After My Husband Auctioned My Breast Milk

At the class reunion dinner, my husband, Silas Quinn, announced to the table that I possessed a once-in-a-generation gift.

That my breast milk wasn't just nourishing, it could rejuvenate skin and, apparently, restore a man's...

vigor.

The table erupted in rowdy cheers, demanding proof.

Silas's childhood friend, Ginny Ray, giggled coyly and raised her glass towards me.

"Oh, Amber, Silas still shares those private photos you send him, you know? The ones of you... pumping? He says we're all friends, no harm in sharing. They're quite... revealing."

"Why not express some fresh milk right here? We'll auction it off! Highest bidder wins! Silas, darling, what should the starting bid be?"

Laughter roared around the table. Ginny gazed expectantly at Silas.

Silas took the glass from Ginny's hand, his voice cool.

"Drinking isn't good for you, Gin. I'll take it. And since it's just a bit of fun... starting bid? One cent."

Fine then.

Time to find my child's real father.

...

"From the photos, it's not just he milk! Mrs. Quinn is a knockout!"

"Lucky bastard, no wonder he's always so...energetic!"

"One-cent milk for the bros! Count me in!"

"I'm bidding high! Gonna take this home, rock my wife's world all night long... maybe picture Mrs. Quinn's face instead..."

"Heh heh heh..."

he room filled with crude suggestions and raucous laughter.

Ginny Ray pressed close to Silas, she kept picking at her food, taking a bite, then dropping the rest onto his plate with a pout.

Silas picked them up without a second thought and ate them.

Yet, when we first kissed, Silas claimed he had a germ phobia.

Couldn't stand other people's bodily fluids.

He made me scrub my lips raw with disinfectant before he'd barely brush them with his own.

And that "phobia" had apparently lasted until this very moment.

"Mrs. Quinn, why aren't you starting? It's not like you haven't done crazy things for Silas before! Remember when he said he'd only be with you if you jumped from ten thousand feet? And you did it, even with your crippling fear of heights!"

"It's just a little game!"

"Yeah, don't be a buzzkill! If Ginny hadn't insisted we call you 'Mrs. Quinn,' who'd even acknowledge you?"

"Ginny's the real Mrs. Quinn in our hearts! You just stole the spot..."

The malicious whispers cut off abruptly.

"Stop it! Even if I gave Silas my swimsuit pics for his... nightly relief... Amber is still his wife. I'm just his friend." Her voice dropped sadly on the last word.

Silas placed a bowl piled high with peeled lobster meat in front of Ginny, his voice dripping with indulgence.

"Let them talk if they don't respect Amber. But here, they will respect you."

The others exchanged knowing smirks and winks.

Beneath the table, my fists clenched so tight my nails bit into my palms.

Silas always said Ginny was a friend.

But tonight, the familiar scene felt like shards of glass in my eyes.

Ginny seemed to remember her purpose. She rummaged in her bag and pulled out a breast pump.

"Oh, Amber! You haven't started? Let me help you!" She reached forcefully for my collar.

I shoved her away instinctively.

Ginny gasped dramatically, twisting to fall perfectly into Silas's arms.

She shot me a triumphant look.

Silas held Ginny protectively, his face twisting with disgust.

"Amber! Have you lost your mind?! Ginny was just suggesting a harmless game!"

"You're Mrs. Quinn! Can't you indulge her a little? She's our friend!"

Friend? More like mistress!

"Amber," Silas's voice turned icy.

"Since you rejected Ginny's help, we'll just start the auction. Highest bidder gets to drink straight from the source."

"Besides, you're plenty wild with me in private. What's a little milking among friends?"

"Starting bid! One cent!"

"I'll bid five cents! Remember when I was broke, pretending to be Silas's bro? Mrs. Quinn emptied her accounts, lent me three million, never asked for it back! This is thanks!"

"Ten cents from me! Silas gifted me that prime Sterling Heights land parcel C worth a cool billion! "

That land.Silas had begged me for it.

He said his company was circling the drain, needed it to bluff his way through.

I'd leveraged my company, Hartford Group, to the hilt to secure it for him.

His company still imploded. Hartford nearly collapsed with it.

I thought the land was snatched by a competitor. Turns out, he just gave it away.

"..."

"Ha! That's nothing! Silas gave me your family's burial plots in Willow Creek! "

"For Silas's sake, I'll bid a whole dollar. Can't give Amber too much credit, now."

They clamored over each other, upping the bids.

Ginny laughed, shaking with glee amidst the chaotic auction.

She slowly disentangled herself from Silas's arms, her gaze locking onto mine.

"Everyone loves Amber's milk so much," she purred.

"I'd hate to be the spoilsport. Why auction it? Let's all share. I'm sure generous Amber won't mind."

She turned, giving Silas a playful wink.

Trembling with rage, I lost my grip on my glass.

It shattered on the floor.

Crack.

My eyes found the man who'd remained silent throughout this entire circus.

"Silas. Do you agree with this?"

Silas frowned slightly, but seeing Ginny's pleading look, his face hardened.

"Yes. If it weren't for that surrogacy contract you signed with my mother, Ginny would be my wife now."

"The child is born, but you still owe Ginny!"

Owe her?!

If Eleanor Quinn hadn't drugged me, locked me in that room with Silas...

none of this would have happened.

And Silas hadn't been drugged that night.

I fought back tears, jaw clenched.

"Silas, your mother told me your company was bankrupt! The contract I signed was for your surgery fees! She said she'd only sign your critical condition papers if I left!"

Silas's sneer faltered.

A flicker of unease crossed his face before he barked, "Amber! This is just another one of your schemes to drive Ginny and me apart! When I had that car accident, it was Ginny who stayed by my side, paid the medical bills! But you! You stole the money Mom got from selling the company to save me and blew it partying!"

"As soon as I recovered, you drugged yourself, trapped me, got pregnant to force your way in. Ginny still defended you! But I see clearly now who the villain is!"

His gaze softened as it fell on Ginny.

"My heir should be borne by Ginny. You and your bastard can get the hell out of my life."

Ginny, who had been pretending to cower, stiffened almost imperceptibly.

"Silas, the baby is innocent," she said, her tone slightly strained.

"It's still your child. I'd I'd care for it as my own." She paused, then added meaningfully, "But given Amber's unstable postpartum behavior who knows what she might do to the poor thing in private? If it were mine"

Due to a medical condition, Ginny couldn't have children.

She was determined to have Silas's heir.

This was a plan she and Silas's mother had concocted.

With my bloodline securing the inheritance to Aurum Sphere Group, they wanted the child and the fortune.

Silas's expression grew tender looking at her, then glacial turning to me.

"Amber, for the child's well-being, you will relinquish custody to Ginny immediately. Only someone with her pure heart can raise a proper heir."

The blood drained from my face. I swayed on my feet.

The men at the table still watched me like predators.

I lowered my head, my voice dropping to a near-inaudible murmur meant only for Silas.

"And what if the baby is only mine? What if he's not yours at all?"

Silas caught the shape of the words on my lips.

The unease within him exploded into full-blown dread, churning his stomach.

At that moment, Ginny casually let the jade bracelet she'd been toying with slip from her fingers.

Ting

It hit the floor and broke cleanly in two.

My heart stopped. I knew that bracelet....

I kept it safe in the vault.

Only two people knew the code...

Ginny feigned surprise.

"Oops! Silas said it was junk, so I picked it up to play with. Now it's shattered, perfect for the trash! You don't mind, do you, Amber?"

I knelt among the shards, blood welling from cuts on my hands as I clutched the fragments.

Silas's gaze lingered on my bleeding hands for a split second, but Ginny's cooing drew his attention back to her.

Ginny eyed my damp blouse, a mocking smirk on her lips.

"Looks like Mrs. Quinn can't hold back either! Let's not ruin the fun! Time to witness the magic milk!"

Silas followed her gaze to my chest, his expression twisting with distaste.

I thrust the phone at Silas, my voice sharp and clear.

"Silas! They call you 'Mr. Quinn,' but don't fool yourself! I still hold 99% of Hartford Group!"

Silas paled seeing the familiar number. He took the phone gingerly.

"Mom?"

"GET HOME NOW!!!"

The commanding female voice crackled through the speaker.

At least, for now, this woman would preserve my last shred of dignity.

Silas's face was unreadable in the shifting light, only the white-knuckled grip on his phone betraying his turmoil.

Amidst Ginny's worried pout and the others' disappointed sighs, Silas and I drove home in suffocating silence.

The moment we stepped inside, Eleanor Quinn greeted me with a warm smile, steering me towards the dining table.

"Amber, dear, your mother and I were best friends. She approved this match. She wanted you and Silas to be happy."

"Silas is exceptional. Temptations abound. If you can't hold your man's heart, what use are you?"

"And Ginny... I think of her as a daughter. Stop being so suspicious and jealous. It's unbecoming for a Quinn. Remember how Silas saved your life? That should tell you his feelings."

"The man is the head of the household, the pillar. You need to lean on Silas!"

"And those shares are useless in your hands. Transfer them to Silas now. Prove your devotion!"

Silas sat sullenly nearby. Eleanor kicked him sharply under the table.

Silas snorted and turned away.