My father's company went bankrupt, and creditors showed up at our door. They threatened to break one of his legs if we didn't pay them back within three days.

I got on my knees and begged my boyfriend, a man worth hundreds of millions, to lend me $500,000 to tide us over.

It was the first time I had ever asked him for money.

He frowned but still agreed, saying he would have his accountant transfer the money to me in the afternoon.

I stayed glued to my phone, refreshing my bank balance over and over again, waiting from morning until night.

But suddenly, he went silent. He wouldn't answer my calls or reply to my messages.

I was frantic with worry, but I tried to reassure myself. 'He probably has an emergency.'

But saving my father's leg was an urgent matter, so I had no choice but to take the jewelry my late mother left me to an auction house.

I just never expected to run into Julian Lockwood and his childhood sweetheart at the auction.

He spared no expense, buying a painting for Bianca White.

And the final price for that painting was, precisely, $500,000.

'So, he hadn't forgotten.'

'It was just that my desperation couldn't compare to the whims of the woman he truly loved.'

...

"Congratulations to Mr. Lockwood for winning the young artist Zane Sutton's 'Distant Peaks' for $500,000!"

The entire room erupted in applause as spotlights focused on the distinguished figure in the front row.

Julian Lockwood stood and personally handed the painting to Bianca White, who was seated beside him.

Bianca White beamed, her eyes curving into crescents. "Julian, thank you. I can't believe you actually bought it for me just because I mentioned in passing that I liked it!"

Julian Lockwood ruffled her hair, his tone indulgent. "As long as you like it."

A handsome, talented man and a beautiful woman—a match made in heaven.

People nearby were whispering amongst themselves, looking on with envy.

No one noticed me in the corner, dressed in a pair of faded jeans.

When I couldn't get in touch with Julian Lockwood, I had tried to comfort myself, 'He's just too busy.'

'So busy he'd forgotten I existed, forgotten that my father's leg was on the line.'

As I looked at the tenderness in Julian Lockwood's eyes, a chill seeped into my bones.

'He wasn't busy, and he hadn't forgotten.'

'He just decided that my father's leg was far less important than a passing fancy of the woman he loved.'

My heart constricted, the pain so sharp I could barely breathe.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I stubbornly refused to let them fall.

Just then, the auctioneer's voice rang out again.

"Our next lot is a jade jewelry set named 'Dawn.' It is a posthumous work by the late, renowned jewelry designer Ms. Vivienne Thorne. The starting bid is $300,000."

"Dawn" was the only heirloom my mother left me.

She said "Dawn" represented hope—that no matter how great the darkness, the sun would always rise.

I would never have sold it unless I was absolutely desperate.

But now, I had no other choice.

My gaze traveled across the crowd and locked with Julian Lockwood's.

He clearly recognized the jewelry set. The gentle expression on his face froze, replaced by utter shock.

Bianca White followed his gaze. When she saw me, she covered her mouth in feigned surprise.

"Zella, what are you doing here? Isn't that jewelry set the heirloom your mother left you? Why are you selling it?"

In an instant, all eyes were on me.

Julian Lockwood's expression turned ice-cold. He strode towards me.

He stood before me, his tall figure looming over me, his voice laced with disappointment.

"Zella Monroe, are you that desperate for money?"

His cold words hammered into me, shattering my heart.

I lifted my head to meet his deep, unreadable gaze.

There was no sympathy, no guilt.

'That's right, how could I have forgotten.'

'In his eyes, I'm just a woman who would do anything for money.'

The first time Mr. Monroe's company faced a crisis, Julian and I were together. Everyone said I was only after the power and status of The Lockwood Family.

Now that my family is bankrupt, asking him for money has only cemented my reputation as a gold digger.

'I didn't care what the world thought, as long as Julian understood me.'

'But Julian didn't believe me, either.'

'And that wasn't the only reason he disliked me.'

I suppressed the sob rising in my throat and forced a smile. "That's right, I'm desperate for money. What did you expect? Did President Lockwood think I came here for the experience?"

"Or has President Lockwood's great memory failed him? Have you already forgotten that I begged you for a loan to keep the company afloat?"

My words struck a nerve.

Julian's brow furrowed, a sneer twisting his lips:

"Zella Monroe, you think I'd believe you? Why would Mr. Monroe's company suddenly go bankrupt? Cut the sob story. Don't embarrass yourself here!"

His words were sharper than any blade.

I let out a cold laugh. "I'm selling my mother's heirloom to save Mr. Monroe's life. How is that embarrassing? Is it more honorable to be like you, using $500,000 to win over another woman?!"

His face instantly turned livid.

Bianca White, who was standing nearby, quickly rushed over. She grabbed his arm and tried to placate him. "Julian, don't be angry. Zella must be joking with you."

She turned to me, her voice feigning understanding. "But Zella, even if you are in a tight spot, you shouldn't joke about your father's company like that. Julian will take it seriously. You can just tell him what you want. You two are a couple, after all."

I looked into her seemingly innocent eyes, finding the situation deeply ironic.

'She knows I'm Julian Lockwood's girlfriend, yet she still clings to him without any sense of boundaries.'

'And Julian, acting as if he can't see her true intentions, has never once pushed her away.'

I stared at her coldly. "I did tell him. But this President Lockwood next to you doesn't seem to be listening."

Bianca's face went pale. She bit her lower lip, looking hurt, her eyes instantly welling with tears.

Julian immediately pulled her behind him, his eyes on me turning even icier:

"Zella Monroe, I can't believe you've become like this—so sharp-tongued and unreasonable! Bianca was just concerned about you. Why does every word out of your mouth have to be so barbed?"

"Like what?"

The grief and anger swirling inside me threatened to burst from my chest.

"I've been pushed to a dead end, forced to sell my mother's only heirloom, while my boyfriend is over here cooing with another woman! Don't I even have the right to question it? In your heart, that Bianca White is a pure, innocent saint, and I'm just a shrew who only causes you trouble, is that right?!"

"You're being completely irrational!" Julian was thoroughly enraged by my words.

Just then, the auctioneer on stage began to call out the bid:

"$300,000 going once, $300,000 going twice... Are there any other bids from our distinguished guests? If not..."

"I bid $350,000!" a voice suddenly rang out.

I followed the sound of the voice and saw it was Mr. Shaw from Westwood, a notoriously sleazy nouveau riche.

He was raking me over with a blatant, lecherous gaze.

Julian's expression darkened even further.

'I knew it wasn't the jewelry Mr. Shaw was after, but me.'

'If I accepted his money, it would be the same as accepting him.'

'And the last shred of hesitation in my heart vanished when I saw the look exchanged between Julian and Mr. Shaw.'

'I understood in an instant.'

'This was Julian's way of humiliating me.'

'He wanted to see me at my lowest, to see me in agony.'

The auctioneer called out excitedly, "$350,000! Mr. Shaw bids $350,000! Is there a higher offer?"

I straightened my spine and said to the auctioneer, "Sold!"

Then, I turned to Julian Lockwood and said, word by word, "Julian Lockwood, from this moment on, we're over."

Before he could react, I turned and walked away.

From behind me came Julian's furious roar.

"Zella Monroe, you dare!"

'Of course I dared.'

'When a person is pushed to the brink, there's nothing left to fear.'

The moment I got the $350,000 check from Mr. Shaw, still warm with his greasy body heat, I raced to the meeting spot.

Several vicious-looking men were surrounding my dad, spewing profanities.

My dad was curled up in a corner. The once vibrant and spirited man now had graying hair and a haggard face.

When he saw me, a flicker of light appeared in his cloudy eyes. "Zella, you... why are you here? Go! It's dangerous here!"

"Dad, I'm here to pay the money."

I handed the check to their leader, a man with a scar on his face, my voice trembling with fear.

"Here's $350,000. For the remaining $150,000, please give me a few more days."

Scarface took the check and spat on the ground, his eyes full of contempt.

"A few days? You think we're a charity? We said three days, and we meant three days. If you're short by even a penny, your dad's leaving one of his legs here today!"

As he spoke, he pulled a shiny steel pipe from behind his back.

My dad's face went pale with fright, and he desperately protected his legs.

I rushed over and spread my arms, shielding my dad. My legs were trembling, but I refused to retreat a single step.

"I will pay back the money! If you dare touch my dad, I'll fight you to the death!"

"Fight?" Scarface scoffed, closing in on me. "You?"

"Little lady, you're not bad-looking. How about this? You don't have to pay back the remaining $150,000. Just come and have some fun with me and the boys for a few days. What do you say?"

I was shaking uncontrollably, and my stomach churned violently.

Just as Scarface was about to rip my clothes, several black cars screeched to a halt in front of us.

The doors flew open, and a group of bodyguards in black suits charged out. They made short work of the thugs, subduing them in seconds.

I watched, still reeling from the shock, until the rear car door opened and a familiar figure stepped out.

It was Julian Lockwood.

He walked up to me, his tall frame casting a shadow that completely enveloped me in my pathetic state.

"Zella Monroe, selling yourself to this kind of person for money? Do you just love getting tangled up with trash like this?!"

I snapped my head up to meet his indifferent eyes, which reflected my own sorrowful figure.

"Julian Lockwood, you have the audacity to lecture me?"

I roared, "I was on my knees, begging you to lend me $500,000 to save my dad's life! I waited for you all day like an idiot, only to find out you were at an auction, spending a fortune on another woman!"

"I called you so many times, why didn't you answer? Do you have any idea that if I were one minute later, my dad could have lost his leg?! You backed me into a corner, and now you turn around and blame me? What gives you the right?!"

My questions were hysterical.

Julian Lockwood's expression faltered, and a flicker of guilt flashed in his eyes.

He remembered my pleas, and he remembered his promise.

But just then, Bianca White got out of the car. She delicately took his arm and looked at me with an aggrieved expression.

"Zella, please don't blame Julian. I just loved that painting so much, I pestered Julian to buy it for me, and he just lost track of time..."

She paused, glanced at the loan sharks on the ground, and then her tone shifted.

"But, Sister, even if Julian was in a rush to buy the painting for me, you can't debase yourself like this for money! Have you forgotten about Luna...?"

"Shut up!"

Julian Lockwood cut her off sharply, but the anger he had just suppressed flared up again.

He glared at me, the hatred in his eyes burning and clear.

"Zella Monroe, you're just as despicable as ever!"

He ground out through clenched teeth, "Ten years ago, you caused one person's death because of this. Who are you trying to kill now?!"

A chill spread from the bottom of my heart, turning into tears that streamed down my face.

I opened my mouth, wanting to explain, to tell him that ten years ago wasn't like that...

But the words died on my lips, replaced by a silent, bitter smile.

'In his heart, I had already been condemned.'

"Julian Lockwood."

My voice was calm. "You never believed me."

After saying that, I pulled my still-shaken father to his feet and stumbled away, fleeing the place that was suffocating me.