Ryan’s face changed instantly. His eyes sharpened with a flash of anger, and Echo hadn’t expected such a strong reaction. She broke into a wide grin and quickly shook her head, laughing.
“What are you saying? You’ve been laughing non-stop,” Adolph’s voice cut in, breaking the tension and slowly easing the cold atmosphere.
Cobra raised an eyebrow, laughing. “We were just talking about that man with a nice body.”
Ryan’s gaze darkened even more as he looked at Echo.
Echo muttered inwardly, Cobra, you’re going to get me killed, but she kept smiling.
She walked over and sat next to Ryan, turning to him and saying, “That’s Cobra’s idea. I’m just helping him find a woman. He said if there’s a woman, he’ll buy one.”
Since Cobra tried to pin it on her, she’d drag him down with her. After all, it was true that Cobra had said it, and he couldn’t deny it.
Cobra’s face immediately darkened, and he shot Echo a glare.
Adolph couldn’t hold back his laughter, saying, “What’s the big deal?”
“Yeah, yeah, small problem,” Antonio chuckled, waving his hand nonchalantly.
Ryan didn’t even glance at Cobra. He just reached out, grabbed Echo’s waist, and pulled her closer, a possessive gesture as he lowered his head to look at the paper in his hand, saying nothing. But the action said it all, leaving Echo with nothing but a nervous smile as she looked at Adolph, who was grinning at her.
“Echo, if you like anyone, just let me know. No one’s off-limits, I’ll buy them for you. Don’t feel like you have to settle,” Adolph said with a sly smile, throwing a cutting remark her way.
Echo immediately stiffened, feeling the pressure on her waist increase.
Ryan didn’t raise his head or change his breathing, but she could feel the danger.
She raised an eyebrow at Adolph and said, “Mr. Adolph, you’re being so polite. After all, we’re the hosts here. We should make sure our guests are happy first. So, Mr. Adolph, feel free to pick anyone you like. I’m sure our boss won’t mind spending a little money on it.” She then patted Ryan’s arm, adding, “Right, boss?”
Ryan lifted his eyes to give Adolph a cold stare and said, “Are you sure?”
Though it was just three words, Adolph understood perfectly. That was Ryan’s response to his comment. If Adolph was really foolish enough to try and buy a man for Echo, he’d end up as just another beautiful corpse in the vast Pacific Ocean.
Adolph’s smile didn’t fade as he quickly said, “Ryan, no need to be formal. No need to confirm, really.”
Ryan shot a cold glance at Adolph before turning back to his paper. Echo locked eyes with Adolph, still smiling, and Adolph gave her a knowing, slightly amused look. With Ryan backing her up, she was really starting to feel bold.
“Now, for the last one today,” the host on the stage announced, his voice quick and to the point, “the best of the best, absolutely untouched.” He quickly stepped off the stage, and the darkened lower level below seemed to heighten the excitement of the already worked-up crowd.
On a large, black-lined bed covered in bright red, the simplest colors made the whole scene feel forbidden.
Lying on the bed was a pure, almost underdeveloped body, wrapped in black cloth that barely covered the essential parts. The skin was flawless, almost ceramic in quality. Soft black hair framed a face that looked like something out of a fairy tale. His gemstone-like eyes, though innocent, were filled with fear. His body trembled with each movement, and even though his red lips didn’t speak, a deep sense of pity arose in everyone who looked at him.
“Antonio, really something. “Hawk, who stood opposite of Tiger, raised an eyebrow. It wasn’t clear whether he was impressed or feeling something else.
Echo glanced up at Hawk, noticing that the Ford family members, who had been so nonchalant earlier, now seemed visibly affected. Hawk wasn’t the type to joke around with Cobra, Bill, or the others.
Antonio chuckled, his voice dripping with pride. “How could I forget this big guy? He’s the only legitimate heir who wasn’t killed. Even though he’s just a bastard child, he’s still eligible to inherit the head’s position.”
Adolph gave a faint smile and said, “Digging three feet deep, nice move.” The entire power structure within the main family had been destroyed by him and the Brown family working together. The only one who wasn’t targeted was Edward, not because Adolph wanted to spare him, but because his location was more hidden, and Adolph hadn’t intended to look for him. Ironically, it was his own family members who ended up finding him.
When Echo heard “bastard child,” she furrowed her brow.
Cobra, standing nearby, coldly added, “He’s the fourth son of the former head of the Ford family, thirteen years old, but was always raised outside. He’s mute and never set foot in the Ford family. Even though he’s recognized as one of them, he has no power, no influence, nothing.”
Echo’s frown deepened at Cobra’s words.
There was a sudden excited outburst, and Echo quickly turned to look.
On the large bed, a massive green python had slithered up. It was nearly as thick as Edward’s leg. As the snake neared the nearly naked Edward, it seemed to approach him like it saw food, eagerly wriggling toward him.
Edward didn’t seem to be struggling, almost as if he had been drugged. His small movements were slow, and his mouth was open in terror but he couldn’t make a sound. His eyes were wide with fear and despair, tears continuously slipping down his face. The delicate beauty of it all drove the crowd below wild.
The massive snake had been de-fanged and now wrapped itself around Edward’s legs, opening its mouth to begin swallowing him.
The excited screams from the crowd almost tore the roof off, but the people standing by the bed didn’t seem to care, as though their only job was to make sure the snake didn’t strangle Edward.
Echo’s brow furrowed deeply as she watched the scene. Edward’s fragile body trembled continuously, and the sight of his fear, yet unable to scream for help, made her heartache. He was just a child.
“Boss, I want to buy him,” Echo said, her heart tightening.
Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed Ryan’s hand.
Ryan frowned at her words, glancing at the screen, then said in a low voice, “You want him?”
“He’s just a kid. Trapping him in the Dark family-no matter how much he struggles, he won’t escape, right?” Echo turned to meet Ryan’s eyes.
She hadn’t been able to say anything before, but now that she saw it, she couldn’t just stand by. A beautiful child like that, ruined-it was a waste of God’s creation.
“Roses have thorns,” Adolph said, glancing at the screen with a faint, barely perceptible smile, his tone indifferent.
“But that’s what makes them roses,” Echo replied calmly, without looking at Adolph.
“Fine,” Ryan said coldly, glancing at Echo’s determined face.
She thought convincing Ryan would be difficult, but he agreed so quickly.
Ryan looked at her, his expression cold. “Just make sure you know what you’re doing,” he said as he released his grip on her waist.
Echo’s spirits lifted instantly. Without thinking, she jumped up, kissed Ryan excitedly on the cheek, and then turned to leave the room. She left behind a stunned group of people.
Ryan raised an eyebrow, set down the paper in his hand, leaned back on the sofa, and a strange, unreadable look flashed in his eyes.
“$400, 000.”
“$700, 000.”
“…”
“Four million dollars.” Among the rising bids, Echo’s cold voice cut through, her unhis masked face showing no sign of hesitation. She walked through the hallway straight toward the boy on the stage.
The massive snake had already swallowed up the boy’s lower legs. When the boy saw Echo standing beside him, his face filled with tears. In a panic, he moved toward her, stretching his arms out.
“Four hundred ten…”
“Bang, bang, bang!” Three gunshots rang out, silencing all the bids.
Echo held a modified handgun and shot directly into the snake’s mouth. Each shot hit a vital spot. Despite its size and longevity, the snake couldn’t survive the hits. It immediately loosened its grip on Edward’s body.
“Get it cleaned up,” Echo said, her voice filled with disgust as she watched the snake’s mouth still clutching onto Edward’s leg.
The people who had obviously been briefed on what to do immediately moved forward, swiftly pulling the snake off the bed and carefully wiping the snake’s saliva from Edward’s legs.
Echo turned around, and Edward’s face lit up with gratitude and fear, his tear-streaked face turning toward her. He stretched his arms out, his body trembling. Echo couldn’t help but sigh lightly inside, then reached out to embrace him and began to walk off.
The crowd below the stage stood in complete silence. Everyone in this business had connections, and anyone who dared to shoot in front of so many people had the backing to do so. The boss clearly wouldn’t risk angering someone like her, and even those who didn’t know exactly who she was understood that she was not someone to be messed with.
In the heavy silence, as quiet as a pin dropping, Echo walked quickly out, holding Edward.