Chapter 265: Chapter 265: Surprise

At night.

The surging heat forced many of the residents of the base to leave their homes only at night, making the area look lively.

Brenda borrowed some wooden chairs and a table. She even rented a thunder ability user to charge the generator at regular intervals and ensure a constant supply of electricity. Her eyes were shimmering with joy, while she constantly checked the preparations.

One by one, women of different ages started to enter; however, if there was an average age, then it was 50 years.

There were also many men in the crowd, which confused some of the women; however, they merely thought that those men wanted a slave.

Brenda stared at the growing crowd with satisfaction. With a gleam in her eyes, she made her way to her daughter’s room and knocked on the door.

"Ophelia?"

No response.

Brenda knocked on the door again in impatience; however, all that answered her was still silence.

For a moment, Brenda faltered before she loudly knocked again, this time more with desperation and suspicion than impatience. "Ophelia! Open the door!"

Click!

The next second, the door was pushed open, and Ophelia with puffy red eyes emerged.

Brenda exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, impatiently grasped Ophelia’s forearm, and asked, "What took you so long?"

"Nothing... just some period cramps." Ophelia hissed due to the pain of a sharp nail piercing her skin, but didn’t dare to push away Brenda.

Brenda’s grip loosened when she saw Ophelia’s red eyes, and she said softly, "Go and get ready. Mom has prepared a special dress for you."

"Special dress? Why?" Ophelia asked in a nonchalant tone; however, a trace of wariness appeared in her eyes.

"Mother is happy with your work and wants to reward you." Brenda gave a wide, sincere smile, which Ophelia stared at for a few seconds before nodding. "Alright."

"Good. Go and get ready." Brenda passed the dress and was about to leave when she heard Ophelia’s deep voice.

"Mom, why are men in the crowd too?"

A trace of caution appeared on Brenda’s face, but she quickly masked it and stated, "They are the husbands of those women."

"Oh..." Ophelia’s voice sounded a little lost, and it was impossible to discern whether or not she was telling the truth.

Brenda heard the sound of door being closed and pursed her lips; a thought flashed in her mind, before she shook her head.

’She won’t know. If she had... she would have left long ago!’

..........

Soon it was time for the auction to start.

Brenda stepped forward with a proud smile, wearing her best silk shawl, one she had saved for "important occasions."

Her eyes glimmered as she looked at the women and men seated before her.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she began, voice sharp and confident, "thank you for coming tonight. I’m sure you’ve all heard the rumors... but allow me to clarify: they are not rumors. They are opportunities."

Some let out a sound, somewhere between a scoff and a snort, but Brenda chose to ignore it.

She gestured grandly to the staircase.

"I, Brenda Sutton, am offering something precious, my son, Jay Sutton. Strong, educated, obedient, and capable. A man who knows how to serve and protect."

Whispers spread among the guests. Some leaned forward eagerly; others raised an eyebrow in amusement.

"Of course," Brenda continued, her smile widening, "this is not merely a transaction. Whoever wins this bid will ensure the survival of both our families. Food and stability in exchange for companionship and loyalty."

A murmur of agreement followed.

Some of them stared at Brenda in disdain, while some showed anticipation.

Soon two bodyguards brought Jay forward.

He looked pale and unsteady, his once-bright eyes dull under the harsh light. His wrists were loosely bound, though hidden by long sleeves.

A few women gasped softly. Even in his weakened state, Jay’s features were striking, the kind of beauty that made people forget the cruelty behind it.

Brenda’s smile deepened. "See for yourselves. Such a fine man, yes? I’ll start the bidding at 1000 kilograms of rice, 20 kg of meat, and 30 kg of vegetables."

A woman in her forties raised her hand first. "1500 kg of rice, 20 kg of meat, and 30 kg of vegetables!"

"2000 kg of rice!" another shouted immediately.

"2100 kg of rice!" a man’s voice joined in from the back, earning curious glances.

Brenda’s heart pounded. "Excellent! 2100 kg of rice! Do I hear 3000?"

Jay’s head lowered. His lips trembled, but no words came out.

From the edge of the room, Ophelia sat stiffly in her new dress, the "reward" her mother had given her.

It was far too revealing for her taste, and every fiber of her body screamed that something was wrong.

The crowd’s laughter blurred in her ears.

"Three thousand kilograms of rice!" shouted a woman near the front.

Suddenly, Ophelia stood up and started to walk toward the back door. Brenda, who was keeping an eye on her daughter’s movement, paused; however, when she saw Jay, her heart relaxed.

"4000 kg of rice!" An old voice attracted everyone’s attention. The old woman was wearing a cloak, and almost no one knew how she looked.

Brenda was delighted to hear the bidding, and her gaze swept over the audience.

"Will anyone match this gentlewoman’s deal?"

A few gasps and murmurs echoed, and the bid continued

Yet in the end, it was the old woman who won the bid by offering 10,000 kg of rice, 20 kg of meat, and 30 kg of vegetables.

Brenda was grinning from ear to ear and announced, "Jay officially belongs to bidder 26! Bidder 26, please come on stage and claim your reward..."

"Ahhh!" A piercing scream attracted everyone’s attention, and they saw a small cockroach roaming in the living room.

One of the bodyguards hired by Brenda to take care of any mishaps stepped forward and killed it.

"It’s been dealt with, ma’am. So as I was saying, bidder 26, please come on the stage and... Eh? Jay? Jay? Where are you?"