Chapter 5

Ethan, being a regular at high-end auctions, instantly recognized the name.

He lunged forward, grabbing my hand and staring intensely at the diamond.

After a long silence, he looked up, his voice sharp with suspicion.

"Where did you steal this?"

"This ring is worth over ten million dollars."

I blinked, genuinely surprised myself. I knew Julian was wealthy, but I didn't realize the ring he gave me when we got engaged was *this* expensive.

Seeing me space out, Ethan sneered.

"Yeah, you definitely stole it."

"With your bank account, you couldn't even afford a single dust particle on this ring if you sold all your organs."

Before I could fire back, my phone vibrated in my palm.

I pushed past the crowd to a quieter corner and answered the call.

"Hey. Yeah, I’m on my way. Wait for me."

The moment I hung up and turned around, Ethan was standing right behind me.

He held a lit cigarette, his eyes dark and unreadable.

"Let me guess. Was that your imaginary billionaire husband calling?"

I nodded calmly.

"Yes. It's time for our appointment at City Hall."

"If you guys are so eager to watch, you're welcome to follow me."

Before Ethan could say anything, his friends cheered.

"Hell yeah! I want to see this 'billionaire' who supposedly bought a private island and the Star of the Ocean!"

"Chloe, don't chicken out when we get there!"

I turned to walk out, but Ethan suddenly grabbed my arm again.

"Chloe, this is your last chance to tell the truth before we walk out those doors."

"If we actually go to City Hall and no one shows up, you’ll be the laughingstock of the entire city."

I frowned, looking at him with genuine confusion.

"Ethan, why are you so convinced I'm lying?"

"I am getting married. For real."

Without waiting for his reply, I shook off his hand and walked out, the group trailing close behind me.

Along the way, his friends pulled out their phones, recording me for their Snapchat and Instagram stories.

"Guys, you won't believe this! Ethan’s ultimate simp is claiming she’s marrying a billionaire today!"

"Look at her! The ultimate clinger says she's got a sugar daddy who bought her a private island!"

They blasted the videos to their entire social circles. Within minutes, I became the joke of the town.

Everyone was eagerly waiting to watch me fall flat on my face.

When we arrived at City Hall, however, Julian’s car wasn't parked at the entrance.

Ethan's friends immediately pounced on the opportunity.

"Oh, look! Where is this mysterious husband? I don't see anyone!"

"Did your billionaire husband turn into a pumpkin?"

They laughed loudly, intentionally drawing the attention of bystanders.

"Hey everyone, come look! This girl claimed she was marrying a billionaire and dragged us all the way here! Turns out she’s completely full of shit!"

"People these days will lie about anything just to feel important!"

"Tell you what! I'll make a bet right now! If her 'billionaire husband' actually shows up in the next fifteen minutes, I’ll hand everyone here a hundred bucks!"

"But if he doesn't, this lying bitch has to pay everyone a thousand!"

With money on the line, a crowd of curious onlookers quickly gathered, whispering and pointing at me.

Everyone was waiting to watch me burn.

Feeling the suffocating weight of dozens of judgmental eyes, I instinctively took a step back.

"What's wrong? Are you scared now? Want to run away?"

Brad sneered, stepping into my personal space.

But before I could even open my mouth to speak, a warm, firm hand wrapped securely around my shoulder.

A gorgeous bouquet of hand-woven, delicate wire roses was gently pressed into my hands.

"I am so sorry, sweetheart. I got caught in traffic."