Chapter 4

Phoebe was so overwhelmed by the enormous surprise that she hurriedly agreed.

"Simon, as long as I'm here, no one will ever spill the beans about what happened five years ago."

As I struggled, I felt Phoebe's dark gaze fall on me, and I shuddered. Just as she approached with a pair of scissors, a pretty figure stepped in front of me.

I looked up, only to find that it was Haley, the one who had always protected me the most. She spread her arms to block Phoebe and said something that sent me plunging into an abyss of despair.

"Phoebe, you want to take credit in front of Simon, don't you? I won't allow it!"

Kayla also stepped forward and stood next to Phoebe. "Didn't the three of us agree to compete fairly? How could you do this without discussing it with us, Phoebe?"

I watched as the three women fought over who got the "honor" of cutting off my tongue. A bitter smile spread across my face.

Weren't the years I spent in prison enough time for me to see them for their true colors? Why did my heart still hurt now?

The three were still arguing relentlessly when a staff member of the auction house appeared.

"The auction is about to begin!"

Three strikes of the auctioneer's gavel rang out, signaling the start of this evening's main event.

Perhaps their desire to marry Simon outweighed their current urge to silence me for good. The three exchanged glances, then walked toward the stage side by side.

As Simon passed me, he kicked me hard and grinned smugly at the sight of me spitting blood.

"I'll let you enjoy yourself for a few more days. You'll get to watch as I replace you completely and have my fun with them. Once I've had my fill, you can have them back."

The crowd around us followed behind the three women, stepping over me as they passed. They made sure to leave their footprints all over me, as if offering proof of their allegiance to Simon.

I lay on the floor like an abandoned dog, yet the corners of my mouth slowly curled into a smile.

The real show was about to begin.

The first few lots were nothing special, and in less than half an hour, the final lot had arrived—the chance to marry Simon.

He stood in the center, surrounded by the three women, and met my gaze through the crowd.

"Loser." He silently mouthed the word at me, raising an eyebrow with a wicked grin.

Phoebe, Kayla, and Haley fought to raise their paddles. In the end, they were even willing to stake their entire fortunes to make the winning bid and claim the prize.

Watching the three women who had once stood high above everyone else exhaust themselves trying to win the chance to marry him filled Simon with immense satisfaction.

Money, status, and women. There were the things he once hated that I had. But now, he was confident he was going to have far more than I ever did.

Just as the bidding between the three women reached its fiercest point, Simon clapped his hands and stood up.

"I know the three of you love me. If there's a way to keep the four of us from breaking each other's hearts, would you be willing to do it?"

Simon took the three women's debit cards and held them in his hand.

"Who says we can't have three weddings? Who says true love has to belong to only one person? At tonight's auction, I've already seen how sincere you all are. I am willing to—"

"Hold it!"

Simon's words were interrupted by a woman who opened the door and walked in, wearing a fitted dress and four-inch heels. He was instantly drawn by the sway of her hips as she walked.

"May I know your name, miss?" he asked.

Without even looking at Simon, the woman walked past him. She got up on stage and placed a USB drive on the display.

"This is the final lot on auction today, brought to you by Mr. Ian Luther. Enjoy."