Chapter 3
A shock ran through me.
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and even the
Carmichael family next door went silent.
The gavel came down, sealing the bid.
During the post–auction interview, reporters kept asking me who
placed the “unlimited bidding.”
I avoided answering directly. “You’re all invited to the
engagement banquet to find out.”
Benson’s mocking voice interrupted as he stepped into the camera’s view, his face showing clear disdain.
“Bailey, still keeping up the act, huh? So you ditched the draw
and opted for an auction for this spectacle?
“How many times have I told you to stop bothering me? Staging
an unlimited bidding just to marry me. How absurd!
“Let me tell you straight. I was the one who bid one dollar! Because to me, you’re just a clingy nobody, and that’s all you’re
worth.”
My fists clenched, and a sharp bitterness stung my eyes.
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Even though I had faced countless similar humiliations in my
past life, at that moment, my chest still throbbed with a dense,
pinprick–like pain.
I didn’t want to get into a confrontation with him in front of the
press, so I calmly said, “Benson, I’m not bothering you.”
Benson’s jaw tightened as he sneered, “Everyone knows you’ve
sworn to marry no one but me. The Kimbere family decided long
ago that I would be your fiancé.
“You pulled that public bidding stunt just to pressure me with your filthy money into marrying you! But let me tell you, it won’t
work! Even if you join the Gaskal family, I’ll never have anything
to do with you. You can just wait to live like a widow!”
I mocked silently.
In my previous life, this was exactly what he’d done.
He pretended to ignore me for his career, but in truth, he was
plotting revenge.
This time, I was determined to steer clear of trouble.
Just as I turned to walk away, someone grabbed my leg tightly.
Benson’s adopted sister, Melisa, knelt on the ground, tears
streaming down her face.
Chapter 3
“Ms. Kimbere, if you need to vent, hit me or scold me! I’ll serve
you as a servant, but please don’t send people to demolish our
village and leave my family homeless…
“I know you resent my brother’s kindness to me. I will cut ties
with him.”
“I won’t allow it!” Benson cried out, his voice filled with anguish
as he pulled Melisa into an embrace.
She leaned against him, her face marred by tears and looking
utterly miserable.
With eyes burning red, Benson seized a wine bottle and threw it in my direction.
“You cruel witch! Kneel and beg Melisa’s forgiveness
immediately! If not, you’ll never be welcomed into the Gaskal
family!”
I lifted my arm to shield myself from the impact, but the glass shattered, leaving me with a deep, bleeding wound.
Just like in my previous life, Benson believed Melisa without
question and resorted to abuse at the slightest provocation.
His constant indifference had completely extinguished my
feelings.
My resentment was about to boil over, and I retorted sharply, “I
Chapter 3
didn’t do it. Why should I apologize?”
Benson glared at me, raising his hand to hit me, but the
bodyguards intervened just in time.
When my parents saw my injury, they were enraged and
promised to confront the Gaskal family.
Their immediate concern brought tears to my eyes.
This time, I vowed to ensure they would never be harmed again.
I assured them I had a plan and told them not to worry.
The main focus was to prepare for the engagement banquet
and address the issue with the mysterious fiancé.
And once again, Oliver amazed everyone.
Five private jets delivered an astounding 999 engagement gifts.
Among them was a peacock coral hairpin, a thousand–year–old
national treasure that had caused a stir in the auction world just
six months ago.
Even my parents, who had seen it all, were amazed by such lavish generosity.
I felt a mix of happiness and bitterness.
In my previous life, Benson had offered a mere cheap emerald
Chapter 3
bracelet as gifts, while I naively brought my assets that worth
billions.
The difference between Benson’s stinginess and Oliver’s
thoughtfulness was so clear that I was convinced I had made
the right choice in this life.
