Chapter 4

Just like the other donors did for every other item at the auction, Alina had to stand and acknowledge the crowd before her donation was introduced. But as curious glances landed on her ashamed expression, those looks quickly turned into loud, mocking laughter. Someone teased, "One dollar? Is that for real? Who brings that kind of junk to an event like this?" "Everyone here is either wealthy or important. What's Cinderella doing here—did someone sneak her in? Can we throw her out already?" Alina's face flushed red and purple from the humiliation. She lowered her head and did not dare look up. The crowd erupted with whispers and snickers, the atmosphere growing more and more cruel by the second. Aaron's face went cold in an instant. Without saying a word, he nodded to Matthew, who immediately raised the paddle. "Lot 17. Mr. Ford bids ten million." The room fell silent, and everyone turned in shock to look at Aaron. The ridicule stopped immediately, replaced by stunned speculation. People started whispering, wondering if the stars had some hidden value they had missed. A few cautiously raised their paddles to bid, but Aaron stayed aggressive, countering every single offer without hesitation. In the end, he won the item at an outrageous price of 300 million. The room collectively gasped, and someone exclaimed, "300 million? For a box of paper stars? Has Mr. Ford lost his mind? Another chimed in, "Even if they were made of gold, it wouldn't be worth that much." While the guests whispered behind their hands, Alina suddenly broke down. Her eyes filled with tears as she stood up and ran from the room, visibly overwhelmed. Aaron's brow tightened as he watched her go. He said, "Nora, take your time. If there's anything you like, just raise your paddle—I have to step out for a moment." He didn't wait for Eleanor to respond before rushing off in Alina's direction. Eleanor stayed seated for a beat longer. She could feel the eyes watching her, people wondering what the fiancée would do now. Finally, she stood and walked out of the ballroom. The hallway was quiet. Despite the distance, she could clearly hear Alina's tearful voice. "Mr. Ford, please don't be so kind to me. The more you care, the more scared I get because I know that at the end of the day, I have to give you back to Ms. Sutton. Just thinking about that day breaks me. But I can't fight for you… because you were never mine to begin with." Aaron's brows drew tightly together. "Mr. Ford, let's just end things here, okay?" As Alina kept speaking, her words filled with finality, Aaron suddenly snapped. All the fury and emotion he had kept buried surged up at once, and he grabbed her and kissed her, hard. A wave of coldness surged up Eleanor's spine and wrapped around her chest like a vice. She stood frozen at the end of the hallway, staring at the two of them lost in that embrace. Her fingertips trembled uncontrollably. It was a long time before Aaron finally let go of Alina. He wiped the tears from her cheeks with shaky hands, his breathing uneven. "Alina, I don't even know what's happening to me. The way you always keep your head down and never speak up—I can't help it. I just want to protect you. So, you must take care of yourself and not let yourself be bullied again!" He added, "There's only a few months left. Once you've had the baby, we'll go our separate ways and never see each other again." Every word he spoke was firm and deliberate, as though he was unsure whether he was trying to comfort Alina or convince himself. Eleanor wanted to laugh but couldn't find the strength to do so. She felt numb. She lifted her hand to her cheek, and her fingers came away wet and cold. She couldn't help but wonder why the scene before her hurt, especially since she had already decided to walk away. Why did it still feel like her heart was being ripped apart? Eleanor wiped her tears away, slowly and carefully. Then, without a sound, she turned and walked away. She silently swore to herself that this would be the last time she shed tears for Aaron. ... On the ride back, Eleanor quietly slipped into the backseat. Aaron hesitated for a moment, guilt flickering in his eyes. He said, "Matthew took Alina home. She was really upset and cried a lot, so I stayed to comfort her for a bit. Nora, please don't be mad, okay?" Eleanor didn't want to hear another word. "I'm not mad. I'm just tired." She closed her eyes, and Aaron, sensing her mood, finally shut his mouth. The rest of the night passed in silence. ... The next morning, Aaron drove her to the dance company like usual. However, just as they reached the front doors, a woman in her early 30s came charging at Eleanor with a knife, her face twisted with hatred. "Eleanor! You couldn't even leave me my final performance? I worked so hard to get that lead role, and you're taking it from me again!" The blade flashed toward her in a violent arc, and without thinking, Aaron stepped in front of her. He exclaimed, "Nora!" Security, who had been alerted, rushed over and tackled the woman, restraining her. But by then, Aaron had already collapsed in Eleanor's arms. Pain radiated from his chest like wildfire, stealing the strength from every muscle in his body. His mind went blank, and the last thing he saw before darkness took him was Eleanor's stunned, terrified eyes. With what little energy he had left, he raised a trembling hand and covered her eyes. Aaron's voice was hoarse, and his final words were not a cry of pain. Instead, he mumbled, "Nora, it's fine. Don't be scared." The ambulance arrived quickly and rushed him to the hospital. Two hours later, the light outside the operating room finally flicked off. The doctor came out and found Eleanor sitting motionless in the hallway, her body tight with tension. His voice carried a hint of quiet relief. "The surgery was a success. Mr. Ford's going to be okay. But if that blade had pierced even a few inches deeper, we wouldn't have been able to save him. Ms. Sutton, Mr. Ford threw himself in front of a knife without hesitation… He truly loves you—deeply." Eleanor's body finally relaxed. She couldn't find the words to speak. Her eyes dropped to her bloodstained clothes, and she stared at them in a daze. Ten minutes later, her phone rang. She answered, and Leon's slightly anxious voice came through the speaker. "The news said there was an attack. Are you okay? Were you hurt?" "No," she replied softly. "Aaron shielded me." The line went quiet for a few long seconds before Leon let out a dry, bitter laugh. "He loves you that much, huh? So, are you moved? Thinking about calling off our plan?" Even Leon didn't realize how tense his voice had become. Meanwhile, Eleanor didn't answer right away. Her mind was a storm of memories. She remembered Aaron getting into fights as a teenager to defend her, losing his early admission to a top college because of it. She remembered how, after graduation, she had chased her dance career all over the world, and he had followed her without complaint. No matter when or where, if she said she needed him, he would show up—every time. Aaron's love for her was undeniable. But even though he loved her, he still ended up loving someone else too. Meanwhile, Eleanor had only ever wanted one thing—exclusivity. She was not the kind of woman who would bend her principles for love. Just like she never gave up her dreams for a proposal, she would not forgive betrayal, no matter how much love was wrapped around it. Some lines, once crossed, could never be uncrossed. No apologies. No exceptions. The silence stretched so long that Leon thought she might have hung up. He started to lower his phone when her voice came through, clear and steady. She said, "There's no need to cancel it. We proceed as planned."