Chapter 3

3

In my last life, I only discovered the truth about Sienna's background right before I died.

She was a rebel who had a falling out with her family.

But if she had just swallowed her pride and asked them for help, she could have secured those photos easily.

She chose not to.

She later admitted she just wanted to watch the "Stoic Saint" fall from his pedestal.

"One million! I'm taking these photos home today!"

The bidding continued, and Silas was visibly trembling with nerves.

He kept glancing at me, intentionally adjusting his collar to show off the jade crest necklace he was wearing.

Our families had made those necklaces for us the day our engagement was set.

We each had one, but in all these years, I had never seen him wear his.

Exposing it now was a pathetic attempt to make me soft-hearted so I'd save his reputation.

"Clarissa, we are still engaged. If I am humiliated, the Sterling family will be the laughingstock of the city, too."

"The money today... consider it a personal loan. You know I have the means to pay you back."

He certainly had the means. In my past life, shortly after we married, half of my inheritance ended up in the Thorne family's pockets.

While I had to beg him for money to buy groceries, he was spending my fortune on luxury gifts for Sienna.

"One million once, one million twice... are there any more bids?"

The auctioneer looked directly at our section.

"Clarissa Sterling, you're doing this on purpose to ruin Silas! You think that by destroying him, you can force him to stay with you!"

"I'll leave Silas forever! Just please, help him!"

Sienna finished her tearful performance and ran out of the room.

Silas immediately moved to chase after her.

Caleb stepped in, his voice cold as ice. "If you walk out that door, those photos are going public."

"Are you really going to ruin yourself for that woman? Do you want to drag our family's reputation through the mud?"

Silas paused and gave me a dismissive look.

"Whether these photos leak or not is entirely up to you. The Sterling family's pride is in your hands."

With that final threat, he turned his back on me and chased after Sienna.

Threatening me?

Too bad it didn't work.

I wasn't the Clarissa Sterling who worshipped him anymore.

"One million three times! Sold to Mrs. Vanderbilt!"

A collective sigh of disappointment went through the room from those who lost.

But I knew it wouldn't be long before everyone got to enjoy Silas's little photo shoot.

When I got home, Silas's mother was already there, crying in front of my parents.

"We've had this engagement for years! How could Clarissa just watch as Silas's photos were auctioned off?"

"If she hadn't drugged Silas in the first place, he wouldn't have been in that situation! You owe us an explanation!"

"If you don't make this right, I don't see any reason to continue with this engagement."

Mrs. Thorne watched my parents' reactions carefully as she spoke.

Seeing them look troubled, she pushed even harder. "I heard you're opening a new branch. Why don't you let Silas manage it?"

In my previous life, she used my love for Silas as a weapon to drain my parents' resources.

She enjoyed every luxury the Sterlings provided while making my life a living hell behind closed doors.

My daughter's hatred for me was largely fueled by her grandmother's venomous whispers.

"If this is too difficult for you, let's just cancel the wedding. Your daughter will be the one heartbroken, anyway."

I walked into the room with a smile before my parents could say a word.

"Since you put it that way, Mrs. Thorne, let's cancel the engagement right now."