Chapter 4

I woke up in the Anderson family's dog kennel.

Everyone believed I was responsible for Grandpa Anderson's ashes being scattered, so they unanimously refused to let me stay anywhere inside the Anderson family estate.

Nathan couldn't argue with them and had no choice but to put me in the dog kennel temporarily.

When I woke, I heard the hushed whispers of Tiffany and Nathan outside. She was pouting, whining to Nathan.

"Nathan, why did you smash that bangle? What a waste, I really liked it..."

"Enough!"

Nathan snapped, cutting Tiffany off impatiently.

"Understand your place. Such an expensive bangle isn't something you're worthy of wearing."

"I punished Scarlett because she made a mistake. Don't you dare think you can take advantage of this to claim her bangle."

With that, Nathan walked away without looking back.

Tiffany stood there alone, her eyes filled with venomous resentment.

A sharp ache in my chest brought me fully to my senses.

Never in my life had I endured such humiliation.

I forced myself to stand, my body screaming in protest, and made my way to the garage.

Finding my car, I sped out without a backward glance.

I completely missed Tiffany standing at the estate gate, a cold smirk on her face as she watched me leave.

At the same time, a Lamborghini, moving like lightning, roared out of the estate, hot on my heels.

It was raining heavily. I drove on, my heart heavy with injustice.

Nathan's Lamborghini quickly caught up. He rolled down his window, yelling at me to pull over.

But I didn't listen.

I pressed the accelerator like a madwoman, desperate to escape Nathan.

Unexpectedly, I saw a 'Road Closed' construction sign directly ahead.

Panicked, I slammed on the brakes.

But there was no response. The brakes, I realized with a jolt, had been tampered with.

Terror consumed me as I watched my sports car veer off the road, crashing violently into the deep construction pit.

My last memory was the searing pain as the airbag slammed into me.

When I next awoke, Nathan was by my bedside. His chin was covered in dark stubble, his eyes sunken, heavy with dark circles - he looked utterly ravaged.

Seeing me wake, a long-lost expression of relief finally appeared on his face.

He reached for my hand, his lips parting to speak, but I spoke first.

"Who are you?"

He froze, his eyes darting toward the doctor. The doctor explained that the severe impact might have caused amnesia.

In that moment of confusion...

Nathan hesitated, his gaze uncertain.

I pressed him again. "Are you my boyfriend?"

This time, Nathan's demeanor shifted from concern. He gently took Tiffany's hand, who was standing beside him, and spoke to me in a voice utterly alien.

"Little girl, you've got the wrong person."

"I'm not your boyfriend. I'm her boyfriend."

In that instant, an intense pain spread through my chest, almost suffocating me.

Despite it, I forced a smile, holding back tears, and softly asked him,

"Really? Will I still be able to wait for my boyfriend to come back then?"

Nathan hesitated, his voice thick with an emotion he couldn't voice.

"You will. He definitely will."

Then he took Tiffany's hand and fled the room as if escaping a burning building.

The moment they disappeared, I could no longer hold back. I clutched the fabric over my aching chest, my body shaking with suppressed, anguished sobs.

And the reason I did all this? Because while I lay unconscious, I had uncovered a devastating secret...

Now, in the Sotheby's auction hall, Nathan's sorrow-filled eyes remained fixed on the jade bangle displayed under the glass, his gaze heavy with palpable pain.

He never noticed Tiffany beside him, her face equally contorted with bitter jealousy as she stared at the same heirloom.

She shot me an icy glare before possessively linking her arm through Nathan's, her expression one of absolute triumph.

"Don't think I'm unaware, Scarlett," she sneered. "Both the Blackwoods and Andersons disowned you after you smashed that funeral urn!"

"I'd love to see what you plan to use against me for this bangle today."

I watched her furious display and offered a lazy, unconcerned smile.

Who said I had any intention of competing?