Chapter 3

3.

Colton had his men send me back to the club. He specifically warned Madam Clara that I had offended Blair during the trip. He told her to punish me well.

For three whole days, I was forced to kneel in Clara's room while burning with a high fever.

Blair was the niece of the current King's favorite mistress, and Colton was a VIP at our club. Clara was furious that I provoked the wrong people, so she scolded me ruthlessly.

After three days, I was nothing but skin and bones.

Meanwhile, news spread throughout the city that Colton and Blair were getting married.

The Reed family had already sent the betrothal gifts to the Montgomery estate, but her family had not given a clear response.

I knew why. It was because Blair and Colton had one final bet to settle.

After my noble family fell from grace, my engagement to Colton was naturally canceled. He then fell in love at first sight with Blair, a bright and charming girl who grew up in the frontier.

But Blair was always jealous of my past engagement to him and refused to accept his feelings.

To win her heart, Colton used me as a pawn again and again. He wanted to prove to her that he had no lingering feelings for me whatsoever.

I gave a very faint smile, rubbing a jade pendant hanging from my waist.

This was the token of love Colton had given me.

He used to spoil me rotten. He went out of his way to find rare inkstones from the south and beautiful plum blossoms from the north just for me. He even gave me his family's heirloom pendant.

He said he would never marry anyone but me, and like a fool, I believed him.

But once he warmed my heart and made me fall completely for him, he seemed to become a totally different person.

He stopped treating me well and let me chase him painfully. Then, right when I was about to give up, he would give me a tiny bit of sweetness.

Now, I finally saw his true colors with absolute clarity.

Colton Reed was a heartless bastard who only wanted to play games. He never wanted to give a single ounce of genuine love.

Years of grievances suddenly rushed to my heart. The delayed realization of his betrayal and my humiliation choked my throat, making me lean against the table and dry heave.

I lowered my eyes, took off the jade pendant, and locked it in a cabinet.

Since he wanted to gamble, I would happily play along and give him exactly what he wanted.