Chapter 1

As everyone looked down, the witness read out the name in Silas Jordan’s hand.

“Clara Smith.”

Multiple comments quickly bloomed in front of me.

[What’s going on? Shouldn’t it be Jane Smith?!]

[Look! It seems like… Isn’t Jane the female lead?]

[Why did she suddenly end up as the second female lead?]

[Look! Clara replaced her as the female lead!]

Two families had an engagement with the Smith Family.

One of them was the powerful Jordan family in Aregas. The other was the Cook Family, which was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Initially, I was the one who was engaged to Silas.

However, he could not reconcile with the idea of marrying someone who was about to go bankrupt.

To be fair, Adam Smith, my father, was the one who came up with the idea of drawing lots. He wanted to give that spot to Clara.

In my previous life, I had been infatuated with Silas. I even tampered with the drawing lots just to marry him.

I believed that as long as I married him, he would one day fall in love with me.

But unexpectedly, my wishful thinking never came to pass.

In this life, I was going to reset the script.

Silas read the words on the stick in shock.

Clara slowly walked toward Silas while everyone else was cheering.

[The male lead wanted to marry Jane. What’s going on?!]

[Didn’t Jane tamper with the sticks? Regardless, she should be picked instead!]

[The male lead looks calm. But I’m sure he must be losing his mind.]

I stood below the stage.

As if it had nothing to do with me, I watched them like the other thousands of guests.

The Jordan Family started preparing for the wedding ceremony after that day, but the Cook Family remained silent.

As Adam summoned Clara and me over to his side, his face glowed.

“I’m sure your mom would be glad to see you guys finally settle down. Pick a piece of jewelry at the auction tonight as part of your wedding gift.”

Clara sweetly thanked him and coquettishly threw herself into his arms.

I remained where I was while watching their sweet family moment while nodding in approval.

Clara was a few years younger than me.

Adam had raised her with deep love and care.

On the other hand, a human trafficker had abducted me when I was very young.

The Smith Family found me only two years ago.

Nominally, I was the heiress of the Smith Family.

But for them, I was just an outsider.

I went to the auction that night.

I saw multiple rare and precious jewelry. People there spent their money quickly and easily.

I quietly watched the items on the stage and moved my aching neck.

The assistant beside me noticed my actions and tentatively asked me, “Miss Smith, do you like this item?”

I looked at the item. It was a pair of emerald-studded earrings.

Although the emeralds were rather tiny, they dazzled under the lights of the hall.

They were surprisingly beautiful.

I looked away and nodded. “Sure, we’ll get these.”

The assistant understood me and started raising a paddle to bid.

Naturally, Clara noticed my actions, since she was nearby.

She turned and said something to her assistant. Then, her assistant started bidding for the same pair of earrings.

After a few rounds, the earrings were raised to an astronomical price that was unmatched for their worth.

I frowned and gave up bidding for them.

Although they were pretty, I could buy better valued jewelry at that price.