The auction began, everything proceeding in perfect order. I secretly nodded in satisfaction.
This would be the last auction I hosted in America, and I wanted it to close with flawless
perfection.
But in the very next moment, Charlie’s shrill, excited voice rang out.
From the very first item, she raised her paddle again and again–winning bid after bid.
By the time she had nearly swept through the entire floor, displeasure was written across many guests‘ faces.
My heart sank.
Most of the attendees were long–term business partners of the Sinclair family. At our auctions the competition was meant to be friendly and balanced. Yet today, Charlie was recklessly outbidding everyone, leaving no chance for others.
She wasn’t buying for the collections, she was flaunting herself.
And when she finally noticed no one dared to compete with her anymore, she cast me a smug provocative glance.
I furrowed my brows tightly. From the next item onward, I raised my paddle as well, clashing with
her at every turn.
An artifact worth barely one million skyrocketed to five million, even ten million, under our rivalry.
Through it all, Easton watched her with indulgent affection, occasionally feeding her fruit as it she were some precious treasure.
Charlie was only the daughter of a servant–where would she get the money to bid like this?
The answer was obvious.
My expression hardened. I was about to outbid her, but before I could, the others–Connor, Kenji and Hayden–caught on to my intention. They hurriedly pressed down my hand, even covering my mouth to stop me from speaking.
And so, Charlie secured the winning bid once more, before smugly curling into Easton’s embrace
He stroked her hair gently, never sparing me a single glance.
Around us, murmurs spread like wildfire.
“Isn’t Easton supposed to be one of Miss Sinclair’s fiancés? He always treated her so well–why’s he here with another woman? Who is she?”
“Unbelievable! Miss Sinclair can’t even control her own men. Just now, I even saw the other three holding her back–covering her mouth–so she wouldn’t compete with that girl. They looked like they were protecting the mistress, not the fiancée.”
My fists clenched as I tore myself free from their restraint and stormed out.
The three trailed after me in a flurry of apologies, claiming they hadn’t meant it, and said Charlie was pitiful and inexperienced, that they only tried to spare her embarrassment.
But before I reached the exit, Charlie herself blocked my path–smiling sweetly, but with triumph
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glittering in her eyes.
When she saw the three men behind me, her expression instantly shifted into fragile innocence. My nails dug deeper into my palm.
“Miss Sinclair, I didn’t mean to,” she said meekly. “Easton just told me to bid on the things I liked I don’t know much, I liked everything, that’s why it turned out this way… But I brought you a gift. Will you forgive me?”
She stepped closer, holding out a necklace.
One glance, and I recognized it. A complimentary gift prepared by the Sinclair family for all our guests tonight.
Though finely crafted, it was unmistakably a free giveaway.
She had just won countless luxury items at the auction, and many exquisite pieces of jewelry were among them. She could have chosen any of those.
But no–Charlie chose a trinket, deliberately meant to insult me.
Realizing her intent, I slapped her hand away without hesitation.
Her eyes instantly filled with tears.
‘Debbie!” Easton’s furious roar echoed through the hall.
‘What on earth do you think you’re doing? Charlie offered you a gift out of kindness, and this is how you treat her?”
Clutching the necklace, Charlie wept as if her heart were breaking.
‘It’s not Miss Sinclair’s fault. I shouldn’t have competed with her earlier. I’ll apologize…”
Then she dropped to her knees before I could react.
‘I’ll kowtow to you right now, Miss Sinclair. Just forgive me. Please… don’t punish my mother because of me.”
She slammed her forehead to the ground. Blood immediately streamed down her pale face.
“Charlie!”
Easton rushed to cradle her, his voice trembling with distress. Then he turned to me, his eyes
cold and cut like a blade.
“Debbie, clearly the last lesson wasn’t enough. This necklace is Charlie’s heartfelt gift. Whether you want it or not, you will wear it!”
He gestured sharply.
At once, his bodyguards swarmed forward, forcing me to the ground. No matter how I struggled, they clamped the necklace around my throat.
its sharp edges sliced into my skin, blood running down my neck. Easton didn’t spare me a glance.
“Just now, Charlie kowtowed for you. You’ll repay her tenfold!” His voice was merciless. Horrified, I stared up at him in disbelief.
“Easton–don’t you dare!”
He only sneered. With a flick of his hand, the guards forced me down again.
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I thrashed desperately, only to receive a stinging slap across my face. My cheek burned and swelled, my vision swimming, but my glare never faltered.
I wanted to burn him alive with hatred in my eyes.
For a moment, Easton froze. Something flickered in his gaze–pain? Guilt? He reached toward me, as if to take it back.
But then Charlie sobbed softly in his arms, and his eyes turned cold once more.
“Do it.”
The guards pressed me hard against the ground, slamming my forehead down again and agai -ten times in total.
By the time they released me, blood streamed down my face, my body too weak to move.
Easton carried Charlie tenderly in his arms, ignoring me as if I were nothing.
Only after they had left did Connor, Kenji, and Hayden rush over.
But I knew the truth.
They had been watching the entire time. Watching as I was humiliated, beaten, and broken.
Connor gently lifted me, eyes full of distress. He reached for my wound, but I jerked away coldly.
“How could Easton treat you like this? He’s gone too far,” he muttered.
Kenji’s eyes reddened at the sight of my injuries.
Hayden even tried to scoop me into his arms. “Let us take you to the hospital, please.”
I raised my head, catching the anxiety in their eyes–and the way they kept glancing toward the direction Charlie had left.
In that instant, I understood.
They didn’t truly care about me. They only wanted the excuse to follow her openly.
A bitter laugh slipped from my lips. I shook them off.
Their expression froze, then softened again with the same tender affection as always. For a moment, I couldn’t tell–did they truly love me, or had it always been a lie? Clutching my aching body, I walked toward the parking lot without looking back.
Connor frowned, reaching for me.
“Debbie! You’re being too reckless–how can you ignore your own health like this?”
The others tried to speak, but I cut them off, my face expressionless.
“Do whatever you want. My life has nothing to do with you.”
This time, they hadn’t expected me to get mad at them.
They exchanged uneasy glances, then chased after me with apologies.
But I ignored them, got into my car, and drove away.
In the rearview mirror, I clearly saw their silhouettes turning back–heading in the direction Charlie had gone.
Just as I thought. It was her they wanted to see.
I exhaled, extinguishing the last fragile remnants of hope in my heart.
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At home, I tended to my wounds alone before collapsing into bed.
That night, I dreamed of the past–Easton and the others, smiling happily.
But just when I thought the dream was sweet–they abandoned me without hesitation, no matter how desperately I called after them.
When I woke up, the searing pain in my chest had dulled.
Recalling everything with them, I realized–I felt nothing anymore.
Maybe… I had finally let go.
On my phone, countless messages from Connor and the others lit the screen. I swiped past without interest.
Charlie had sent photos again–videos, and even recordings.
Easton and the others surrounding her, caring for her, spoiling her.
She thought this would torment me.
But now–I felt nothing at all.
was just about to block her when–a deafening crash suddenly came from the door.
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