The Cost of Deception

I was the little princess cherished by my brother Derek Walton, the most well-behaved girl in our family.

The boldest thing I ever did was hide my identity and date Lucas Morrison, my brother's sworn enemy, in secret for three years.

Over those three years, I let him record countless sex videos.

In the backseat of a sports car, I sat on his lap, completely bare, my waist gripped tightly in his hands.

Lucas, fully dressed, held his phone in his other hand.

"Lucas..." I tilted my head, lost in the moment, and whispered, "Please don't record..."

"Baby," Lucas said, his heated kisses trailing across my skin, "don't worry, these videos are just for me. You're so beautiful, I'd never let anyone else see."

My heart softened, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, overwhelmed with affection, letting the pleasure surge through me.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

Lucas frowned but answered it.

I glanced over, panting, and saw it was his sister, Laura Morrison.

"Lucas, did you propose?" she asked.

Lucas's brow furrowed, and he switched to Aurianese. "Speak in Aurianese! Ariella's right here!"

A curse came from the other end, then Laura switched to Aurianese. "You proposed to Braelynn, so why are you still messing around with Ariella? Get rid of her!"

I never told Lucas I understood Aurianese, so I caught every word.

My body went cold.

Lucas proposed to Braelynn Phillips?

Then why did he propose to me just days ago?

What was I to him?

"Ariella will stay by my side, but her status is too low to be the lady of the Morrison family," Lucas said coldly, not noticing my reaction. "Laura, mind your own business."

Laughter from other men burst through the phone.

"Lucas! You're marrying Braelynn, so Ariella's bound to dump you. Come on, let us see those little videos of her! I'm dying to see that gold-digger let loose!"

"Those videos are mine, and she's not going anywhere!" Lucas snapped, irritation creeping into his voice. "When I'm done with her, I'll let you have a look."

My mind went blank, as if someone had slammed a hammer into my temple.

Pain surged through me, making my whole body tremble.

Lucas hung up, annoyed, and gripped my waist to continue.

I tilted my head back, shaking, as a tear slid from the corner of my eye.

Even as my body reached its peak, my heart drowned in bitter anguish.

Lucas straightened his clothes, his discarded phone ringing again.

The screen lit up, and I stole a glance at the message.

Snowflake texted, "Lucas, my parents want to discuss our wedding plans."

My fingers trembled. "Snowflake" was his special nickname for Braelynn.

Lucas glanced at the message and turned to me. "Ariella, I have some family matters to handle. Can you take a cab home?"

I looked at him deeply, nodded, and opened the car door.

The sports car sped off without hesitation.

I stood on the roadside, staring at the fading car, tears streaming down my face.

Memories flooded my mind.

I was the pampered princess of the wealthy Walton family, always obedient, except for one act of rebellion.

I secretly changed my college to a school in Sterling City, craving a normal life.

That was where I met Lucas.

I knew of him from high school; he was always compared to Derek.

They fought over territory, projects, everything, notorious rivals who clashed relentlessly.

The first time, at a campus music festival, some jealous rich girls cornered me backstage, tearing my performance outfit and mocking me as a lowly nobody.

When I felt helpless, Lucas pushed through the crowd and draped his jacket over me.

The second time, robbers held a knife to my throat.

While passersby ignored me, he charged in, kicking the thug to the ground, his back slashed and blood soaking his shirt.

I secretly fell for this tall, strong man, but I never imagined anything would happen.

He was already engaged to his childhood sweetheart, Braelynn Phillips.

I buried my feelings.

Until the Morrison family's investments failed, and they went bankrupt.

Braelynn quickly called off their engagement and married someone else.

I fought with Derek and, against all reason, anonymously invested ten billion from my grandmother's inheritance into Lucas's company.

I stayed up late with him, negotiated contracts, attended business dinners.

Once, a client tried to get me drunk.

When I was nearly assaulted, Lucas burst in, smashed the client's head, and carried me away.

That night, I gave in to my desires and kissed him.

The next day, we were together.

For three years, I endured scorching summers and freezing winters with him. I stayed by his side from dusk to dawn, helping him through those tough years.

It was me he kissed, held, and loved.

But in the end, I, who helped him rebuild his company stronger than ever, could never compare to Braelynn's return.

No matter how much I gave, he never intended to let me stand by his side openly.

Even the Morrisons and Laura preferred Braelynn, who abandoned them, over me.

Looking back, I was pitifully naive.

I stood up, wiping my tears.

This time, I decided I was done with him.

I stood on the roadside and called Derek. "Derek, I'm going to break up with him."

The line was silent for three seconds before Derek's low voice came through. "I told you before, Lucas has no heart."

My eyes reddened, and I whispered, "Yeah, I was too foolish."

"Come home," Derek said, his tone light. "Whenever you need me, I'll do anything for you."

"Then... marry me."

Derek's voice came through, unwavering. "In seven days, I'll give you a grand wedding in front of everyone."

I returned to the Morrison family home and started thinking about what to do next.

Not long ago, Lucas used the promise of marriage to shower me with affection, recording even more explicit videos.

Now, it was clear those were just ploys to keep me as his secret mistress.

I needed to find a way to delete those videos Lucas had if I wanted to leave.

With my mind made up, I began packing my things.

I grabbed a few boxes and stuffed them with everything Lucas had given me.

Over three years, his gifts piled up-matching pajamas, matching slippers, photos we took together. I hauled them out trip after trip.

I worked until late at night before collapsing into sleep, only to be woken the next morning by Laura's shrill voice. "Why? You and Derek are sworn enemies! Why are you making me marry him? I heard Derek's brutal and vicious, that he's ruined countless women!"

"The company's fighting for a massive project, and we're facing a huge funding gap. If you marry him, Derek's promised to cover fifty percent of the funds to secure it!" Lucas's voice was cold and unyielding. "It's settled. You're marrying Derek."

Lucas slammed the door, and soon the roar of his luxury car speeding away echoed outside.

I hadn't expected Derek to arrange a marriage deal with Lucas so quickly.

I stepped out of my room and found Laura throwing a tantrum in the living room.

I stood in front of her, lips curling into a determined smile, my gaze unwavering. "One billion, and I'll marry into the Walton family in your place."

Laura transferred the money to my account on the spot.

...

That evening, Lucas insisted on taking me to an auction. I changed and got into his car.

At the auction house, I spotted Braelynn, dressed in a perfectly tailored designer gown, chatting and laughing with a group of wealthy heirs.

Lucas's eyes shifted instantly. Though he stood by my side, his heart was clearly elsewhere.

He kept his arm around me as we sat in the main hall, while Braelynn boldly took the seat next to him.

Lucas fussed over me, asking if I was cold, feeding me fruit by hand, not sparing Braelynn a single glance.

But in the dim light, my peripheral vision caught their hands secretly entwined.

Soon, he excused himself to the restroom, and Braelynn followed.

I sat for a moment before getting up to follow them.

At the corner near the restroom, I saw Lucas pinning Braelynn against the wall, kissing her fiercely, with an unrestrained passion I'd never seen.

In our three years together, through countless intimate moments, I'd never witnessed such raw desire from him.

My heart twisted in agony, and it took all my strength to turn away.

Not long after, Lucas left first, answering a phone call.

Braelynn returned, her lips swollen, her eyes shimmering with emotion. "You know Lucas proposed to me, right? We're having a wedding in Las Vela, every detail designed to fulfill the dreams I once shared with him. He never forgot them."

I knew she wanted me to break down, to scream and cry, but I refused to give her the satisfaction.

I stared blankly at the auction stage ahead, spine straight, ignoring her taunts.

Braelynn frowned. "You don't seem surprised at all."

I forced a faint smile, my heart icy and desolate.

Surprised? How could I be when I'd heard it all with my own ears?

I once dreamed of a future with Lucas, and for a fleeting moment, his expression had faltered-probably thinking of Braelynn.

But now, I was completely done with him. Whatever he did, I no longer cared.

I looked up at Braelynn. "When's your wedding?"

"In two weeks."

I lowered my gaze. Two weeks to prepare my exit.

Braelynn's face darkened when she saw I wasn't rattled.

Just then, the auctioneer lifted the red cloth on a tray, revealing an emerald bracelet.

My breath caught.

It was the bracelet my grandmother left me.

When Lucas's company was struggling, I sold it to anonymously fund him.

I never thought I'd see it again, here of all places.

I raised my bidding paddle. "One hundred million!"

"Two hundred million," Braelynn countered, raising her paddle with a smug smile. "I like this bracelet too. Shall we compete fairly?"

My fingers dug into my palm. "Three hundred million!"

"Four hundred million!"

"Five hundred million!"

The price soared to one billion.

My account was nearly drained, but Braelynn remained calm, her eyes mocking. "Need to call Lucas for help, Miss Walton?"

The auctioneer politely asked if I'd raise my bid.

"Yes!" I lifted my paddle. "Two billion!"

Braelynn's face twisted with anger. She frantically messaged her father, but the Phillips family had been declining for years-where would they find that kind of money?

Just as I exhaled in relief, Lucas's secretary burst into the hall and shouted, "Bid unconditionally!

Every item Miss Braelynn Phillips desires today will be claimed by Mr. Morrison bidding unconditionally!"

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.