Chapter 1

It is the day of the bankruptcy auction for our campus goddess.

In my past life, I would have bankrupted myself to save her.

I would have signed that humiliating patronage agreement just to protect her dignity.

But this time, I am just going to watch.

Last time, she blamed me for the rumors that followed the auction.

She married me out of spite, but she never let me touch her for eight years.

She secretly funneled my company's assets to her first love.

She even bore him three children while using my money.

Before she kicked me out of my own house, she laughed in my face.

"If you hadn't played the hero and bought that contract, I wouldn't have been forced to marry you!" she sneered.

I died in the cold, bitter and alone.

Now that I have a second chance, I will step aside.

I am done being the savior.

1.

"Peyton, just keep raising the price once the auction starts," I heard a familiar voice whisper.

"Weston is a fool. He will definitely use the �CLimitless Bid�C to save me."

It was Mina Vance, the girl I once worshipped.

She was talking to Peyton Jace, her secret lover.

I realized then that she might have been reborn as well.

She expected me to sacrifice my fortune for her, just like last time.

I smirked in the shadows.

If they wanted to play games, I was ready to deal the cards.

The auctioneer's gavel struck, and several wealthy, greasy men began eyeing Mina.

"I heard she was the prom queen. Paying a few million to own her for a while is a steal!" one of them laughed.

"She hasn't even graduated yet. She is so fresh. I am definitely bidding!" another added.

Mina shot me a resentful look and hissed under her breath.

"Why aren't you bidding yet? Speak up for me!"

I looked away, acting like she didn't exist.

Peyton sat down next to me with a smug, provocative grin.

"Weston, you really think you are a saint? Even if you pay to save Mina, she will only hate you for it."

I let out a soft laugh.

"If I remember correctly, you owe millions in gambling debts, don't you?"

In my last life, I found out he had been a gambling addict for years.

Mina had stolen everything from me just to pay off his debts.

Peyton's face turned pale with rage.

He grabbed his bidding paddle and shouted, "Fifty million!"

Mina looked at him with pure adoration, as if he actually had the money.

I raised my paddle calmly. "One hundred million."

The room went silent. The other creeps immediately dropped their paddles.

Mina and Peyton exchanged a wicked, triumphant glance.

But Peyton wasn't satisfied yet. He wanted to bleed me dry.

"One hundred and fifty million!" he shouted.

He looked at me mockingly. "The rules say if the bid passes a hundred million, you have to use the �CLimitless Bid�C to keep going."

I nodded slowly while everyone watched me. I raised my paddle, then set it down.

"Actually, I am out. He can have her."

I stood up to leave. Mina realized the plan had backfired and her eyes turned red.

She ran over and grabbed my arm.

"Are you crazy? Peyton doesn't have that kind of money! You have to bid!"

Peyton was sweating buckets now. He started screaming at me.

"Weston, you coward! You said you loved her! You have so much money, just pay the damn bid!"

Even when they were begging, they were still so arrogant.

I sneered. "You are right. That money is nothing to me."

I turned toward the stage and made a gesture.

Mina let out a sigh of relief. "I knew you couldn't resist me..."

I interrupted her and spoke to the auctioneer.

"I am bidding on that oil painting over there. Send it to my house."

Mina's hands were shaking. She pointed at me, speechless with rage.

I walked away without looking back.