Chapter 3
1045words
She was trying to salvage the situation.
But I wasn't about to let her off the hook.
I stepped out from behind Luke, clutching the signed contract like a weapon.
“This is no joke, Melissa.” I raised my chin, meeting the room's collective gaze. “As of today, Luke Shaw is legally my husband. According to my mother's will, the 10% stake in Sullivan Group is now under my full control.” I turned to William's ashen face and Sophie's shocked expression. “As for my engagement to William Jones—I hereby officially declare it null and void. Mr. Jones, Miss Sullivan—I wish you both a lifetime of happiness together. You deserve each other.”
With that, I grabbed Luke's hand and turned to leave.
His hand felt cool but dry in mine, callused in a way that somehow felt reassuring.
“Stop right there!” Melissa's voice cracked like a whip. “Eve Sullivan! Walk out that door with this man, and you'll never set foot in the Sullivan home again! And don't expect another cent for your mother's treatment!”
I froze mid-step.
My mother—my one remaining vulnerability.
I gripped Luke's hand tighter, my body beginning to tremble.
Just then, his hand turned in mine and wrapped around my fingers—gentle yet firm.
A steady strength flowed from his grip into my very core.
“The medical expenses,” he asked quietly. “How much?”
I blinked in surprise, answering automatically: “Five million for the initial treatment.”
An impossible sum for me to produce.
The room erupted with barely suppressed snickers.
“Why even ask when you can't possibly afford it?”
“Five million? That's rich! Does a waiter even make five grand a month?”
“You couldn't raise that much if you sold him on the black market!”
Sophie's laughter rang out. “Oh, sis! Five million! Ask your 'husband' if he's ever even seen that much money! Hell, you probably couldn't scrape together fifty grand right now!”
Through all the mockery, Luke's expression remained perfectly composed.
He simply turned to me, his dark eyes reflecting my pale, strained face.
“Is that enough?” he asked.
“What?” I didn't understand.
“Is five million enough?” he repeated, as casually as if discussing lunch options. “If not, would ten million cover it?”
My brain short-circuited.
I stared at him—at his handsome, impassive face and those emotionless eyes—wondering if he'd lost his mind along with me.
“Hahaha!” William doubled over laughing, pointing at Luke. “You? Ten million? What are you planning to sell—your blood or your kidneys?”
“William!” I stepped in front of Luke protectively. “Don't you dare insult him!”
“I insulted him?” William wiped tears of mirth from his eyes, his face twisted with contempt. “Wake up, Eve! Do you think love pays the bills? You think some pretty-boy bartender will solve your problems? Without money, you're nothing! And your mother? She can just die waiting!”
“Shut up!” I raised my hand to slap him, shaking with rage.
But a stronger hand caught my wrist mid-swing.
Luke.
He pulled me behind him protectively, then reached into his pocket.
He pulled out an ancient black flip phone—the kind nobody had used in a decade, looking absurdly out of place in this opulent setting.
Everyone stared at him like he was certifiably insane.
They watched as he calmly flipped open the antique device, its screen casting a feeble blue glow. His fingers tapped a few buttons before he raised it to his ear.
The call connected.
“It's me.” His voice remained cool but now carried an unmistakable note of authority. “Transfer ten million. To my wife's account.”
The way he said “my wife” sounded so natural, as if we'd been married for years.
My heart skipped a beat.
I couldn't hear the response.
Luke's brows furrowed slightly. “None available? Then use any of my personal accounts. Five minutes. I want confirmation within five minutes.”
With that, he snapped the phone shut and slipped it back into his pocket.
He turned to the stunned crowd and announced with the finality of a judge:
“Five minutes.”
The room fell into an eerie silence.
Everyone stared at him as if he belonged in an asylum.
Sophie and William were doubled over with laughter.
“Keep it up! This is hilarious!” William jabbed his finger at Luke. “Ten million in five minutes? Why not claim you can summon the National Guard while you're at it? I'll stand right here and wait. Let's see who'd transfer that kind of money to a broke nobody like you!”
Melissa crossed her arms with a smirk, settling in for the entertainment.
Seconds ticked by agonizingly slowly.
Each one felt like torture.
I stood beside Luke, my palms slick with cold sweat.
I had no idea what game he was playing. Was he trying to save my dignity? This transparent bluff would only make us both bigger laughingstocks.
My heart sank with each passing moment. I was already planning our escape route for when this charade inevitably collapsed.
I was prepared to face complete humiliation—to lose everything.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Three minutes.
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense. The laughter faded as everyone held their breath, waiting for the punchline.
Four minutes.
William's smile grew smugger by the second. He glanced theatrically at his Patek Philippe. “Oh my! Just one minute left! Where's my ten million? I'm simply dying of anticipation!”
My nails dug crescents into my palms.
And then—
Ding!
A crisp notification sound shattered the silence.
From my phone.
I froze.
With trembling fingers, I pulled my phone from my purse.
On the screen was a bank notification.
[Dear Ms. Sullivan, your account ending in 4872 has received a deposit of $10,000,000.00. Current balance: $10,000,345.21]
Ten million dollars.
I stared at that string of zeros, my vision blurring, my mind blank with shock.
How was this possible?
How could this possibly be real?
I jerked my head up to stare at the stranger beside me.
He met my gaze calmly, as if this extraordinary event was perfectly ordinary.
The room fell deathly silent.
Every face in the room was frozen in shock.
