but I couldn't break free.

As I stumbled past Mateo, his hand shot out, grabbing mine with a vice grip. He paused, eyes narrowing as he studied the sun tattoo on my wrist. His brow furrowed.

I wanted to speak, wanted to call out to him, but my throat tightened. The words wouldn't come.

That tattoo... It was the symbol of his promise. We had gotten it together, marking our love. His eyes had been full of devotion, full of hope.

"Queenie, you'll always be my sun, lighting up my world. My life is complete with you in it," he had said, his voice soft, filled with the warmth of affection.

But now? His gaze turned cold, filled with disdain. Without hesitation, he drew a knife, the sharp edge slicing into my skin.

"This tattoo belongs to Queenie, and only her!" he barked. "Who do these women think they are, trying to copy her?"

His voice was venomous, his words bitter. "You think you can get close to me by coming here? You've got nerve, but Queenie's not something anyone can replace with a tattoo!"

The crowd cheered, their claps echoing around the room, admiration shining in their eyes.

"Queenie's lucky," someone said. "Mateo's kept her at first place in his life all these years."

A bitter laugh escaped me, though it felt more like a broken sob.

We'd been together for so long. Mateo had never once said no to me.

If I wanted anything, he gave it to me without complaint.

I had never doubted his love. Not until now. Not until I saw him, his hand on Selina's waist, the intimacy between them clear.

Did he ever really love me? Pain surged through my body, hot and sharp. Cold sweat drenched my skin. I tried to reach out, tried to make him see me, but he was too absorbed in peeling grapes for Selina.

I was shoved forward, my heart sinking as Mateo's figure drifted further and further away.

The auctioneer moved through the crowd, checking equipment. But I was too weak, too broken to do anything. I crawled, dragging my body, desperate to escape.

A sharp click of high heels echoed in front of me. Selina leaned over, pulling the hood up and blowing smoke in my face.

"I wonder, why didn't he notice you?" she taunted, her voice dripping with mockery. "You're always so proud, so high and mighty. But now? Now look at you.

"I want him to kill you with his own hands," she hissed, her grin twisted. "Then I'll be the only one he has."

She paused, savoring the cruelty of her words, watching me crumble. "You didn't know, did you? When it was your birthday and he told you he was too busy? He was busy with me, learning new things... new ways to please me.

"You think rescue came too late for your mother? No, he was with me because I cut my hand a little. Every moment he's not with you, he's with me."

Each word felt like a blade, each sentence driving deeper into my chest. My face drained of color, the pain inside consuming me.

And Selina? She basked in my suffering, her eyes shining with triumph.

Footsteps echoed from a distance, sharp and quick. In a blink, she yanked the hood back over my head.

I was dragged, roughly, and shoved onto the cold metal of the operating table. The knife hovered above me, its cold steel gliding across my skin.

The surgeon looked up at Mateo, his face clouded with concern.

"Mr. Shamrock, she's pregnant..."

Mateo stepped forward, his eyes cold. Without hesitation, he pressed down hard on my abdomen. A sharp, tearing pain shot through me.

He didn't even flinch. Calmly, he pressed the tip of his cigarette against the spot where my tattoo used to be. He glanced at the surgeon and motioned for him to continue.

My body trembled. I raised my hand weakly, desperate to reach for his shirt, hoping, praying, that he'd see me. But just then, his phone rang, and his face lit up with joy.

"Queenie's pregnant? Okay, yeah, I got it. She's probably trying to surprise me.

"Go to every baby store in town! Bring everything back! Book the best maternity center! The child will be heir to my family, no matter their gender."

His grin widened. The joy of impending fatherhood was so clear on his face. It tore at my heart.

I remembered myself thinking, "You wanted a child, don't you, Mateo? But you don't even notice that I'm right here."

Selina's eyes flashed with jealousy, a silent command for the surgeon to continue.

The scalpel sliced into my flesh, and I couldn't hold back a loud, agonizing scream. My body bucked against the restraints, but they only dug deeper into my skin. Blood, dark and hot, began to drip.

Mateo glanced over at me, his face impassive.

"That scream... It sounds just like Queenie's," he remarked.

I prayed, my heart desperate, hoping that somehow, he'd come to his senses, that he'd save me and our child.

Selina climbed beside him, her expression feigning shock.

"She had surgery to imitate Queenie's voice? That's... terrifying."

Mateo's face twisted with disgust. Without a word, he shoved a piece of cloth into my mouth, muffling my cries, leaving me to suffer in silence.

Selina fiddled with the nearby machines, her curiosity almost gleaming. Mateo stepped forward, his hand gripping hers. He pressed a button.

"This is an electric shock," he said.

The shock hit me like a wave of fire, spreading through my limbs, burning everything in its path. My muscles seized up, the pain splitting me open, tearing through my body. Warm blood trickled between my legs.

"This is a needle punishment."

They pulled my fingers apart, and the sharp sting of needles, thin and cruel, pierced my fingertips. The pain felt like a thousand needles were pressing into my bones and as if a giant stone was crushing them.

I gasped for air, my chest heaving as the world around me swam in a haze of pain.

***

I didn't know how much more I could take. The pain was unbearable, my vision dimming, and my thoughts scattering like dust in the wind. I felt myself slipping away.

Then, the sharp, shrill sound of an alarm shattered the heavy silence.

Mateo's hand shot to his phone, dialing with a sense of urgency. The phone rang, but no one answered. His face twisted into a mask of frustration as he quickly dialed his secretary.

"Where's Queenie?!" His voice was tight with panic. "Why isn't she answering? We talk at this time every day! Find her right now. Fail, and you're all fired!"

He exhaled, his breath heavy, before letting his hand fall.

In the distance, workers began leading in a few small ponies. Mateo's eyes lit up, as if a spark had been ignited within him.

"Go, bring me the best one!" he barked. "Make sure it's gentle. I can't let Queenie get hurt. She must be upset because I wasn't there for her!"

Selina smiled slyly, her lips curling at the edges. She whispered something into Mateo's ear, her voice low and secretive. He nodded in response.

Before I could process what was happening, I was yanked off the table like a ragdoll. My arms were cruelly tied behind one of the ponies.

My heart pounded, racing wildly in my chest. I tried to scream, but all that came out was a weak hiss. The memory of the water they had forced me to drink flashed through my mind, and the weight of it all crushed me. Despair swallowed me whole.

Selina cheered from above, mounting the pony. It kicked into motion, the animal's pace quickening.

I felt like my body was being torn apart. I curled into a ball, clutching my stomach, the sharp pain from my back sending shockwaves through me. Blood dripped from the wound, trailing behind me as I was dragged across the ground.

Finally, Selina dismounted, her face glowing with satisfaction.

"That little pony's great at dragging!" she laughed. "Soon, Queenie will be able to drag her baby around in a cart!"

Mateo smiled, reaching up to affectionately tap her nose.

"You're so thoughtful. Queenie will definitely love you," he said.

Sweat poured from my face, the drops like ice on my burning skin. I trembled uncontrollably, lying there in agony. The pain of losing my child was sharper than anything I had ever felt. It burned through me, relentless and unyielding.

Mateo's face twisted in disgust as he turned toward me. He kicked my stomach with a force that made me gasp, then covered Selina's eyes with his hand.

"It's disgusting. Don't look," he muttered coldly, his voice devoid of any care.

I was bent in half, the weight of everything too much for me to bear. My body felt alien, like I wasn't even in it anymore.

I watched him, my heart breaking. This was Mateo—the same man who had once thrown himself in front of a car to save me, who had sworn he would always find me, no matter where I was. And now, he couldn't even recognize me.

He had been so eager for our child to be born. When I struggled with conception, he had gone to a monastery, praying for us every step of the way. And now, he had destroyed everything—his hopes, his love, and our child—by his own hands.

A few buyers, growing impatient, urged the surgeon to continue.

Mateo, with deliberate slowness, wiped his hands clean, the act almost mechanical.

"I'll take this one for 850,000. You guys wait for the next batch."

He wiped Selina's hands slowly, as if savoring the moment, his gaze soft with affection.

"Haven't seen you this happy in ages. I'll buy this one as a toy for you."

Their eyes met—brief, but charged with something silent, something shared between them.

I sat in the cage, my body frail, the air heavy with desperation. My heart tightened, wrapped in invisible ropes that made every breath feel like a struggle.

Mateo crouched down in front of me, his face a mask of playful cruelty.

"Serve Selina well, and perhaps I might save your child."

I reached out, fingers trembling, desperate to pull off the mask that concealed me. To show him, to make him see who I was. To save my child.

But his eyes darkened, and before I could react, his grip shot out, grabbing my wrist with a force that shattered it instantly.

"AHHH!!"

My scream cut through the silence, sharp and raw. Pity flickered across the faces around me, but it did nothing to dull the pain.

With a cruel yank, Mateo dragged me to my feet and slammed me into the wall. The impact knocked the air from my lungs, leaving me gasping, too weak to resist.

He turned to his secretary, his voice cold and commanding.

"Still can't find Queenie?! You'd better look carefully! If Queenie isn't found, you'll be the ones in cages!!"

Selina, eyes glistening with unshed tears, tried to soothe him, her voice gentle.

"Don't worry. Queenie will be fine. Let's try something else to distract you, okay?"

Mateo's gaze flicked to her, a brief look of amusement crossing his features. She winked playfully, her lips curling into a knowing smile.

"The doctor said pregnant women can have sex as well, and that it's safe, but I don't buy that story. Why not... try it? It'll help you and Queenie know your limits later."

I recoiled, every instinct screaming at me to run, to escape. But my body was too weak. His eyes gleamed with something darker, something cruel.

Without a word, he nodded to his men. They moved in on me, their hands rough and cold, violating my body in a way that made the air around me thick with disgust.

I wanted to scream, but my throat was choked, every sound smothered under the weight of fear and helplessness.

"Satisfy me properly and maybe I'll beg Mr. Shamrock for mercy!"

A vile stench assaulted my senses as my hair was yanked back, forcing my face toward the man's groin.

I pushed against him, but his strength was overwhelming. He slammed me headfirst into the wall, and the world blurred around me.

Blood stained my fingertips as I scraped the ground, trying to hold on, trying to escape. But the moment I thought I could flee, he caught me again, his grip unyielding.

With my last breath, I cried out, my voice hoarse with agony.

"My child!"

The man's clothes smothered my mouth, the fabric pressing hard against my lips, suffocating me. Tears of humiliation slid down my cheeks, hot and bitter.

Mateo, who had been ignoring me, finally turned. His brow furrowed.

"Forget it. Everyone, come back. I don't want my child to be tainted with bad luck," he muttered.

When he spoke of the child, his eyes softened—just for a moment. A flicker of hope, fragile and brief, glimmered there.

Selina pouted, her voice dripping with playful innocence.

"It's just a kid. I can have one for you too."

Before she could finish, Mateo's hand snapped out, landing a harsh slap across her face. The sharp sound echoed in the room.

His once-gentle expression turned icy, and his fingers curled around Selina's chin with a vicious grip.

"Just because you've been around me for a few years, you think you can compare yourself to Queenie? My child will only come from her womb!"

Selina's eyes filled with a fiery, vengeful red. She turned her gaze toward me, her expression twisted with hatred.

In a flash, her tears vanished, replaced by a fake, sugary smile. Her voice lowered, dripping with feigned sweetness.

"I'm sorry, okay? I was just dizzy from all the fun. Don't be mad at me.

"You slapped me, now make up for it! You're gonna make me a shuttlecock toy!"

Mateo narrowed his eyes, studying her for a long moment before a low chuckle rumbled from his chest.

He moved to the dissection table, his hands sifting through tools. Then, with deliberate steps, he approached me. The silver knife scraped against the cage's edge, resulting in a screeching, torturous sound.

As I followed his gaze, the sickening truth dawned on me.

Selina wanted to play with my heart. My literal heart.

I reached up, desperate to tear off my mask. But even the slightest movement sent waves of agony through my body. My mouth, blocked and muffled, could only emit pitiful, strangled sounds.

Mateo, thinking I was trying to escape, whipped his hand up and slapped my face. The impact was sharp, throwing my head to the side.

"With your worth, being a toy for Selina is a privilege," he sneered. "You think you can run? Don't worry, I'll send your family generous compensation. Though, if they truly cared about you, you wouldn't be here, would you?"

A sinister smile tugged at his lips. In the next breath, his silver knife plunged deep into my heart, its cold steel sending a shockwave of pain through my chest.

As the blade tore through me, everything about Mateo flashed before my eyes.

His smile. His tears. The sacrifices he'd made for me and our child. All of it vanished in an instant.

Mateo raised his hand again, preparing to strike. But my eyelids grew heavy, too tired to hold them open. My hand dropped, limp by my side.

Then, the door slammed open. The secretary burst in, panic in his voice.

"Mr. Shamrock! We found her!"