Chapter 3

A wave of gasps and murmurs erupted around me. I overheard people whispering.

"Mr. Morrison came with Miss Walton, but he bid unconditionally for Miss Phillips!"

"Childhood sweethearts always trump a mistress!"

"The Phillips family is about to rise again!"

The piercing stares from the crowd stung. I forced a mocking smile.

For three years, I poured my heart and soul into Lucas, but in front of Braelynn, it was all a joke.

Lucas Morrison, Braelynn Phillips.

I'd make them pay for this, with interest, in blood.

The auction hammer fell, and the bracelet was handed to Braelynn.

From then on, anything Braelynn showed interest in was immediately claimed and presented to her.

Everyone marveled at Lucas's devotion to her.

I stared at the bracelet she toyed with in her hands. "Sell me the bracelet. Name your price."

"Your money's just from Lucas, isn't it?" Braelynn sneered. "But since you kept his bed warm for three years, consider this a gift from me."

She held out the bracelet.

In the next second, it smashed onto the floor, shattering into pieces.

My vision blurred, my body trembling as if someone were stabbing a knife into my heart over and over.

"Whoops, my hand slipped. You won't hold it against me, will you?" Braelynn deliberately ground a fragment under her heel, leaning in with a malicious smile. "I did it on purpose. That bracelet was too good for you. Shattered, it suits the fate of someone who tries to steal my man."

"Say that again," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Braelynn laughed smugly. "I'm the woman Lucas loves most. He's marrying me, yet you still cling to him..."

Before she could finish, I stood slowly, grabbed a fruit knife from the table, and swung it at her.

"Ah! My face!" she screamed. "My face!"

Blood trickled from her cheekbone, dripping onto the fragments.

The auction hall descended into chaos. I dropped the knife, ready to leave, but Braelynn shot to her feet, pointing at me. "Seize her!"

Bodyguards grabbed me tightly. Braelynn snatched a small whip from a nearby auction item and lashed it across my shoulder.

Pain seared through me, making my back arch.

Unsatisfied, she raised the whip for another strike.

"Braelynn! What are you doing?" Lucas's roar thundered through the auction hall.

He yanked the whip from her hand, raising it as if to strike her, but froze when he saw the blood on her face.

Braelynn glared at me with venom. "It was her! She cut my face with a knife! I'll whip her to death today!"

"Impossible!" Lucas's voice was ice-cold.

He turned, slipped off his jacket, and wrapped it around me, his tone softening completely. "Ariella, wait in the car. I'll handle this."

He had his assistant escort me to the car while he stayed to confront Braelynn.

The assistant helped me into the car carefully, standing guard. "Miss Walton, don't blame Mr. Morrison. The Phillips family is a business partner, and Miss Phillips is his childhood friend. He can't afford to make a scene. But I swear, he only cares about you."

Cares about me?

I almost laughed. Cared about me, yet planned to marry someone else?

I sat quietly in the car, staring at the blood on my fingertips, feeling like a lifeless statue.

Soon, Lucas returned. He crouched beside me, his voice full of concern. "I'm sorry, Ariella. You attacked her first, and if word got out, it'd ruin your reputation. I had to calm her down. Don't overthink it."

"Okay," I said, my voice flat, eyes lowered. "Let's go home. I want to go home."

Lucas looked at me, hesitating, but eventually started the car.

I leaned against the seat, staring out the window, my shoulder burning with pain, my mind foggy.

Suddenly, a blinding light flashed toward us. A truck barreled straight at the car.

My eyes widened in panic. In the next moment, Lucas lunged over, wrapping me tightly in his arms.

A deafening crash rang out as the car was slammed aside. Before I blacked out, I saw Lucas, covered in blood, slumped in the driver's seat.

...

I woke up in a hospital bed, the sharp smell of antiseptic filling my nose.

Lucas sat beside me, pale, his face relaxing when he saw me awake. "Ariella, you're finally awake. Are you still in pain?"

I looked at him, my lips moving stiffly, my voice hoarse. "Why did you save me?"

His eyes held nothing but care. "You're the one I cherish most. I failed to protect you, and it's killing me to see you hurt."

He forced a lighthearted smile, ruffling my hair. "Rest up. I'll get the doctor to check on you."

After he left, my phone buzzed. I picked it up and saw a video from Braelynn.

It was footage from the auction house's second-floor surveillance.

Braelynn faced Lucas, eyes red. "My face is ruined because of her. Why are you still protecting her?"

Lucas looked at her gently. "She's been with me for three years. I can't just stand by and let her get hurt."

Braelynn sobbed, tears streaming down. "Really, Lucas? You don't love Ariella at all?"

His gaze flickered with something complex, but he nodded. "No, I don't love her."

Braelynn threw herself into his arms, voice trembling. "But we're getting married soon. After the wedding, you'll kick her out and release those videos of her for everyone to see, right?"

Lucas nodded. "Fine, I'll do it."

Braelynn pressed further, her voice thick with tears. "I still don't feel secure. Do this-stage a brake failure later, steer toward the appraiser's stand, and let Ariella get hurt in a crash. Then I'll believe you don't love her. Okay?"

Lucas was silent for a moment before saying softly, "Okay."

The video ended.