Chapter 3
Jenny’s chest tightened with fear. “Who are you? Where are you taking
me?”
She pounded on the metal walls of the truck like a madwoman, fists slamming again and again. But all it did was echo–loud, useless noise in an empty world.
And then she realized–it was a refrigerated truck. The engine roared to life, and cold air blasted in from hidden vents. The temperature dropped fast.
She was still wearing a dress and open–toe heels. Her exposed skin began turning a pale, sickly purple.
She curled up into herself, clutching the thin layers of chiffon around her legs, trying to trap whatever body heat she could.
Time lost all meaning. Eventually, the truck stopped. She gathered what little strength she had left, ready to scream, to bargain–but then she heard a voice. Familiar. Sickeningly familiar.
“Mr. Jaures, I’ve dropped off Mrs. Jaures about ten kilometers outside the concert hall. No way she’s making it back in time.”
Her blood froze.
It was Samuel’s assistant. Samuel had ordered this!
All because she refused to bow out and let Nadya win. All because he wanted his precious little muse to have her moment. And for that, he threw her in a freezing truck like trash!
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Chapter 3
The fear in her chest turned to ice. Shivering, her body finally gave in. Darkness swallowed her.
When she opened her eyes, she had no idea how many days had passed.
Her fingers still felt numb. She turned her head slowly and saw Samuel standing on the hospital room balcony.
He was on the phone, his voice tight with anger. “I told you to drop her off far enough, so she couldn’t make it to the competition. Why the hell did she get frostbite?”
Jenny almost laughed. “Does he really think that breaking someone’s spirit without drawing blood didn’t make him a monster?” she thought.
She couldn’t hear the reply on the other end–only Samuel’s tired sigh. “Don’t let it happen again. She’s still the Jaures family’s daughter–in–law, after all.”
Jenny stared at the ceiling. It took everything in her not to laugh out loud.
So he did remember she was the Jaures family’s daughter–in–law.
And still, just to make sure Nadya won a damn competition, he left her to die in a freezer truck.
After being discharged, Jenny started prepping for her move to Chicago.
She threw out every soft, demure dress she’d ever bought to please Samuel. Now, it was low–cut or nothing. The diamonds? The bigger, the better.
Thinking of the Jensen family’s status, she showed up at an auction, planning to pick out a few rare pieces as gifts for the elders.
What she didn’t expect was to walk in and see Samuel and Nadya, dressed in matching outfits, the perfect little couple.
10.67%
She swallowed the sting and looked away, pretending not to see them.
But Samuel called out.
“Jenny? Are you following me and Nadya now?”
She stopped and turned. “I’m the Yvart family’s daughter, the Jaures family’s daughter–in–law. I came to the auction to spend money. Is that a problem?”
She was wearing a sleek black halter dress that hugged her waist perfectly.
With no need to cater to Nadya anymore, she stood tall, chin lifted–once again the living, breathing embodiment of high society.
Samuel’s eyes lingered. Something about her felt different.
The host began urging guests to take their seats.
“Excuse me.”
She turned and walked away in her YSL heels, not bothering to look back at Samuel’s curious gaze–or the envy flaring in Nadya’s eyes.
As soon as she sat down, the first auction item lit her up, a hand–painted vase from the Revolutionary War period.
She’d heard Riley’s grandfather loved antiques. Without hesitation, she raised her paddle. “1.5 million dollars.”
“Three million!”
A crisp, familiar voice rang out–Nadya.
Jenny glanced at her, unbothered. “4.5 million!”
Chapter 3
Nadya upped it again, “Five million!”
Jenny knew Nadya didn’t come from money. Four million dollars would be a fantasy to the Loretta family. Her confidence came, obviously, from the man sitting beside her.
Sure enough, after a few rounds, Samuel lazily snapped his fingers. “Unlimited–for my girl.”
The room erupted.
All eyes turned to Nadya, faces full of envy. “Damn, this girl’s got it made. Her boyfriend spoils her rotten!”
“A guy that hot and generous? That’s one in a million…
Jenny laughed bitterly to herself. “A man who helps another woman outbid his own wife? Yeah, rare indeed,” came her thought.
From that point on, everything she bid on, Nadya chased blindly.
No matter how high Jenny pushed the price, Samuel would just make an unlimited bid and hand it to Nadya.
Jenny watched with her own eyes as Samuel handed Nadya one rare treasure after another.
What started as sharp, stabbing pain slowly turned into a cold, hollow numbness. She was ready to leave early.
But then the final item came out–a crystal pendant. And it made her stop in her tracks.
“That’s…”
Her mother’s!
Chapter 3
Years ago, after a fight with her father, her mother had stormed out and died in a plane crash. Nothing had been recovered. No photos, no belongings–nothing.
That pendant had been auctioned for charity while her mother was alive. Jenny never thought she’d see it again. Now, its starting bid was 900,000 dollars.
Without pause, she raised her paddle. “1.5 million.”
But a second later, Nadya’s voice rang out again, all syrupy and ambitious. “1.8 million!”
She wore a triumphant smile, clearly determined to win.
Jenny’s eyes burned red. For once, she turned to Samuel, with a look she had never given him before. A silent plea.
She’d never asked him for anything. Not once!
If he didn’t back Nadya this time, she could win.
Samuel knew that pendant was her mother’s. His eyes hesitated–but before he could decide, Nadya clung to his arm, whining softly.
“Sammy, if Jenny wants it that bad, it must be something good. I want it
too!”
That flicker of hesitation in his eyes vanished. He looked away from
Jenny, his gaze softening as he smiled down at Nadya. “That thing’s not a treasure. You are. I won’t let you down.”
Then, fingers intertwined with hers, he raised the paddle and said, “Unlimited!”
