“Easton, are you sure it’s alright not to save Miss Debbie?”

Charlie’s timid voice broke the silence.

Hiding behind the curtains, I clearly saw the fleeting flash of triumph in her eyes.

Easton let out a cold laugh, his tone indifferent.

“She’s treated you terribly so many times. This is nothing more than a small punishment. Besides, her skin is thick enough—getting roughed up a little won’t kill her.”

Connor smirked and added disdainfully, “She has offended too many people. If something really happens to her, it’s her own karma. Charlie, you’re too kind. For someone as vicious as her, even death would be well deserved.”

My pupils contracted sharply.

Not only was I no longer in their hearts—they even hated me. They wanted me gone.

Pain twisted in my chest, and I bent over as if struck.

Charlie’s lips curved into a hidden smile, though her voice remained pitifully soft.

“No matter what, the young lady is still your fiancée. In seven days, she’ll officially marry one of you. For my sake, you pushed her toward that drunkard... I’m so touched, but I’m just the daughter of a servant...”

Her words faltered delicately, her lashes trembling.

“I’m just afraid... once she returns from the bar, she’ll retaliate against me. If it were only me, I wouldn’t mind. But what if she targets you instead, just because of me?”

Her eyes glistened with tears, full of fear and concern as she looked up at them.

The men melted instantly. They pulled her into their arms, their voices dripping with comfort.

“We won’t let Debbie hurt you again, don’t worry.”

“Everything she suffers is of her own making—it has nothing to do with you.”

Connor thumped his chest with conviction, his gaze was tender.

“The Sinclair family may be one of the five great clans, but they can’t withstand the combined might of the remaining four. If Debbie dares to lay a hand on you...” His tone darkened.

“...then we’ll destroy the Sinclair family first.”

Seeing the approving looks on their faces, my eyes widened in disbelief, unable to believe what I was hearing.

So it wasn’t just me—they even wanted to destroy the Sinclair family!

Easton stroked Charlie’s cheek with tenderness.

“I know what you’re worried about. But don’t be afraid. No matter whom Debbie chooses among us, the one we love will always be you. I’ll make all the arrangements. And if she doesn’t know her place—then she has only herself to blame.”

A ruthless glint flashed across his face.

My heart lurched, and in my panic I tugged too hard—the curtain swayed.

Their heads snapped toward me.

“Who’s there!”

All their eyes landed on me.

No longer able to hide, I stepped out slowly, my face was blank.

Their expressions shifted instantly. Old habits made them move toward me, as if they wanted to explain—but Charlie was faster.

Her gaze flickered with malice before she plastered on a mask of fear. She rushed toward me, voice quivering.

“Miss Debbie?! Why are you back so soon?”

Her eyes welled with tears.

“Miss, you’re not hurt, are you? Please don’t misunderstand—when Easton pulled you toward that drunkard, it was only because the situation was urgent. It should have been me who took the blow for you.”

Her voice broke as she sobbed.

“Don’t blame them... It’s all my fault. Let me apologize.”

Without waiting for my response, she lunged forward.

The window behind me wasn’t closed. Her sudden shove sent me reeling backward, my balance slipping.

“Ah!” Charlie screamed shrilly.

Instinctively, my eyes darted to Easton.

Once, before everything fell apart, he would have crossed the world to protect me before I even stumbled.

Now, without hesitation—he caught Charlie instead.

The others didn’t even glance at me. They crowded around her, voices filled with tenderness.

“Charlie, are you hurt? You’re too foolish—why would you beg on her behalf?”

“That’s right. Even if you had said nothing, she wouldn’t dare touch us.”

Not one of them noticed me clinging desperately to the window frame, fighting for my life.

Only when Charlie had basked in enough of their affection did she finally gesture toward me timidly, tears sparkling in her eyes.

“Easton, Connor... maybe you should save Miss Debbie. Otherwise, I’m afraid she’ll hold a grudge. If she ever went after my mother, what would I do?”

Her crystalline tears slid down her cheeks.

The men’s hearts ached at the sight.

Their gazes hardened, turning on me with fury.

“Debbie,” Easton barked first, “you know the situation was urgent! It was only a stopgap. Why are you lashing out at Charlie?”

Connor and Hayden followed, frowning deeply.

“Debbie, we know you’re not like this, but today you’ve gone too far. Apologize to Charlie—or don’t expect us to pull you up.”

I gave a hollow laugh. Did they think I still hoped for their rescue?

I clung on with bloodied fingers, inching upward with all my strength.

But just as I was about to climb back in, Easton’s hand clamped down on my wrist.

In disbelief, I met his eyes as he slowly, ruthlessly pried my fingers off the window ledge one by one.

“Easton! Are you insane?!”

I screamed, nails tearing against the wood, my hands raw and bleeding as I refused to let go.

But the man who once couldn’t bear to see even a scratch on me acted as though he saw nothing, coldly peeling my grip away.

His voice was calm, but his words were sharp like knives.

“Debbie, we spoiled you too much. That’s why you’ve become this vicious. It’s only the second floor—at worst you’ll break a few bones. If you won’t apologize, then take this as a lesson.”

Connor and the others came over.

Hayden hesitated, glancing at me with faint concern. “Maybe we should pull her up... Debbie is afraid of pain. If she falls, she’ll cry for days.”

Without batting an eyelid, Easton spat coldly, “She needs the pain to remember.”

Connor even stopped Charlie when she tried to intervene, gently comforting her as though she were the one about to fall.

At that moment, I knew—whether I apologized or not, they were going to let me fall.

I looked at them one last time, erasing every shred of feeling I had left.

Then I let go.

Perhaps even he hadn’t expected me to do such a thing.

When I slipped and fell, Easton’s expression froze into shock.

“Debbie!”

He couldn’t help but cry out my name.

In the final second before I lost consciousness, I saw all four of them rushing toward me in panic.

When I woke up again, I was already lying in a hospital bed.

Three of them—Connor, Kenji, and Hayden—stood guard at my side. The moment my eyes opened, their faces lit up with relief.

“Debbie!”

Connor reached toward me instinctively.

I flinched away.

His hand froze midair, his eyes clouded with confusion.

“Debbie, what’s wrong? I just wanted to check your injuries.”

As if realizing something, he rushed to explain, “Today... we lost our heads, that’s all.”

Hayden quickly chimed in, “Yes, none of us thought you’d actually let go.”

Kenji offered me a bowl of porridge.

Frowning, I took it, and noticed at once—it had long since gone cold.

Easton was nowhere to be seen. I didn’t need to ask. Of course, he was with Charlie.

Deep, I would have thrown a tantrum over that.

But now, I no longer care.

Lowering my gaze, I quietly drank the cold porridge.

“Debbie, I know you haven’t forgiven us yet,” Connor said anxiously. “Maybe right now you don’t even want to see us—but we’ll apologize.”

Kenji quickly added, “Yes! We’ll find a proper gift as an apology. You should just rest.”

Hayden lingered at my bedside, lips parting as if to say something, but held back.

I only nodded lightly, signaling they could leave.

Connor and Kenji left with smiles of relief.

Hayden called my name softly, but when I didn’t answer, he hesitated, then turned and walked out, glancing back again and again until the door closed.

Minutes later, my phone buzzed.

It was a message from Charlie.

I didn’t know when she had added my contact, but from the moment she began sending me photos, I understood: the four of them were already drifting toward her.

In the photos, Connor, Kenji, and Hayden surrounded Charlie. Their expressions were gentle and doting.

Connor offered her a towel with care.

Kenji animatedly told her a story, making her laugh.

Hayden, unable to join in, simply gazed at her with infatuated eyes.

And Easton—he never left her side, guarding her like a knight sworn to his lady.

All of it... all of it had once been mine.

I turned off my phone and began practicing how to get out of bed.

Every throb from my fractured leg reminded me: That life was over.

Those promises to protect me, never let me be hurt—were already broken, and nothing but dust.

Now, Easton and the others wouldn't hesitate to strike against me.

Two more days had passed. Easton never once came to my room.

Slowly, my heart began to calm down.

I booked a ticket to France, five days later, and started reviewing Sinclair Corporation’s overseas projects.

It was then that the four of them suddenly appeared in my hospital room.

I quickly locked my phone, but not before Easton’s sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the screen.

He frowned. “You haven't even recovered yet, and you’re already planning to run around? Don't you care about your health?”

At once, the other three rushed to defend me.

“Debbie knows her limits,” Connor coaxed. “If she wants to go out, then let her. We’ll take care of her.”

“Exactly,” Kenji nodded, looking at me with the same doting gaze I once knew so well.

Hayden even reached out, trying to take my hand.

They acted as though nothing had ever happened.

For a brief moment, watching their familiar expressions, I almost felt like I had fallen back into the past.

For over ten years, that had been our rhythm: I’d make some unreasonable demand or wild plan, Easton would scold me, the others would side with me, and in the end, Easton would give in, helpless but indulgent.

And I would laugh in triumph.

I once thought those days would last forever.

But then I thought of Charlie.

And the calmness returned to my eyes.

Easton noticed the change. His frown deepened, unease gnawing at him, as though something precious was slipping away.

Instinctively, he reached toward me—and just then his phone rang.

Without needing to ask, I knew it was Charlie.

He froze for just a heartbeat, then left without hesitation.

The other three rushed to cover for him, presenting me with “carefully chosen gifts of apology.”

I said nothing, and simply accepted them with a calm face.

The next day, I signed my own discharge papers.

The Sinclair family’s auction was to be held that evening. As the host, I couldn't run away.

Thankfully, when I had fallen, I’d angled my body well enough to avoid life-threatening injuries.

That night, I dressed to kill—a crimson custom gown that clung to every curve, making me striking and untouchable.

From afar, I saw Easton carefully escorting Charlie toward our seats.

Years ago, I built the Sinclair Auction House with my own hands. Back then, Easton and the others stood firmly by my side. At every auction, they were always there.

Because of that, I had set aside a special private area—our place. Filled with our favorite things, it was where we retreated whenever we needed to breathe.

I knew Easton had changed, but watching him so casually take Charlie into a space that had once belonged only to me—pain still lanced through my chest.

He noticed me stiffening, but showed no sign of caring.

The others gathered around, smiling obsequiously.

“Charlie wanted to take a look. We knew Debbie was the most generous, so we let her sit there.”

Their ingratiating smiles, Hayden’s hand reaching toward me—I subtly avoided him and simply nodded.

I didn’t want the four of them anymore.

Why would I care about that seat?

With that thought, I turned and walked away.

The three of them froze, stunned by my reaction, then exchanged uneasy glances before trailing after me.

The auction began, everything proceeding in perfect order. I secretly nodded in satisfaction.

This would be the last auction I hosted in America, and I wanted it to close with flawless perfection.

But in the very next moment, Charlie’s shrill, excited voice rang out.

From the very first item, she raised her paddle again and again—winning bid after bid.

By the time she had nearly swept through the entire floor, displeasure was written across many guests’ faces.

My heart sank.

Most of the attendees were long-term business partners of the Sinclair family. At our auctions, the competition was meant to be friendly and balanced. Yet today, Charlie was recklessly outbidding everyone, leaving no chance for others.

She wasn’t buying for the collections, she was flaunting herself.

And when she finally noticed no one dared to compete with her anymore, she cast me a smug, provocative glance.

I furrowed my brows tightly. From the next item onward, I raised my paddle as well, clashing with her at every turn.

An artifact worth barely one million skyrocketed to five million, even ten million, under our rivalry.

Through it all, Easton watched her with indulgent affection, occasionally feeding her fruit as if she were some precious treasure.

Charlie was only the daughter of a servant—where would she get the money to bid like this?

The answer was obvious.

My expression hardened. I was about to outbid her, but before I could, the others—Connor, Kenji, and Hayden—caught on to my intention. They hurriedly pressed down my hand, even covering my mouth to stop me from speaking.

And so, Charlie secured the winning bid once more, before smugly curling into Easton’s embrace.

He stroked her hair gently, never sparing me a single glance.

Around us, murmurs spread like wildfire.

“Isn’t Easton supposed to be one of Miss Sinclair’s fiancés? He always treated her so well—why’s he here with another woman? Who is she?”

“Unbelievable! Miss Sinclair can’t even control her own men. Just now, I even saw the other three holding her back—covering her mouth—so she wouldn’t compete with that girl. They looked like they were protecting the mistress, not the fiancée.”

My fists clenched as I tore myself free from their restraint and stormed out.

The three trailed after me in a flurry of apologies, claiming they hadn’t meant it, and said Charlie was pitiful and inexperienced, that they only tried to spare her embarrassment.

But before I reached the exit, Charlie herself blocked my path—smiling sweetly, but with triumph glittering in her eyes.

When she saw the three men behind me, her expression instantly shifted into fragile innocence. My nails dug deeper into my palm.

“Miss Sinclair, I didn’t mean to,” she said meekly. “Easton just told me to bid on the things I liked. I don’t know much, I liked everything, that’s why it turned out this way... But I brought you a gift. Will you forgive me?”

She stepped closer, holding out a necklace.

One glance, and I recognized it. A complimentary gift prepared by the Sinclair family for all our guests tonight.

Though finely crafted, it was unmistakably a free giveaway.

She had just won countless luxury items at the auction, and many exquisite pieces of jewelry were among them. She could have chosen any of those.

But no—Charlie chose a trinket, deliberately meant to insult me.

Realizing her intent, I slapped her hand away without hesitation.

Her eyes instantly filled with tears.

“Debbie!” Easton’s furious roar echoed through the hall.

“What on earth do you think you’re doing? Charlie offered you a gift out of kindness, and this is how you treat her?”

Clutching the necklace, Charlie wept as if her heart were breaking.

“It’s not Miss Sinclair’s fault. I shouldn’t have competed with her earlier. I’ll apologize...”

Then she dropped to her knees before I could react.

“I’ll kowtow to you right now, Miss Sinclair. Just forgive me. Please... don’t punish my mother because of me.”

She slammed her forehead to the ground. Blood immediately streamed down her pale face.

“Charlie!”

Easton rushed to cradle her, his voice trembling with distress. Then he turned to me, his eyes cold and cut like a blade.

“Debbie, clearly the last lesson wasn’t enough. This necklace is Charlie’s heartfelt gift. Whether you want it or not, you will wear it!”

He gestured sharply.

At once, his bodyguards swarmed forward, forcing me to the ground. No matter how I struggled, they clamped the necklace around my throat.

Its sharp edges sliced into my skin, blood running down my neck. Easton didn’t spare me a glance.

“Just now, Charlie kowtowed for you. You’ll repay her tenfold!” His voice was merciless.

Horrified, I stared up at him in disbelief.

“Easton—don't you dare!”

He only sneered. With a flick of his hand, the guards forced me down again.

I thrashed desperately, only to receive a stinging slap across my face. My cheek burned and swelled, my vision swimming, but my glare never faltered.

I wanted to burn him alive with hatred in my eyes.

For a moment, Easton froze. Something flickered in his gaze—pain? Guilt? He reached toward me, as if to take it back.

But then Charlie sobbed softly in his arms, and his eyes turned cold once more.

“Do it.”

The guards pressed me hard against the ground, slamming my forehead down again and again—ten times in total.

By the time they released me, blood streamed down my face, my body too weak to move.

Easton carried Charlie tenderly in his arms, ignoring me as if I were nothing.

Only after they had left did Connor, Kenji, and Hayden rush over.

But I knew the truth.

They had been watching the entire time. Watching as I was humiliated, beaten, and broken.

Connor gently lifted me, eyes full of distress. He reached for my wound, but I jerked away coldly.

“How could Easton treat you like this? He’s gone too far,” he muttered.

Kenji's eyes reddened at the sight of my injuries.

Hayden even tried to scoop me into his arms. “Let us take you to the hospital, please.”

I raised my head, catching the anxiety in their eyes—and the way they kept glancing toward the direction Charlie had left.

In that instant, I understood.

They didn’t truly care about me. They only wanted the excuse to follow her openly.

A bitter laugh slipped from my lips. I shook them off.

Their expression froze, then softened again with the same tender affection as always.

For a moment, I couldn’t tell—did they truly love me, or had it always been a lie?

Clutching my aching body, I walked toward the parking lot without looking back.

Connor frowned, reaching for me.

“Debbie! You’re being too reckless—how can you ignore your own health like this?”

The others tried to speak, but I cut them off, my face expressionless.

“Do whatever you want. My life has nothing to do with you.”

This time, they hadn’t expected me to get mad at them.

They exchanged uneasy glances, then chased after me with apologies.

But I ignored them, got into my car, and drove away.

In the rearview mirror, I clearly saw their silhouettes turning back—heading in the direction Charlie had gone.

Just as I thought. It was her they wanted to see.

I exhaled, extinguishing the last fragile remnants of hope in my heart.

At home, I tended to my wounds alone before collapsing into bed.

That night, I dreamed of the past—Easton and the others, smiling happily.

But just when I thought the dream was sweet—they abandoned me without hesitation, no matter how desperately I called after them.

When I woke up, the searing pain in my chest had dulled.

Recalling everything with them, I realized—I felt nothing anymore.

Maybe... I had finally let go.

On my phone, countless messages from Connor and the others lit the screen. I swiped past without interest.

Charlie had sent photos again—videos, and even recordings.

Easton and the others surrounding her, caring for her, spoiling her.

She thought this would torment me.

But now—I felt nothing at all.

I was just about to block her when—a deafening crash suddenly came from the door.