My Substitute CEO Bride (Nash Calicraft) novel Chapter 2577

Dorothy looked at Nash, Theo, and the others, who seemed startled by her appearance.

However, there was no surprise in her eyes. It seemed like she had long grown accustomed to such reactions. Nash stared at the girl's face in front of him. Nearly her entire face was covered by horrific scars, leaving only her eyes and mouth with patches of relatively unblemished skin.

Despite the scarring, Nash could tell that Dorothy's natural features were once striking.

The scars were initially shocking, but if one looked closely, the features of her face were still prominent. Unlike the average face, Dorothy's was quite small.

Her hair was well-maintained too. Her most striking feature was her large, bright eyes—though devoid of light, they still retained their allure.

Her lips had a slight curve, hinting at what could have been a soft smile. Despite the unsettling scars, the fair skin beneath them remained visible in places.

Nash stepped forward, looking into the girl's eyes that were filled with despair, offering her a look of sympathy.

Dorothy said nothing. Instead, she silently pushed her wheelchair forward on her own. Nash reached out, grabbing the wheelchair.

"Need some help?" he asked.

"I don't need it!" Dorothy snapped, pushing Nash's hand away.

She resumed her slow, labored progress of pushing the wheelchair inch by inch. Nash glanced at Theo, giving him a subtle look.

Theo understood immediately, gesturing for the others to leave them. Dorothy continued to push herself forward, struggling with each movement. Nash followed behind, taking slow, deliberate steps. He was not in a hurry at all.

Eventually, Dorothy stopped, gasping for breath. She was not heavy, and the wheelchair, made of lightweight high-fiber material, should have been easy to push. Even so, she just could not move any farther.

Nash approached her again. "Do you want some help now?" he asked softly.

Dorothy shook her head, not saying a word. Nash stood by, waiting patiently. After resting for a few moments, Dorothy turned her head and looked at Nash.

That glimmer of hope came from the All Souls Token—a legendary artifact said to have been used by the leader of the human race to control all living things. If she could obtain it, she thought, maybe—just maybe—she could be reborn and be free from the chains of her physical limitations.

Desperation drove her to search relentlessly for the token. She traveled for years across Drakonia and even overseas, following any lead that hinted at its whereabouts.

Perhaps the heavens took pity on her, for she finally stumbled upon a clue. That clue brought her back to Drakonia.

She ventured deep into a crevice, where an ancient ruin lay hidden. Yet she was too late. The token had already been taken.

When she was on the brink of despair once again, Raylee showed Dorothy a news article.

"An auction?" she asked.

"That's right," Raylee explained. "The token you're looking for is going to be auctioned off."