On the day the heir to a New York business empire broke off our engagement, everything changed. His brother, a decorated Special Forces Major, proposed to me on the spot with a dowry worth billions. His mother, a retired Hollywood legend, handed me the key to the family trust. His father, a corporate titan, appointed me CEO of the entire conglomerate right then and there. I stood there, jaw on the floor, watching it all unfold. Little did I know, they had all been reincarnated. 1 Liam’s childhood sweetheart posted a picture of an engagement ring on Instagram. The comments section immediately blew up: [Oh look, she’s showing off again.] [Yeah, yeah, we get it. The Prince of New York bought it for you.] [You know he has a fiancée, right? Why are you always stirring the pot?] [Just because they aren't married yet doesn't mean you aren't the side piece. Homewrecker!] The girl, Renna, was getting roasted so hard she trended on Twitter. She deleted the photo and was later snapped by paparazzi crying on a film set. While everyone was laughing at her expense, Liam, the "Prince of New York," finally responded. He said he was going to end the farce personally. The next day, Liam started a livestream. The topic: Breaking off our engagement. He stood in front of me, suit perfectly tailored, face cold as ice. "Sarah, I don't love you. Stop clinging to me." "And about the engagement gifts the Vanderbilts sent to your family... I expect them all back." "The house, the cars, the 5% stock in Vanderbilt Corp, and the $10 million in cash." The ring light hit my pale face. Inside, I was screaming. But I held back the tears, clinging to my last shred of dignity. I knew exactly why Liam was livestreaming this. He was doing it for Renna. Humiliating me in public was the only way to cheer her up. The only way to shed her "homewrecker" label. Honestly, I didn't care about Liam dumping me. What I cared about was that my family, the Sterlings, had gone bankrupt years ago. The assets the Vanderbilts had given us? Long gone. I couldn't pay him back. Liam seemed to sense my desperation. He sneered. "Sarah, if you don't have the money, there's another way to pay me back." "Apologize to Renna. Beg for her forgiveness." "Then, hold a press conference and tell the world that you were the one who came between us!" I stiffened, pride burning in my chest. I hadn't done anything wrong. I was the victim here. But under the glare of the lights and the weight of debt, I had no choice. The chat was flooded with Liam and Renna’s shippers, drowning out anyone defending me. [Pay up! You've been leeching off them for twenty years. Trying to keep Renna's money?] [Broke Sterling girl, look in the mirror. You don't deserve the Prince.] [Apologize to Renna! You made her cry!] I took a deep breath. With my back against the wall, I opened my mouth to agree to the press conference. But then, a deep voice cut through the room from the doorway. "Wait." 2 Everyone turned to look. A man in full dress uniform stood there. His broad shoulders blocked the view of the hallway. His presence was overwhelming, an aura of pure power. His sharp gaze swept the room, landing on me. In an instant, his eyes softened. I froze. I knew him. It was Liam’s older brother, Lucas. What was he doing here? Liam frowned when he saw him. "Brother? Aren't you deployed overseas? Why are you back?" Lucas ignored him completely. He walked straight up to me. Then, he bowed deeply. I gasped and took a step back. "Miss Sterling, I apologize," he said, his voice steady. "The marriage alliance between our families was made to honor your father, who gave his life to save mine. After he passed, instead of helping your family, the Vanderbilts cannibalized your business. Now, Liam wants to break the engagement. He has clearly forgotten the promise we made." He dropped to one knee and took off his cap. The room went silent. The livestream chat exploded. [Holy sh*t! Is that Lucas Vanderbilt? Major Vanderbilt?!] [ The war hero? Why is he kneeling to Sarah? What is happening?] [Okay but look at that posture. That build. Daddy??] "The agreement never specified which Vanderbilt son would marry you," Lucas continued. "Liam claimed he fell in love with you at first sight years ago, so as his older brother, I stepped aside. But now that his heart has wandered, I hope you will give me a chance." Lucas spoke with absolute conviction. Gasps filled the room. Liam’s face went through a rainbow of colors. "Lucas, are you insane?" Liam snapped. "You're a war hero, the youngest Major in history. Sarah is from a ruined family. She doesn't deserve you!" Lucas didn't even look at him. His voice was ice. "Liam, watch your mouth. I am the one who doesn't deserve Miss Sterling." [Omg, what a man. Protecting her like that!] [Marry him, Sarah! Marry him right now!] [Liam is trash. Team Lucas all the way! I want to see their babies!] I was still in shock. I didn't know how to respond. Getting dumped by the younger brother and immediately accepting a proposal from the older one? It felt... messy. But the alternative was apologizing to that snake Renna... I looked at Lucas, skeptical. "Are you serious? Is this a joke?" Lucas looked at me with burning intensity. "I never joke. In this life, you are my sky and my earth. I will cherish you, protect you, and love you forever." He continued, "I know this is sudden. Asking you to trust me with your life after two sentences is presumptuous. Please, allow me to show you my sincerity before you decide." His sincerity? How? As I frowned, he clapped his hands. A young soldier sprinted in from behind Lucas and saluted. He cleared his throat and shouted: "Six hundred and sixty-six pounds of gold for Miss Sarah Sterling! Wishing you smooth sailing and eternal fortune!" Two soldiers marched in carrying heavy chests. When they opened the lids, the golden glare almost drowned out Liam’s ring lights. Gasps of awe echoed around the room. Even Liam looked stunned. Before I could recover, the soldier shouted again: "Ten luxury supercars for Miss Sterling! Wishing you perfection in all things!" "Fifty-five prime real estate properties for Miss Sterling! Wishing you abundance and prosperity!" "Nine hundred billion in cash assets for Miss Sterling! Wishing you longevity and health!" Boxes of pearls, gems, jade, and diamonds followed. My tiny 800-square-foot apartment was suddenly overflowing with treasure. I gulped, speechless. Liam clenched his fists, glaring at his brother. "Lucas, even if you want to marry her, is this necessary? That’s basically your entire net worth. You're going to bankrupt yourself for a woman? You know you can't get gifts back if you break up, right?" Lucas finally looked at Liam, his expression full of contempt. "I'm willing. It's none of your business." "Sarah deserves the best." "My only worry is that it's not enough." His voice was soft, but the weight of his words crushed the room. The chat went nuclear. [SCREAMING. Lucas is so smooth!] [Rich, handsome, ripped, AND sweet? Where do I sign up?] [Comparing them... Liam is so broke and gross. Cheating on her and asking for money back? Ew.] Renna was a C-list actress Liam had bought a career for. She had fans, sure. But mostly paid bots. The livestream was now full of regular people, and once they started talking, Renna’s bots were drowned out. Seeing the tide turn, Liam lashed out at Lucas. "Brother, if you want to marry Sarah, shouldn't you ask Mom and Dad first?" "Deciding a marriage on your own? How are you going to explain this to them?" Lucas frowned slightly. Just then, a commotion came from outside. The soldier next to Lucas announced, "Your mother, father, and Miss Renna have arrived." 3 As soon as the words were out, Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt walked in, Renna trailing behind them. My tiny apartment was so packed there was barely room to stand. I stood in the corner, sighing internally. I figured all this gold and cash would be hauled away in about five minutes. With Renna here, nothing good ever happened for me. She was manipulative. One fake tear from her and Liam would lose his mind. One little pout and the Vanderbilts would throw money at her. The Vanderbilts knew how important this marriage was to me. But letting Liam be with Renna showed they thought the Sterlings were beneath them now. Renna walked up to Liam, tugging at his sleeve. "Liam, Mom and Dad agreed to our wedding." Liam’s face relaxed, and he thanked his parents profusely. Then, he immediately ratted out Lucas. "Mom, Dad, Lucas went AWOL from the border. That’s a violation of protocol." "And now he's offering all this to Sarah to marry her. He has no respect for you. He’s making us a laughingstock on livestream." Mrs. Vanderbilt, a former silver screen icon, glanced at the camera. She frowned. Then, she walked right past Liam. Straight to me. I panicked. She stopped in front of me and took my hands. Her eyes were red, brimming with tears. "Did we scare you, honey?" I shook my head, stunned. Her voice softened. "Sarah, the Vanderbilt family has wronged you. Liam doesn't deserve you." I realized she was giving me an out. I couldn't just accept it. We needed to end this with dignity. But before I could speak, she pulled a golden key from her clutch and pressed it into my palm. She patted my hand. "This is the key to the family vault. Lucas is the eldest, but his duty keeps him away. So, the entire Vanderbilt estate... I leave it to you to manage." [WHAT?! That’s the key to the kingdom!] [She just gave Sarah the financial power of the whole family?] [Does this mean she approves of Lucas and Sarah?] Liam and Renna went pale. Renna looked like she’d been slapped. Liam frowned, anxious. "Mom, what are you doing? Are you seriously letting Lucas marry Sarah?" "And that key... you said it was for Renna. Why give it to her? Renna has been like a daughter to you for twenty years. She’s way more reliable than Sarah." Mrs. Vanderbilt shot a cold look at Liam. "A foster daughter who seduces a man with a fiancée? I clearly failed in raising her. Of all the men in the world, she had to target her own brother." "Even if there's no blood relation, you two are shameless. But the Vanderbilt family still has dignity." "I won't let people say I raised a child bride. I won't let them say we are ungrateful traitors!" "The key belongs to a woman of integrity. Renna is not fit to be the mistress of this house." Renna swayed on her feet. If Liam hadn't caught her, she would have hit the floor. "Mom! How can you say that? She's your favorite!" Mrs. Vanderbilt scoffed. "If I knew she was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, stirring up trouble between brothers, driving a wedge between your father and me, and leading this family to ruin... I would have raised a dog instead." I blinked. I didn't understand the last part. Leading the family to ruin? Liam frowned. "Mom, you're talking nonsense. Renna would never do that." Just then, Mr. Vanderbilt walked up to me. He handed me a contract. "Chairman Vanderbilt, this is..." I looked at him, confused. He smiled kindly. "I know what you've been doing behind the scenes for Liam all these years. Most of the project proposals and business plans under the Group's umbrella were written by you, weren't they? You negotiated those deals. Why didn't you say anything? You let Liam take the credit for being a 'genius CEO' for years." "This is an appointment letter. The Board has appointed you CEO of Vanderbilt Corp. If we had talent like you officially on the payroll, maybe we wouldn't be heading toward a storm in a few years. I made a mistake, mistaking trash for treasure. I hope you can forgive our arrogance." He took a step back. And bowed ninety degrees. 4 I was floored. Liam’s eyes were popping out of his head. But Lucas and Mrs. Vanderbilt looked at the scene like it was the most natural thing in the world. I couldn't let a man of his stature bow to me. I tried to help him up. He refused to rise. "I know we are imposing today, but as Liam's father, I feel deeply apologetic. Please, forgive us." What could I say? Of course I forgave them. He continued, "Since you've forgiven Liam's indiscretion, the alliance between our families still stands. About Lucas’s proposal..." Mr. Vanderbilt looked at me with puppy-dog eyes. Lucas and Mrs. Vanderbilt looked equally hopeful. Only Liam and Renna looked like they wanted to murder me with their minds. I looked at the room full of wealth. I weighed the key and the contract in my hands. Honestly, the sincerity was overwhelming. And... this money could save lives. The kids in the mountain schools were waiting for my answer. I bit my lip and looked at Lucas. "I accept your proposal." A look of pure relief washed over Lucas’s face. Mrs. Vanderbilt and the Chairman cheered involuntarily. "Since Sarah is willing, let's have the wedding soon. Three days. Three days from now is a lucky date," Mrs. Vanderbilt said. I looked at Lucas. "Is three days too soon?" He shook his head. "No. Not soon enough." Me: "..." Liam couldn't take it anymore. "Mom! You know Renna and I are getting married in three days!" Mrs. Vanderbilt glared at him. "You get married, they get married. It doesn't affect each other!" Liam opened his mouth to argue. Renna tugged his shirt frantically, silencing him. That’s when Liam saw the livestream comments. The internet was roasting him and Renna alive while showering Lucas and me with blessings. Furious, he smashed the camera equipment and fled the apartment with Renna.
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