Chapter 1

"You just need to keep raising the price when the bidding starts later, Janice. Theresa's foolish enough to pay the highest price," Luke Anderson said.

"I'll give all the money that I get from her to you later, so you can establish your business. Don't worry. She definitely won't allow the contract to fall into anyone else's hands."

I realized that Luke had also been reborn as I stood a short distance away and eavesdropped on his conversation with Janice Braxton.

In my past life, I had thrown all caution to the wind and paid the highest price for Luke during the auction. It was why he believed that I would do the same in this life.

I barked out a mocking laugh. Since that was how they wanted to play, I didn't mind going along with their farce for the time being.

…

Several wealthy people with malicious intentions toward Luke took their seats when the gavel was brought down on the block.

"I heard that he's the campus heartthrob. It'll definitely be a steal if I can secure him for a few million dollars!"

"I heard that he hasn't even graduated yet. He's so young! I want to have some fun with him too!"

Luke shot a resentful look at me and hissed, "Say something to defend me!"

I simply averted my gaze and didn't spare him a single glance.

Janice was wearing a provoking expression when she sat down next to me.

"You don't actually think of yourself as a savior, do you, Theresa? Even if you spend money to save Luke, he'll just think that you're using the contract to blackmail him."

I chuckled and said, "If I remember correctly, don't you owe your creditors millions of dollars?"

I had already discovered that Janice was living off someone else's money in my past life. When the man's wife found out about her existence, she forced Janice to return all the money that the man had spent on her.

Janice had no choice but to take out loans to repay the man, which was why she had a mountain of debt to deal with.

Luke had transferred my company and all my assets to Janice so she could pay off her debts.

Janice's humiliation swiftly morphed into fury. She gritted her teeth and angrily raised her paddle, calling out, "50 million dollars!"

Luke, who was currently on stage, shot a grateful look in Janice's direction, looking as if he actually believed that she could afford to pay such an exorbitant price.

I arched my brow before raising my paddle as well. "100 million."

The other bidders were stunned. Those who had been excitedly sharing their unsavory thoughts about Luke earlier also put down their paddles.

Luke and Janice exchanged glances. The cunning and gleeful glints in their eyes were blatantly obvious.

However, Janice wasn't satisfied just yet. She raised her paddle again and called out, "150 million!"

She then shot a provoking look at me and sneered, "If I remember correctly, you have no choice but to pay the highest price once the bidding price exceeds 100 million dollars."

I smiled and nodded. With everyone watching me, I began to raise my paddle before putting it down again. "Apologies. I give up."

I rose to my feet and left the auction after I was done speaking.

Realizing that he had made a miscalculation, Luke chased after me and grabbed my arm with reddened and panicked eyes.

"Have you lost your mind?" he demanded. "Janice can't pay 150 million dollars! Hurry and pay the highest price for my contract!"

Sweat beaded all across Janice's body. She cursed and started berating me. "He's right! How could you act so despicably, Theresa? I thought your feelings for Luke were genuine. You're so rich. Don't tell me that you're unwilling to pay the highest price when it's just spare change to you?"

I scoffed and said, "You're right. The highest price is just spare change for me."

I turned toward the stage and raised my paddle, signaling that I wanted to pay the highest price.

Luke scoffed. His voice was dripping with mockery when he sneered, "I knew that you definitely wouldn't let this opportunity slip through your fingers—"

I interrupted him before he could finish his sentence, addressing the host instead. "I would like to purchase that oil painting. Please deliver it to my home later."

Luke's hands trembled with anger. He stared at me with bloodshot eyes and pointed an accusing finger at me, but he couldn't say a single word.

I turned around and left without sparing him another glance.