Chapter 3

A thought struck me. I pulled out my phone and searched Chloe's TikTok account.

She was live.

"Taking our little campus charity case out to see the real world again today!"

"Her dress? Oh, I just lent it to her. I never wear the same couture piece twice anyway."

She giggled into her hand, purposely flashing a massive sapphire ring on her finger to the camera.

"She probably doesn't even know how to walk in heels. Wonder if she'll fall flat on her face tonight?"

My expression turned ice-cold.

Chloe's dress, earrings, sapphire ring, and diamond necklace—every single luxury item on her body belonged to me.

I walked out as if nothing was wrong.

The four guys were waiting by the venue entrance, while Chloe held up her phone, ready to stream my humiliation to her thousands of followers.

The moment I stepped into the grand hall, the entire room went silent.

"Damn, she's breathtaking!"

"Who is she? An heiress from some old-money family?!"

Seeing the guys' eyes practically glued to me, Chloe's face twisted in pure jealousy.

I casually flipped my hair over my shoulder.

Did she really think a bunch of stolen clothes made her the queen?

The high-end jewelry auction began.

I was completely bored.

Under the guys' relentless encouragement, I casually pointed to a diamond pendant on display.

Cole immediately threw up his paddle.

"Three hundred thousand!"

Out of nowhere, Julian countered:

"Five hundred thousand!"

"Sorry, Cole, but I'm not backing down this time."

Chase laughed and threw his paddle in the air.

"Eight hundred thousand!"

Chloe stood on the sidelines, watching them aggressively burn cash just to win my favor. She wanted to interrupt, but she couldn't even get a word in.

The guys seemed drunk on the competition, driving the bids higher and higher until the piece hit three million dollars.

Cole and Julian finally had to tap out.

Just as Chase was about to brag about his win, Lucas, who had stayed silent the entire time, leaned forward.

"Blank check bid. Name your price, I'm taking the whole set!"

He kicked his legs up lazily, draping an arm over my shoulder with a smirk.

"I promised Lynn I'd personally win her birthday gift. I always keep my word."

When the auction ended, I held the box in my hands, thoroughly unimpressed.

When I said I didn't care for it, I meant it.

Most of the decent lots up for bidding tonight were literally just old jewelry pieces I had thrown out of my personal collection months ago.

Chloe squirmed her way over, pouting at Lucas.

"Lucas, I love this piece too. Can't you just give it to me instead?"

She pulled out a few hundred-dollar bills from her purse and shoved them into my hands.

"Certain jewelry only belongs on certain people. You should go buy some cheap trinkets at a flea market, sweetie."

I turned to Lucas, my eyes welling with fake tears as I offered the velvet box back to him.

"She's right... I don't deserve something this expensive. Take it back..."

I looked stunning tonight, and paired with my fragile, teary-eyed expression, Lucas's heart melted on the spot.

"Who the hell said you don't deserve it?!"

He reached out, tenderly wiping my fake tear, then snapped his head around to glare at Chloe.

"You're trying to steal a girl's birthday gift? Have you lost your damn mind?"

"Lynn was having a great night until you opened your mouth and made her cry! Apologize to her right now!"

He didn't spare Chloe an ounce of dignity.

Dozens of elite guests turned to stare.

Humiliated and red-faced, Chloe burst into tears and bolted from the hall.

That night, her livestream went live right on schedule.

Chloe sat sniffling in the center of the four guys.

"You guys were so mean to me today!"

Chase gently wiped her tears, speaking softly.

"Baby, you know we only did that so the broke girl would truly believe we're head over heels for her."

Lucas nodded in agreement.

"Look how completely wrapped around our fingers she is now. Imagine the look on her face when we dump her—it's going to be legendary!"

Cole chimed in:

"Don't be mad, Chloe. As soon as I get my next modeling check, I'll buy you the most expensive jewels you want."

Julian pushed up his glasses with a cruel smirk.

"Buying them is boring. When this is over, we'll make that charity case pay back everything she took from us at double the price, just to compensate you!"

In the livestream chat, viewers mocked the clips of me looking 'madly in love' with the four boys:

[Look how easily she gets bought off by some pocket change!]

[When she finds out it was all a dare, she's gonna jump off a roof, lmao!]

[Please, you HAVE to stream the breakup live! I can't wait!]

Chloe, fully comforted, beamed straight at the camera:

"Next Monday is the final day."

"Eight o'clock sharp at the outdoor amphitheater, we're streaming the gold-digging mutt getting dumped live for everyone!"

I smiled faintly.

Next Monday happened to be the exact deadline for me to report my dating results back to my father.