Chapter 3

3.

Mina seemed shocked that Peyton was asking for money so openly.

In a room full of socialites, it was a humiliating move.

But she still took his side.

"Just give him the money, Weston. You are rich anyway."

"And you should pay Mr. King back for the auction while you are at it."

"If you do that... maybe I will spend a few nights with you."

Her entitlement was almost funny. I looked her in the eye.

"You won't get a single cent from me."

As soon as I said that, Mina's parents stormed into the VIP room.

Her father lunged forward and slapped me twice.

"You brat! You followed our daughter for years, and then you just watched her get auctioned off?"

"Peyton tried to help her, and you sabotaged him! Now he is broke and she is stuck with King!"

My face stung. Some of my friends stood up to defend me.

"Weston wasn't the only one bidding! Peyton was the one who raised it to fifty million!"

Mina's parents didn't care. They crossed their arms and scoffed.

"Peyton is our chosen son-in-law. Weston is just a stalker who wants to trap our daughter!"

Mina stood by Peyton, nodding in agreement with her parents.

"I was going to give you a chance at the auction, Weston."

"But you played us. My parents will never let me be with you now. You will regret this!"

I touched my bruised cheek and started laughing.

"I am the one begging to be with her? You seem to forget something."

"Two years ago, you were the ones begging me to marry your daughter."

Back then, Mina and I were close. She used to act so sweet.

She would ask me if I would marry her and tell me her parents loved me.

They only liked me because of my family's wealth.

But when Peyton showed them a fake bank statement, they turned on me instantly.

I finished my drink and grabbed my jacket.

Peyton suddenly lunged at me and grabbed my legs.

"Weston! You can't leave! You ruined me, you have to pay!"

I looked down at him. "Move. If you really want me to beat you, I won't hold back."

He pulled out his phone and showed me a photo with a greasy smile.

"Look at this. Do you really want everyone to see Mina like this?"

"I can tell her you were the one who leaked these. She will hate you forever."

The phone showed an intimate, explicit photo of Mina.

Even though I didn't love her anymore, I couldn't stand such a disgusting move.

I grabbed his collar and slammed my fist into his face.

Before I could hit him again, Mina slapped me.

"Weston! How dare you lay a hand on him!"

The slap didn't hurt as much as the disgust in her eyes.

I laughed at myself for even trying to help her.

I threw a credit card at Peyton's chest.

"Enjoy the money, you piece of trash. Mina, I hope you never regret choosing him."

She screamed at my back as I walked out.

"The only one who will regret this is you! Peyton is my soulmate! I will never regret him!"

I handled my final tasks and went straight to the airport.

Before boarding, I got a text from Mina.

"You have been gone for five days. Where are you?"

"My parents agreed to let us get engaged. Come back and apologize to them for the party."

"This is your only chance. If you don't show up in three days, it's over."

I replied with a screenshot of the surveillance video showing Peyton threatening me with her photos.

Then I blocked her number and boarded the plane.