Chapter 1: A Rose Among Thorns

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Mia's POV

The morning sun cast long shadows on the city's grimy streets. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, I stood, clutching a bunch of roses, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the gray around me. Each petal, a symbol of the hope I held onto, each thorn, a reminder of the harsh reality I lived in.

My mother's cough echoed in my mind, a haunting symphony that underscored my every waking moment. The hospital bills were piling up, and time was running out. Desperation clung to me like a second skin, pushing me towards the unthinkable.

The day passed in a blur, the city's faceless crowd oblivious to my silent pleas. As dusk fell, I swapped the roses for a different kind of dignity. The bidding bar loomed ahead, its neon sign flickering like a predator's smile.

Inside, the wealthy and the powerful reveled, their laughter echoing off the gilded walls. I felt their eyes on me, assessing, calculating. Fear knotted in my stomach, but I pushed it down. This was for her. All for her.

As I stepped onto the stage, the room hushed. The lights were blinding, the air thick with anticipation. Then, a voice cut through the silence, "We'll start the bidding at..."

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