Chapter 3

It was Adrianna's late teacher's final work, "Spring Veil". The familiar brushstrokes instantly brought back the image of Matt Simmons' frail, bony hand in his final days. He had patted her head with a kind smile, telling her how this painting was his life's work. Now that he was gone, his widow cried herself to sleep every night. If Adrianna could win this bid, it might at least bring Helen Briggs some comfort. "Five million." She raised her bidding paddle. "James." Cecilia suddenly tugged at James' sleeve. "This painting is beautiful." He immediately lifted his paddle. "Ten million." "20 million," Adrianna gritted out. "30 million." The price climbed rapidly, and the entire auction hall fell silent. Out of the corner of her eye, Adrianna spotted Nolan, Conrad, and Liam lowering their paddles—all because Cecilia was dying to win that painting. How ironic. Just ten minutes ago, they had vowed that they would buy whatever Adrianna wanted. Her nails dug into her palm. "50 million," she said, raising her paddle again. "80 million." "100 million." In the end, James gestured to the auctioneer that he would be purchasing the painting no matter how high the bid went. He got up and strode across the red carpet, not even sparing Adrianna's pale expression a glance. "Anna, don't be upset." Nolan hurried to console her. "If you like this painting that much, I'll check backstage and see if they have a similar one for you right away." "I'll go too," Conrad quickly chimed in. "Me as well." Liam followed right after. As she watched them hurry off, her vision blurred. She took in a deep breath, struggling to contain the bitterness in her chest as she walked toward Cecilia. Cecilia stood in the middle of the crowd, as if she were the star of the auction. "Name your price." Adrianna's voice was eerily calm. "Five times, ten times, 20 times the value—and I'll pay it." Cecilia chuckled, a triumphant glint flickering in her eyes. "I didn't expect someone like you could beg." Tilting her head with mock innocence, she batted her lashes and continued, "But money isn't everything. Besides, I don't feel like selling this painting for now. But if you really want it, I might consider giving it to you if you beg properly." Adrianna's breath hitched. Cecilia had always put on a weak facade in front of men, but whenever she faced off with Adrianna, her arrogance was over the top. This was why Adrianna could never like Cecilia. Until now, she still couldn't fathom why the four men had fallen for Cecilia. "I told you, money isn't an issue," Adrianna snapped, clenching her fists. "But I just want to see you beg." Cecilia beamed. "Otherwise…" Adrianna's eyes fell on the painting Cecilia was toying with. It was Matt's final work—the very thing Helen longed for night and day. Just imagining her weeping alone shattered Adrianna's heart. "Fine. I'll do it!" With all eyes on her, she sank to her knees. The cold marble floor bit through the thin fabric of her dress, but it was nothing compared to the chill in her chest. Her voice was strange even when she got up. "Can I have it now?" A wide grin suddenly spread across Cecilia's face—one that was of ultimate malice. Right in front of Adrianna, she gripped the frame at both ends and ripped the painting apart. The sound of tearing canvas sliced through the silence like a knife. "How dare you?" Adriana's blood boiled. She slapped Cecilia hard across the face. "Adrianna, what are you doing?" James roared, his voice echoing off the walls. "James…" Cecilia's hand flew to her cheek, her eyes brimming with tears. "Don't blame Adrianna. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have come to the auction with you…" She clutched his sleeve, her voice trembling perfectly on cue. "Adrianna likes you, after all. Naturally, she's upset after seeing you buy me so many things. "I know my presence makes things hard for you all…" She suddenly shoved him away, stumbling backward. "So, just let me disappear completely!" She turned around and bolted for the floor-to-ceiling window with alarming speed. "Ceci!" James' roar filled the hall, but it was too late. The shattering of glass was followed by the heavy thud of a body hitting the ground. Adrianna rushed to the window. Below, Cecilia lay limp in a pool of blood, the corners of her mouth curling into a triumphant smile. Rage shot straight to James' head. His eyes turned bloodshot as he scooped Cecilia into his arms, and his voice was raw with fury as he snarled, "Someone, get her to the hospital!" He glowered at Adrianna. If looks could kill, she would've been dead. "Adrianna, you'd better pray. If anything happens to Ceci, I'll make you pay with your life!" … Time seemed frozen in the hospital's pale corridor. A doctor came running, his voice thick with panic. "The patient is hemorrhaging badly and needs an urgent transfusion. But she has RH-negative blood, and the hospital's supply is nearly gone…" James' head snapped toward Adrianna, who was being held by the guards. "You have RH-negative blood, too," he said, glaring at her. "No…" Cecilia's weak voice rang out from the bed as her eyes fluttered open. "It's all my fault. Adrianna's anemic, so please don't make her give me blood…" "Now's not the time to worry about her! Ceci, you're just too kind." James held her hand, his voice so gentle that as if he were soothing a frightened animal. But the moment he turned toward Adrianna, the tenderness in his eyes completely vanished. "Bind her!" "James, don't you dare?" "Try me!" Adrianna was forced onto the operating table, the cold metal biting into her back. In the midst of her frantic struggles, she kicked the instrument stand, sending surgical tools clattering to the floor. "Seize her!" James barked. At least three guards lunged at her and pinned her down. Her hair came loose, and her gown was torn in the struggle, exposing her shoulder. "James!" she screamed, her voice breaking with despair. "You'll regret this…" "You're one to talk." James sneered, plunging the needle under her skin himself. Blood flowed swiftly through the tube, and her consciousness began to fade. In a daze, she felt herself back on that rainy night from her previous life—the blinding headlights, the ear-splitting screech of brakes, and the indifferent gazes of James and the three men across the road all flooding her mind at once. Only Derick—her lifelong nemesis—had staggered toward her through the downpour, his hands trembling as he cradled her bloodied, limp body. "Derick…" A mix of tears and blood traced down Adrianna's cheeks, pooling into tiny puddles on the operating table. "When are you coming back? I miss you so much," she whispered, her voice fading until it fell into silence.