The night my fiancé’s ideal love returned home, Gabriel’s unruly friends locked me in a water tank at the auction house. Through the glass, he lightly touched my scales, which had turned bluish from dehydration. “Chloe, just do me this favor, will you?” “It’s just a little performance, right?” The elite crowd below was bidding excitedly, while Gabriel whispered gently to his ideal love, “Don’t worry, mermaid tears are incredibly valuable. We can sell them and buy you that sports car.” It was then I realized Gabriel’s amnesia was just a ploy to lure me onto land. He claimed he loved me, yet he was willing to drain me of my blood and tears. Later, the Merfolk arrived, riding on the waves, and Gabriel knelt on the rocks, offering his heart in repentance. But I flipped my tail, creating a massive wave, and without looking back, I sank to the ocean floor. 0 Chained roughly, I was forced to curl up in the small water tank. A man with a beer belly grinned at me, showing yellow teeth. “Sis-in-law, we all want to see you perform. Fiona’s back today, why not dance for us?” Another man climbed a ladder and yanked my hair to make me look up. “We’ve already watched your private videos with Gabriel. Sis-in-law, stop pretending to be so innocent.” “Plus, Gabriel said the highest bidder can have you for the night.” “I’ve wanted to try sis-in-law for a while now, hahaha.” I couldn’t believe the men in front of me. My heart sank. He had said today was about celebrating our anniversary, yet I had become merchandise on this ship. “You showed them those videos?” Gabriel stroked Fiona’s waist. “So what if they saw them? It’s just flesh.” “Chloe, just do me this favor. Fiona wants to see you perform.” “This is your chance to impress her; it’s an honor to make her happy.” Fiona nestled in Gabriel’s arms, coyly saying, “Gabriel, Chloe seems unwilling. Isn’t this too much?” Bitterly, I slammed my tail against the glass, choking back my words, “I’m your fiancée. Why are you doing this to me?” The huge splash drenched Fiona’s clothes, and she shrank against Gabriel’s shoulder, eyes red. Gabriel punched the glass, “Chloe, don’t be ungrateful! Fiona is like a sister I grew up with.” “Do you really have to ruin everyone’s mood on her return?” I scoffed, turning around, “A sister you grew up with? Then what am I?” Gabriel impatiently lit a cigarette, “You’re just a mermaid. Even if I didn’t bring you ashore, you’d die someday.” “I helped you experience life on land. Now it’s time for you to repay me.” “It’s your honor to make Fiona happy.” Fiona leaned in and kissed Gabriel’s cheek, claiming her territory. “Gabriel said mermaid tears are the most valuable.” “Once we get them, we’ll buy a sports car.” Exhausted, I slumped against the glass, realizing in Gabriel’s eyes, I was merely merchandise. Gabriel waved his hand, “Enough talking, dance for us.” Seeing me unmoved, Gabriel finally picked up the long whip nearby and lashed it across me. In an instant, several scales flew off, and shocking red welts appeared on my pale skin. I painfully clung to the water tank’s edge, trying to leap out, only for Fiona to press a cigarette butt into my fingertip. She snorted coldly, “The lowest of mermaids, your only worth is to please us.” Gabriel tightened the whip around my neck viciously. I clung to it desperately. The feeling of suffocation engulfed me. His eyes were blood-red, “Didn’t I tell you to behave?” “Do you really want to embarrass me?” The beer-bellied man couldn’t stand it and patted Gabriel, “Gabriel, don’t break her. We still need to enjoy ourselves tonight.” “Sis-in-law’s mermaid body must feel great.” 0
Their words stabbed my heart like blunt knives. Three years ago, Gabriel and his friends were surfing and encountered extreme weather. Gabriel was swallowed by the waves, and I risked everything to save him ashore. In the process, my tail was shredded by a paddle. Gabriel was the first human I ever saw. His eyes were brighter than gems at the ocean’s depths. Ignoring the pain, I just wanted to save him. In gratitude, Gabriel took me home to heal, even though it violated Merfolk laws. But for him, I decisively severed ties with my family. On land, I endured dehydration, my scales turning bluish, and the pain pierced to the bone, almost costing me half my life. But Gabriel would hold me every night, comforting me. I naively thought that was love. I believed I had won the bet with my family, only to lose everything. Gabriel watched me with interest, “Didn’t you say you’d fully transform into a human after a year on land? Turns out you can’t change your nature.” Fiona covered her nose with a look of disgust, “No wonder there’s a fishy smell. It’s disgusting.” “I don’t know what you’ve been through these years, Gabriel, but you can’t just pick anyone to spite me, right?” I looked down at my tail, now turning white. When we first met, Gabriel had praised its beauty. He had held it tenderly, vowing to spend his life making it up to me. Someone beside me rubbed his hands, sneering, “This mermaid’s definitely fun. Gabriel doesn’t know how lucky he is.” Fiona’s face turned black in an instant, “What do you mean by that?” The speaker was suddenly tongue-tied, “Fiona, I didn’t mean it that way…” In anger, she grabbed a whip, ready to strike my face. I grabbed it, yanking Fiona halfway into the water tank. She screamed in terror, flailing, and Gabriel pulled her out, holding her waist. Tearful, Fiona cried, “Gabriel, I just wanted to throw the whip far away, not hurt Chloe.” “Why did she suddenly become so aggressive?” “I heard mermaids used to eat people. Chloe, you can’t act like this, even if you’re angry.” Gabriel pulled me from the water, throwing me to the ground. He slapped me across the face. I turned my head, one side of my face swelling instantly. Gabriel approached slowly, gripping my neck viciously, “Chloe, do you really think you’re something special? Touch Fiona again, and I’ll kill you!” “Do you think I kept you around to endure your fishy smell for nothing?” “If it weren’t for the fortune mermaid tears are worth, I’d have killed you long ago.” “Did you really think I loved you?” I looked at him in disbelief. Gabriel kicked me in the waist. “You’re like a dead fish. No matter what I do, you never cry.” “Since that’s the case, this is the only way. You brought it on yourself.” After hearing those words, I couldn’t help but tremble. What I thought was love at first sight was Gabriel’s meticulously laid trap. And like a fool, I walked right in. Ending up with nothing, who could I blame? This was the happiness I sought after sacrificing everything. I opened my mouth and laughed. Gabriel, seeing my red-rimmed eyes, hesitated. He angrily called for a few people, “Strip her clothes! That way, everyone can examine the goods!” 0
As soon as he said it, the crowd erupted. Some even took out their phones to take pictures. The flash blinded me. Having been drugged, I couldn’t transform into human form quickly. I crawled forward slowly, only for Gabriel to drag me back savagely. He slammed my tail against an iron railing. The immense pain blacked me out. Rough, greasy hands reached for my shoulders. I thrashed wildly, screaming, “Get away! Don’t touch me!” “Don’t touch me!” Fiona came over, stomping on my hand with her sharp heel. She looked at Gabriel expectantly, “Gabriel, why don’t we cut off one of her hands?” “Anyway, she’s useless now. The main goal today is to get the mermaid tears, right?” Gabriel quietly gazed at Fiona, a hint of menace in his eyes. Everyone fell silent, the man kneeling next to me stopped. Fiona shivered uncontrollably. It was her first time seeing Gabriel like this. She realized she’d crossed a line, so she let go and coyly ran into his arms, “Gabriel, I was just joking. We still need the goods intact, right?” “Don’t be mad, okay?” Fiona’s attempt to smooth things over got the scene lively again. Gabriel scowled and ordered the men pinning me down to leave. They exchanged looks, unwilling to stop touching me. Gabriel snapped, “Didn’t you hear me? Get down!” On stage, only the auctioneer and Gabriel’s friends remained. Fiona threw Gabriel a flattering smile, and his friends anxiously watched him, fearing he’d change his mind, denying them their fun. I looked up, a glimmer of hope in my eyes. Even if he turned back now, it would be something. Gabriel smirked, “Start the bidding.” I froze, the laughter of the crowd filling my ears. I lay on the ground, helplessly laughing. I had overestimated Gabriel’s love for me. A bearded man in the audience raised his hand, “One billion!” “`plaintext On the exhibition stand, only the auctioneer and a handful of Gabriel’s friends were left. Fiona looked at Gabriel with a sycophantic smile, while the friends beside her cast worried glances his way. They were anxious that Gabriel might have second thoughts, depriving them of any potential gains. I glanced up, a spark of hope in my eyes. Even if he reconsidered now, it would be for the best. Gabriel smirked, “Let’s begin the bidding.” I stood there, frozen, as the sound of laughter from those people filled my ears. I laughed bitterly on the ground, realizing I had overestimated what little affection Gabriel had for me. A bearded man in the audience raised his hand, “One hundred million!” All eyes turned to him as he stroked his beard. “This woman crossed me before; once I get her, I’ll make sure she pays.” He was a CEO who had once collaborated with Gabriel. I had sued him for leaking company secrets. Now, I appeared before him, reduced to a mere servant in the most humiliating way. He got up and slowly made his way to the stage, giving me a kick. “Chloe, where’s your pride now?” One hundred million was nearly the highest bid. Everyone shook their heads in resignation, “Mr. Thomas really doesn’t hold back.” “This woman won’t survive in his hands; I’ve heard he has some peculiar tastes.” Mr. Thomas lit a cigar, “Gabriel, you keep your promises, don’t you?” Gabriel looked down at me, his gaze devoid of emotion. Fiona smiled and approached, “Of course, a deal’s a deal. Businessmen value their integrity.” Mr. Thomas came closer, yanking my hair and dragging me away. I struggled, shaking off his grip. For the sake of my life, I abandoned my dignity, half-crawling to Gabriel. 0
I clung to Gabriel’s coat, “Please, don’t make me go with him.” “I saved you once; help me this time and we’ll be even, alright?” Fiona kicked me aside, “You’re disgusting, Chloe. Can’t you do something about that fishy smell?” Gabriel pressed his foot on my shoulder, “Chloe, you can’t even beg properly, can you?” Someone piped up, “Gabriel, they say mermaid tears are priceless. Is sis-in-law going to cry today or not?” “Doesn’t seem like she’s too upset. Gabriel, maybe you should ease up.” Gabriel, who was impatient by nature, couldn’t stand such provocations. Moreover, he enjoyed indulging in bizarre behaviors. He grabbed my jaw and slammed me against the water tank, “Chloe, didn’t you say you loved me the most? Shed some mermaid tears for me now. Show me how much you love me!” “Cry!” Blood stained the glass. Gabriel, like a madman, continued to assault me. His eyes were completely bloodshot. I bit my lip hard to withstand the pain. The crowd fell silent, no one uttering a word. Mr. Thomas intervened, “I’ve already paid a high price for this woman. What if you ruin her for me?” Gabriel waved dismissively, panting heavily, “Who the hell do you think you are?!” Mr. Thomas chuckled, stroking his beard, “Gabriel, don’t forget who you really are.” Upon hearing this, Gabriel’s face turned ashen, and the hostility in him subsided somewhat. He looked at me with disgust, meticulously checking if any mermaid tears had fallen. As expected, there were none. Merfolk have a higher pain tolerance, and even under immense physical and psychological torment, I hadn’t shed a single tear. Gabriel made a call, and moments later, he hung up and dragged me by the hair to a monitor. My heart sank; it displayed the ocean region where the Merfolk lived. Gabriel sneered, “What if I start capturing your family? Would you cry then?”
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