The auction hall fell into a stunned silence, the enormity of the bid leaving everyone speechless. The woman’s earlier fantasies crumbled as she realized she had been outmatched, her smile fading as the reality of Lucas’s bid set in.
Isabella snapped back to her senses and began the final countdown. “Going once, going twice, sold!” she declared, striking the gavel. “Congratulations once again to our winning bidder.”
As the auction concluded, Isabella addressed the room. “Will all the winners please come up to the stage to settle your payments and collect your items?”
The arogant woman smirked as she glanced at Lucas, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Let’s see how you, a mere commoner, plan to pay for your winnings.”
Lucas stood, ready to make his way to the stage, when the woman stepped in front of him. “Wait,” she said, her voice challenging. “How about we make a bet?”
Lucas grinned, unfazed. “Haven’t you had enough embarrassment already? Do you really want more?”
“You!” the woman snapped, stomping her foot with a smirk. “Are you afraid to wager against me?”
“Afraid?” Lucas replied, his voice mocking. “What do you have that could possibly scare me, aside from your plastic face?” He chuckled. “If you really want to play, I’ll indulge you.”
The woman smirked, confident in her assessment of Lucas. “Simple,” she said. “If you can’t pay, I want you to slap your own face while kneeling and apologize on stage.”
Lucas shook his head, amused. The woman laughed, thinking Lucas was intimidated. “Are you scared? Admitting your defeat already?” she taunted.
Lucas shook his head again, speaking calmly. “That’s a low stake. It wouldn’t affect you much since you’re already used to humiliation. Why don’t we raise the stakes? The loser not only kneels but also loses a hand, so they can’t bid at the next auction.”
The woman froze, the gravity of Lucas’s words sinking in as she imagined herself without a hand. Her husband intervened, apologizing to Lucas for his wife’s repeated provocations. “Please forgive her,” he pleaded, “and let’s end this here.”
But the woman, undeterred, accepted Lucas’s terms. “Deal,” she said defiantly.
Lucas nodded, a hint of warning in his voice. “Don’t regret it,” he said, before heading up to the stage to settle his payment.
As Lucas approached Isabella, she greeted him with a professional smile. “Congratulations, Mr.-?”
“Lucas,” he replied calmly.
“Congratulations, Mr. Lucas,” Isabella repeated, her smile widening. She then listed the two items Lucas had won and announced the total amount. Casually, Lucas handed over his bank card. Isabella took it politely and swiped it through the machine. The transaction was successful, and Lucas didn’t even flinch, as if the substantial sum was of no consequence to him.
A murmur spread through the crowd as people began to whisper about Lucas’s identity. Some recognized him, their voices rising in excitement. “Isn’t he the chairman of the Luca Group?” one person said.
“I heard they call him the Tyrant Boss because he’s so intimidating,” another added, sharing exaggerated tales of Lucas’s reputation. “They say he once fired an entire board of directors in a single day because they disagreed with him.”
“That’s nothing,” chimed in another voice. “I heard he bought out a rival company just because their CEO cut in line at a coffee shop he frequents.”
“Really?” someone else gasped. “I heard he has a private island where he hosts secretive meetings with world leaders and top business moguls.”
The stories grew more outlandish with each telling. “I read somewhere that he never sleeps,” a young man whispered, eyes wide. “He just works around the clock, and that’s why his company is so successful.”
“Did you know he once negotiated a billion-dollar deal in under an hour?” a woman added, clearly impressed. “And he did it all while attending a charity gala.”
The arrogant woman felt a chill run down her spine as she listened to the whispers. She shook her head in disbelief and turned to her husband. “You knew who he was?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Her husband sighed, exasperated. “I’ve been trying to stop you, but you wouldn’t listen. Your ignorance is going to be your downfall!”
“You mean you know him?” she asked, her voice shaking.
“I know of him, but he doesn’t know me,” her husband replied, taking a deep breath. “Didn’t you notice his commanding presence, even in ordinary clothes? And haven’t you seen the face of the Tyrant Boss?”
The woman paused, recalling Lucas’s face. She had seen pictures of him before but had doubted herself, thinking it was just a resemblance. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” she asked, fear creeping into her voice.
Her husband shook his head. “With your arrogance, would you have believed me if I had? Besides, given his low-profile appearance, it was best not to draw attention. Now, we must face the consequences of your foolishness.”
The woman stood frozen, her mind reeling from the realization of who she had challenged. “It’s over,” she whispered to herself, feeling the weight of her actions pressing down on her.
After Lucas paid and collected his winnings, he carefully secured them before returning to his seat. The ignorant woman quickly approached him, apologizing profusely.
“I’m so sorry,” she pleaded, her voice trembling.
Lucas looked at her calmly and asked, “Have you forgotten about the bet?”
The woman’s face paled as she remembered that her hand was supposed to be cut off. She froze, imagining the outcome, and pleaded once more for mercy.
Nearby, Greg observed the situation. He knew that the Lucas they were dealing with wasn’t the real Lucas. Despite Lucas’s reputation for being ruthless, Greg couldn’t help but wonder about the true identity of the man before him, who seemed capable of anything. He thought, even though the Tyrant Boss Lucas was harsh, he couldn’t be as cold as this Lucas, who didn’t flinch at the thought of violence. Greg pondered what secrets this Lucas held.
Lucas took a deep breath and instructed One Eye, “Have her kneel.”
One Eye immediately complied, gently but firmly guiding the woman to her knees. She was terrified and turned pale, but she had no choice as One Eye ensured she followed through. She glanced at her husband for help, but he was too intimidated by Lucas’s piercing gaze to intervene.
Lucas spoke again, “Apologize and slap your face.”
The woman nodded, trembling, and began to apologize repeatedly, “I’m sorry, I was ignorant,” while lightly slapping her cheeks as she knelt.
Lucas turned to One Eye and said, “Go ahead, cut off her hand.”
“Yes, Boss,” replied One Eye, as he nodded and drew a blade from his waist, raising it with intent.
The woman screamed for help, her voice echoing in the room. Around them, whispers erupted among the onlookers.
“Poor thing,” someone murmured sympathetically.
“Lucas really is a terror,” another voice commented, filled with awe and fear.
“She deserves it, repeatedly provoking the person she should not,” someone else muttered, shaking their head.
The woman grew even paler, her fear consuming her. In her terror, she lost control, and a warm liquid spread beneath her, soaking her skirt.