Love Ends in Vain

When the Irwins were on the brink of bankruptcy, I proposed a marriage of convenience to Ryan and saved them from collapse.

Ever the playboy, Ryan was so grateful that he swore eternal loyalty to me, even getting a vasectomy immediately to prove his devotion.

He took me across mountains and rivers, saying he wanted to etch our love into every corner of the world.

Three years later, he got me drunk, stole my phone, and used it to infiltrate the Knights’ estate. That night, he orchestrated the complete downfall of my family’s legacy.

My parents overdosed on sleeping pills. My sister was dragged into an alley by his men, violated, filmed, and the footage was auctioned off to amuse wealthy heirs.

I begged him to let my family go. However, he gripped my face and forced me to watch as my parents were cremated.

“You think marrying me back then was some noble sacrifice? Sure, the whole city praised your family for helping mine in our darkest hour. But what did they say about me?

“They call me your lapdog, Lily!”

Ryan destroyed the Knights to prove he was better than us and not anyone’s dog.

He tore up the divorce papers and shoved the shreds into my mouth. Ryan wanted me to watch as he rose to power and made the world kneel before him.

To humiliate me, he brought home a different woman every night, turning our house into a hotel while I served them.

“What’s the Knights’ worth now? With your status, cooking for them and massaging their feet like this is only fitting.”

It didn’t matter. When I saved him from that avalanche, a shard of stone slashed my heart.

Now, I only have three days left to live.

I jumped out the window and escaped from Ryan’s mansion just to collect my family’s belongings.

With the Knights now bankrupt, everything of value had been sold off. All that remained in the house were a few personal items no one cared about.

I was worried my parents might be cold in the afterlife, and my sister wouldn’t have clothes to wear.

The Knights’ estate was bustling with people. As I was approaching the front door, Ryan’s laughter pierced my eardrums, and my heart clenched.

When he saw me come in, the cigarette between his fingers paused for a second. Then he raised his hand in greeting.

“Well, well. Didn’t expect the orphan of the Knights to show up. You here to bid on your own family’s leftovers?”

My hands curled into fists, and my throat felt tight. I could hardly believe what I was hearing.

“What did you just say? Ryan, they were your family, too.”

Ryan’s gaze went cold. “When your family was using the Irwins to boost your reputation, you never treated me like part of the family.”

He pulled a beautiful girl close with one arm. “Shannon, pick whatever you like. I’ll cover it.”

On the stage, they were auctioning off my mom’s earrings and her hair comb.

Shannon’s eyes sparkled as she raised her paddle. “Five million! I love it, Mr. Irwin!”

Another girl, teary-eyed, looked over. “Can you let me have it, Shannon? I really like it too!”

Ryan burst into laughter. “Alright. Shannon’s new here, Reina. Why don’t you let her have this one? I promise the next piece will be yours, okay?

“Listen up, babes! Bid on whatever you want! If someone outbids you, come to me. I’ll get it for you!”

A wave of cheers followed, and the girls started bidding like maniacs.

My parents’ jewelry and clothes were quickly sold off. Yet, I couldn’t do a single thing.

Then they brought out my sister’s underwear.

“Now this one’s a gem, folks. Comes with a bonus video. Starting at ten million!”

All the trust-fund brats in the room started bidding, their eyes full of lust.

The girls rolled their eyes. “Ugh, what kind of world are we living in? People buying used underwear for that price? Gross! I wouldn’t touch it. I’ll probably catch something!”

Reina looked smug. She turned to Ryan and said sweetly, “Hey, Ryan, why don’t you buy this one for Lily?

“Poor girl’s probably broke by now. Soon, she can’t even afford clothes. Might as well wear her sister’s. At least it’s free.”

Ryan smirked, his eyes full of scorn as he looked at me.

“Sounds good to me. Let’s do it.”

He grabbed the corner of the underwear and tossed it right onto my head, along with a USB stick.

“Since you’re broke now, take it home and study up. Might come in handy when you're out there trying to make a living.”

I let out a dry laugh.

“I remember telling you I was afraid of pain, so you promised to stay celibate with me. And now you say this?”

Ryan scoffed. “Are you stupid? I said I’d get a vasectomy because I didn’t want to touch you. You grossed me out. I just needed an excuse to avoid you, and you actually believed it?”

The wound in my heart ached so badly that I nearly fainted. It seemed death by heartbreak really was a thing.

I clutched my chest and collapsed to the ground, face pale.

However, Ryan just walked past me, leading the others to step right over my body.

“Quit playing the victim. The only people who ever gave a damn about you are dead.”

“Wait!”

I called out to Ryan.

“The next item is mine.”