Chapter 4

• I looked past Drake and down at the group of men who had just paid.
• "Gentlemen, I've destroyed the backup in the USB drive. But..."
• I paused intentionally, watching them grow nervous again.
• "I still have a copy on a server overseas, set to send out automatically."
• "If I don't log in to cancel within twenty-four hours, the email will be sent to major media outlets worldwide."
• "At that point, your stories will be seen by the whole world."
• The room fell silent once more.
• If there was panic before, now there was icy determination.
• Drake's expression changed as well.
• He knew that I held everyone's secrets in my hands.
• I was the true winner tonight.
• "Now, can I leave?" I asked Drake.
• Drake's face went from pale to red, glancing at the big shots in the audience.
• The warning and hostility in their eyes were even stronger than his.
• They didn't dare touch me, at least not now.
• Finally, Drake squeezed out a word through gritted teeth, "Get out."
• I didn't say anything more, just turned and walked off the stage step by step.
• The goons automatically made way, their eyes filled with complex emotions.
• I headed straight for my "family."
• They huddled together, shrinking back as I approached, as if they had seen a ghost.
• "Violet... you... you're insane!"
• My grandmother pointed at me, her finger trembling.
• "Hand over the money!" my uncle shouted. "That money belongs to us!"
• My parents looked up, their eyes avoiding mine, lips moving as if they wanted to say something but didn't dare.
• I stopped in front of them.
• "The money?" I laughed, a mocking smile on my face. "You think you deserve it too?"
• I took out a card from my bag and threw it in front of my father.
• "There's five million in there. Enough for you to live on for the rest of your lives, as long as you can keep these people in line."
• I scanned the faces of my grandparents and three uncles, one by one.
• "From today on, I have no relationship with any of you. Whether you live or die, it's none of my concern."
• With that, I turned and walked away without looking back.
• "Stop!" My father suddenly called out, picking up the card and catching up to me.
• "Violet, we... we're family! How can you say such things?"
• "Family?" I turned to look at the man I had called father for twenty years.
• "Where were you when I had to drop out of school to work?"
• "Where were you when Tiffany was using my hard-earned money to buy designer bags?"
• "When they sold off even my mother's dowry to pay off their gambling debts and drug money, where were you?"
• "Today they sell Tiffany, tomorrow they might sell me. Dad, is this what you call 'family'?"
• My dad was speechless when I asked, his face turning red and then white.
• My mom started crying, holding my hand.
• "Violet, please, we know we were wrong..."
• "It's too late." I pulled my hand back.
• "Since you decided to sacrifice me to fill this bottomless pit, you are no longer my parents."
• I turned resolutely and walked towards the exit of the auction house.
• Behind me were their desperate cries and curses.
• I didn't look back.
• As I walked out of the heavy door, the cool air of early morning hit me.
• I took a deep breath, feeling like I was reborn.
• But before I could take a few steps, a black car silently pulled up beside me.
• The window rolled down, revealing a handsome yet cold face.
• It was the only man tonight who I hadn't threatened.
• He was the true owner of this auction, the controller of the underground world of Cloud City, Alexander Miller.
• He had been sitting in the darkest corner all night, like a spectator, watching this farce unfold.
• "Get in the car," he said, his voice as cold as his demeanor.
• I didn't move.
• "Alexander, our game is over."
• "No," he looked at me, a hint of amusement flashing in his deep eyes.
• "Your game is over, our game is just beginning."