Chapter 3

Hope POV:

His eyes, cold and piercing, locked onto mine. There was no escape in that moment, no pretense I could maintain. I simply stared back, a silent surrender. The defiance I' d felt earlier evaporated, replaced by the familiar, suffocating weight of my position. He saw my compliance, the way I always yielded, and a flicker of satisfaction crossed his face.

His kiss, when it came again, was less violent but still devoid of tenderness. It was possessive, a declaration of ownership. When he finally pulled away, he touched my bruised lip, his thumb tracing the slight cut. "I' ll transfer some money to your account tomorrow," he said, his voice flat. "For... your trouble."

The words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the transactional nature of our relationship. My heart sank. There it was, the payment, the reward for my obedience, for allowing him to take out his frustrations on me. A part of me, the foolish, hopeful part, had once deluded itself into believing these lavish gifts were expressions of affection, small tokens of a deeper connection. But now, I knew better. I was his prized pet, and he was simply tossing me a treat.

I turned my back to him, feigning sleep, the ache in my chest a dull throb. I needed to escape. I needed to be free.

The next morning, I threw myself into my studies, losing myself in the complex world of medical research. My phone buzzed. It was my mother. A rush of warmth, and a familiar pang of guilt, flooded me.

"Hope, darling!" Her voice was bright, full of relief. "Your father' s coming home! The doctors say he' s stable, the treatment worked!"

A genuine smile, the first in what felt like days, bloomed on my face. "That' s wonderful, Mom! I' ll transfer money for his medications right away."

"Oh, you don' t have to worry about that, sweetie. Alden already took care of it." Her voice dropped conspiratorially. "He' s such a good boy. When are you bringing him home to meet us properly? Your father keeps asking."

My smile faltered. My parents knew nothing of the true nature of my relationship with Alden. I had painted a picture of a successful, loving boyfriend, a man who adored me. I' d even sent them a photoshopped picture of us, digitally editing Alden' s aloof expression into something resembling affection. The lie was a heavy burden, but it was a burden I willingly carried to protect them.

I remembered the one time I' d cautiously suggested Alden meet my parents. He had looked at me with cold, dismissive eyes. "Don' t forget your place, Hope. You' re my companion, not my wife. Your parents are not my concern." The words had echoed in my ears, shattering any lingering illusions I had about our future.

"Mom, I... I' m really busy with my thesis. And Alden has a packed schedule. It' s not a good time," I stammered, pulling at a loose thread on my sweater.

"Nonsense! He finds time to visit your father in the hospital. He even brought him his favorite custard from that fancy bakery!" My mother was relentless. "Hope, dear, he' s a good man. You should cherish him."

I mumbled an excuse about needing to get back to my studies and quickly hung up, before she could press me further. The guilt was a heavy weight, but so was the bitterness. He' d helped my parents, yes, but it was just another transaction. Another way to keep me in his debt, bound to him.

I retreated to the quiet sanctuary of the library, burying myself in research for my graduation thesis. My phone buzzed again. A message from Alden. Auction tonight. Be ready by 7.

A bitter laugh escaped me. Of course. Another public appearance, another opportunity for him to display his wealth, and me, his beautiful, compliant ornament. I quickly typed a terse Okay.

I nearly lost track of time. My thesis was all-consuming, a desperate race against the clock. By the time I glanced at my watch, it was already past six. Panic flared. He hated to be kept waiting. I rushed back to my apartment, frantically pulling on a dress, barely managing to fix my hair and makeup before Mark, Alden' s assistant, was at the door.

"Miss Gonzales," he said, his voice as smooth and unruffled as ever, holding the car door open. "Mr. Maxwell asked me to confirm the date of your graduation ceremony. He wishes to make arrangements."

My heart fluttered, a fragile bird beating against its cage. Arrangements? Was he actually going to come? A sliver of hope, foolish and persistent, sparked within me. Graduation was my exit. Seeing him there, acknowledging my achievement, it would be almost... a proper goodbye. A final, dignified farewell to a chapter of my life I was desperate to close. "It' s two weeks from Friday," I told him, trying to keep my voice steady.

The car pulled up to a grand, brightly lit auction house. I took a deep breath, composed myself, and stepped out. "You can go, Mark. I' ll make my way in." I needed a moment to mentally steel myself.

I walked inside, the hushed grandeur of the hall a familiar sight. I found an empty seat towards the back, observing the mingling crowd, a sea of designer clothes and glittering jewelry. I was just another face in the blur.

Suddenly, a ripple went through the crowd. Whispers, then murmurs, growing louder. Alden Maxwell had arrived. I rose, as I always did, preparing to greet him, to fall into my accustomed place by his side.

But then I saw her. Amanda Erickson. She was on his arm, draped in an exquisite gown, her lips curved into a triumphant smile. Alden' s gaze, when it rested on her, was soft, doting, utterly captivated. He was holding her hand, his fingers intertwined with hers, a gesture of intimacy I had rarely experienced.

My feet froze. A sudden chill swept through me, colder than any autumn night. I heard the whispers around me, cruel and cutting. "Look, she' s back. Hope never stood a chance." "Always knew Amanda was his true love. The other one was just a placeholder."

My heart twisted, a searing pain that stole my breath. He walked past me, his eyes brushing over my face with a fleeting, almost imperceptible glance, as if I were a stranger, another anonymous face in the crowd. He didn' t stop. Didn' t acknowledge me. Just walked on, his hand still firmly clasped in Amanda' s.

I sank back into my seat, my limbs heavy, my mind numb. The auction had begun, the rhythmic chant of the auctioneer a distant hum. The room was a kaleidoscope of flashing lights and hushed bids, but all I could taste was ash.

"Next up," the auctioneer' s voice boomed, "a rare piece from the Jiangcheng region, a jade bangle, exquisite in its craftsmanship and rich in history."

My head snapped up. On the screen, a delicate jade bangle, carved with intricate floral patterns, glowed under the spotlight. My mother' s bangle. The one she had sold years ago when my father' s medical bills had first become unbearable. The one she had cried over, a cherished family heirloom passed down through generations.

A surge of fierce determination coursed through me, chasing away the numbness. I would buy it back. This was my chance. I would buy it for her, a symbol of my unwavering love, a testament to the sacrifices I' d made. A silent promise that I was finally free to truly care for my family.

I raised my paddle, my heart pounding. "Five hundred thousand!"

The bids escalated quickly, a dizzying back and forth. I kept raising my paddle, my eyes fixed on the bangle, my resolve unyielding. This was for my mother. This was for my family.

"One million!" I called out, my voice trembling slightly.

Then, a cool, amused voice from the front of the room cut through the air. "Two million."

My head snapped towards the sound. It was Amanda. She was looking at Alden, a sly, possessive smile playing on her lips. "Alden, darling, it' s simply divine. Don' t you think?"

Alden, his eyes still soft with adoration, nodded. "Indeed, my love. Anything for you."

The auctioneer looked at me, a question in his eyes. My paddle felt heavy, suddenly impossible to lift. My heart clenched, a vise-like grip squeezing the air from my lungs. I was outmatched. I couldn' t compete with two million, especially not when Alden Maxwell was backing her.

"Going once... Going twice..."

My vision blurred. I was losing it. Again.

Then, Alden' s voice, clear and resonant, boomed through the hall. "Ten million." He didn' t even look at me, his gaze still fixed on Amanda. "A little gift, my dear. Consider it a token of my undying affection." A token of his undying affection. For her. He was lighting a match, pouring gasoline on my already burning heart, all to illuminate Amanda' s triumphant smile. He was not just outbidding me; he was annihilating me, publicly, ruthlessly, for her.