Chapter 3N
Dean was the kind of madman who didn’t look the part.
He projected an air of calm sophistication, smiling easily and speaking in a gentle tone.
But underneath it all?2
He was a walking red flag with a nice face.N
Still, I forced myself to swallow the anger. Deep breaths. Keep it down.
It wouldn’t be long before I’d finally be free of the Wests for good.N
All around me, my classmates jumped in like sharks smelling blood, their voices dripping with judgment and self–righteousness: “Sienna, how could you pull something like that?”
“Yeah, I heard you’re not even the Wests‘ real daughter. How dare you treat their actual heiress like this?“}
“Good thing Caitlin’s such a sweetheart. She’s not even mad at you.“N
“Exactly! One was raised in comfort, the other came from the bottom. Sienna just got lucky to end up in paradise, and now she believes she’s someone important?“>
Then Caitlin stepped forward, putting on a show like she’d been rehearsing it all her life. She reached out to me, faking a hug like we were close.
“Oh, come on, guys! Don’t blame Sienna like that,” Caitlin said, syrupy–sweet. Every girl has her pride. Didn’t she even agree to marry the Sterling heir in my place?”
Gasps rippled through the crowd like someone had dropped a bomb in the middle of the room.
Oh my god. The Sterling family? Aren’t they, like, top–tier elites? But isn’t their heir supposed to be… intense? Everyone’s terrified of him.” “Maybe it’s all for show. Maybe Sienna just wants the title of being called the heiress of the West family.“}
Come on, guys! An orphan’s still an orphan, no matter how fancy she dresses. And Caitlin’s mom? She comes from a family of scholars. Do you really think she’d let someone who couldn’t even get into a junior college marry into the Sterling family?
“Wow, so clinging to Dean Hudson wasn’t enough. Now, she’s aiming for the heir of the Sterling family, too?”
Then Caitlin pulled out her best mock outrage, her voice almost scolding.
“Alright, that’s enough! Don’t talk about my sister like that,” she said. “Her agreeing to marry into the Sterling family really helped me out. I owe her.’s
Right then, Dean finally looked at his phone and saw the breakup text I’d sent him.
His eyes flicked toward me, and he started walking over like nothing had happened.
His voice was all soft and coaxing again like he could reel me back in with just a whisper. “You really thought this through?”
He leaned in a little that smug tone slipping through every word.§
“If you beg me, maybe I’ll still-“§
I didn’t even let him finish.
I smiled. “Still, what? Marry me?“}
That wiped the smug right off his face.
“Whatever! You’re not good enough for me, anyway,” Dean coldly said.§
His tone grew sharp and mocking as he continued, “Do you really think I’ll marry you? Dream on! Being married to a Sterling heir, Sienna? It’s a once–in–a–lifetime shot. It’s an opportunity the Wests gave you. You should be thanking Caitlin:“”
With that, he spun around, walked over to Caitlin, and dropped to one knee like we were in ‘some soap opera.}
“Caitlin, Dean said, looking solemn, “I can finally propose to you out in the open.“>
Gasps echoed across the room again, louder this time. All eyes were on them now.
Caitlin blushed like she’d just won prom queen. Her voice was the perfect mix of surprise and fake modesty.”
“Dean, but what if people get the wrong idea? What if they think you weren’t honest with Sienna?“}
Dean turned toward the crowd, making sure everyone could hear him loud and clear.
“I never had any feelings for Sienna. Dating her was just a bet I lost to Caitlin. I’m sure Miss Sienna knows her place and didn’t take it seriously… right?”
Laughter bursts out around me.
People remembered. Back in high school, I’d trailed after Dean like he hung the moon. I was young and dumb, head over heels, thinking it was love. Thinking I mattered.
And now, all of that? Just a joke.
My heart twisted with sharp pain, but before I could let it crush me, a commotion erupted near the entrance of the banquet hall.
“Sir, ma’am! The Sterling family just sent over the engagement gifts!”
Heads snapped toward the noise.}}
The attendants started filing in, one after another, their arms laden with ornate gift boxes and shimmering displays that continued to
7:58 PM
arrive.
The procession felt never–ending, like a royal parade.
*This is the Sterling family’s betrothal gift for Miss West,” the lead attendant announced. “$30 million in cash, ten luxury cars, twenty residential properties, and 10% ownership in Sterling Enterprises.“”
The room went dead silent.
Then, like someone had flipped a switch, it exploded.
“Oh my god! This is their bride price? Are you serious?!”
*$30 million?! 10% of Sterling Enterprises?! That’s not a wedding. That’s a corporate merger!“}}
The mood shifted so fast that it gave me whiplash.”
Just minutes ago, Caitlin had been the center of everything. All the praise and all the admiration were hers.”
But now?8
The spotlight had moved. And it landed squarely on me.
The sheer scale of the Sterling family’s wealth shut down every whisper, replaced by wide eyes and open mouths. Shock. Respect. Maybe even a little fear.
The guests, there to celebrate her supposedly fake academic achievement, could only murmur and gape.}
