Chapter 3

I ran out of the ballroom and caught Liam standing with my stepsister, Serena, at the corner of the corridor.

Serena was holding his arm, her voice dripping with sympathy.

"Liam, don't be sad. My sister has never been a loyal person."

"When the Hayes family was powerful, she followed you around like a lost puppy. Then when the Vance family rose, she chased Julian for three years. Choosing you today? She doesn't mean it."

"You're just a backup option to her."

I walked up, and my eyes locked with Liam's.

He didn't deny Serena's words. He just looked at me coldly.

"Chloe, I finally get it now."

"I used to follow you around like a dog, doing everything for you, and you never cared. Asking me to marry you on stage today... did it give you a great sense of accomplishment?"

"No! Liam, I never—"

I tried to explain, but he cut me off harshly.

"Shut up! Watching me, the guy you once threw away, still hopelessly devoted to you... was it fun? What do you think my feelings are? Trash you can play with and throw away whenever you want?"

Serena’s voice softened, full of sweet temptation.

"Liam, my sister doesn't deserve you. Marry me instead! My father's new project needs a partner. An alliance will bring the Hayes family back to the top."

My heart clenched. Something felt incredibly wrong.

But I couldn't remember any exact details about this project from my past life.

I could only grab Liam's arm desperately. "Liam, that project is extremely risky! No legal project can have profit margins that high!"

"Chloe!" Serena snapped, glaring at me.

Then she turned to Liam with a pitiful look. "See? She just hates to see you succeed! She's secured her spot with the Vance family, so she's terrified you'll surpass them and make her look bad!"

Liam sneered, completely ignoring my warning.

He took a step back and linked his arm with Serena's.

"Illegal? High risk? In your eyes, Chloe, am I always going to be a loser who needs your 'guidance' and 'pity'?"

"No, Liam, please believe me just this once!"

I was practically begging, but Liam was done listening.

His eyes were ice-cold.

"Chloe, remember today. Every bit of humiliation and trampled trust you put me through..."

"One day, I will pay you back a thousand times over!"

With that, Liam walked away with Serena.

Since that day, Liam became a completely different person—ruthless and aggressive.

But with this partnership, the Hayes family began to thrive.

My father and Serena teamed up with Liam to completely kick me out of the Sterling Group.

They even intentionally set Liam and Serena's wedding date right before mine and Julian's.

I tried to warn him several times.

But each time, I was coldly blocked by Liam’s bodyguards.

Whenever I saw him from afar at business events, his eyes held nothing but cold hatred.

I didn't want to attend the charity auction that night, but I received an anonymous invitation.

I knew it was Serena's doing.

But for Liam's sake, I still went.

Sure enough, the moment I entered the venue, Serena waved at me with a sweet smile.

"Chloe, you're here! I saved a special seat for you."

Just as I sat down, trying to find a chance to warn Liam again, the host on stage raised his voice.

"Our next item is very unique! It's not a physical object, but an 'opportunity'!"

"Generously donated by Mr. Hayes and Miss Serena Sterling—a dance with Miss Chloe Sterling!"

The crowd erupted into whispers!

My blood ran cold. I looked over in disbelief.

Liam was calmly playing with his glass, while Serena leaned against him, giggling.

They were... auctioning me off like a piece of meat!

"Starting bid, one dollar!"

The host's words pushed the humiliation to the extreme, drawing laughter and jeers from the crowd.

"Ten dollars!"

"A hundred!"

"I'll give three hundred to dance with her!"

My face went pale, my nails digging into my palms.

Suddenly, a deep, familiar voice silenced the noise.

"Five million."

I turned around. It was Julian.