Chapter 3

After entering the auction hall, Rebecca walked over to her seat. She was about to sit down when the chair below her was suddenly pulled away. She didn't have time to react and fell straight to the ground. Her face paled as a sharp pain shot through her tailbone. Just as Rebecca was about to get up, someone poured a glass of red wine over her head. The dress and makeup she'd carefully prepared were instantly ruined. The once-quiet auction hall erupted into laughter. Rebecca looked up and saw the three Shaw brothers standing before her, looking down condescendingly. Brandon's sharp gaze landed on her, narrowing slightly. "Didn't you say you'd never come looking for us again? It seems like you couldn't hold out for long, huh?" Yves smiled mockingly. "And to think I actually believed you meant to give up. But as it turns out, I heard the news of the Shaws preparing for a wedding in two weeks. So, who exactly did you pick among the three of us?" Harvey's expression darkened as he gritted out, "No matter who you pick, let me tell you—what happened today is just a warning. If you end up marrying one of us, your life after marriage would only become worse!" Everyone started whispering among themselves as soon as they heard those words. "How pitiful! It's so embarrassing for a young lady from a wealthy family to be treated like this." "It's been years, yet none of the three Shaw brothers like her. I would've given up long ago if I were her." "Exactly! She's not even married yet, but look how miserable she already is! Who knows how much worse it'll get once she actually becomes a wife of theirs?" Everyone started pointing fingers, enjoying the spectacle. But at the same time, a hint of sympathy washed over them. Rebecca took a deep breath. After a while, she pulled several wet tissues from her handbag and carefully wiped away the sticky red wine stains from her face and body. She then picked up the chair and sat down. She said, "I'll say this one last time—I'm getting married in two weeks, but none of you are the groom." Brandon frowned and asked, "Aren't you getting engaged to someone from the Shaw family?" "I am," Rebecca replied calmly. Yves smiled mockingly, "You deny at one moment but agree in the next. Who else in the Shaw family could you possibly be marrying other than the three of us? What kind of push-and-pull games are you trying to play now?" "Don't tell me you actually think this will make us change our minds. We don't like you. No matter what kind of tricks you play, we only have eyes for Sally. You'd better give up for good!" Harvey added irritably. Rebecca was about to say something when the auction started. "The charity auction will now begin. Let me introduce the first item up for bidding…" Sally quickly tugged at their arms and softly said, "Ms. Underwood has an arranged marriage with the Shaws after all. She'll eventually become the rightful Mrs. Shaw. Please don't treat her like this." "We like you, Sally. Even if we marry her, she'll only be our wife in name. She'll never mean as much to us as you do!" The three Shaw brothers declared their loyalty in unison, even competing with each other to bid for several items she fancied. Rebecca ignored all of it, simply waiting for the last auction item to arrive on stage. The watch was finally presented at the end. As soon as the auctioneer called out the starting bid, Rebecca raised her paddle without hesitation. Her paddle was kept up despite the increasing price. Brandon, Yves, and Harvey all turned to look at her. They assumed that she would be gifting them the watch named "Devotion," and they scoffed. They'd made it clear that they didn't like her, yet she was still bending over backward trying to please them. In the end, Rebecca won the bid for the watch. Holding the solid piece in her hand, she couldn't help but picture the way it'd look on Frank. The auction was nearing its end, and Rebecca was about to leave after winning her bid. Suddenly, Sally's face went pale as she weakly said, "Brandon, Yves, Harvey, my stomach suddenly hurts. My period might have started. Can you buy some sanitary pads for me?" The trio's expressions grew serious and tense upon hearing her words. They exchanged glances and immediately knew what to do. One of them went to get some sanitary pads, another went to the nearest pharmacy, and the other went to call their private doctor.