Chapter 4

The phone rang for a long time before someone picked up. David's voice came through, "Who is this?"

"David," I begged him through my tears, "Please, can you help clear this up? The video online is fake. I'm not a mistress, I'm not a slut. Those people are driving me to my death. Please ask Emily to delete the video."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end.

Then came the sound of a lighter flicking as he lit a cigarette. David said casually, "Bella, it's not that I don't want to help you. But you did upset Emily first. She's angry and needs to let it out, right? You know she's not in good health—she can't handle being upset."

"She can't handle being upset, so I deserve to die?!" I screamed.

"Don't talk about dying. It's bad luck," David's tone became impatient, "How about this—I'll transfer 5 million dollars to your account as compensation for this period. Take the money and go abroad for a while. Come back when things blow over. Emily's still angry, so it's not a good time for me to step in and help you."

"5 million dollars..." I laughed bitterly.

In his eyes, my dignity as a person, my career, my entire life—all worth just 5 million dollars.

Of course. I was the "practice girlfriend" he bought with money. Since it was a transaction, naturally everything could be measured in money.

"David," I wiped away my tears, my voice suddenly becoming strangely calm, "Since you love her so much, let me give you two a wedding gift."

"What?" He seemed confused.

"I hope you two—bitch and bastard—stay together forever."

I hung up and blocked all of David's contact information.

I pulled out the SIM card, snapped it in half, and flushed it down the toilet.

I sat in the darkness, looking out at the bright nightscape of the capital city.

This city was huge, but there was no room for a Bella with no background.

But it had room for the daughter of the Brown family.

I pulled out a satellite phone I'd never used before and dialed a number I knew by heart.

The phone was answered after just one ring. My mother Dahlia Brown's anxious, tearful voice came through, "Bella? Is that you? Bella, are you done having your fun out there?"

I closed my eyes as tears rolled down my cheeks, "Mom, I'm done. I want to come home. And about that arranged marriage with the Smith family you mentioned last time—I agree."

Dahlia sounded overjoyed, "Really? I'm so glad you've come around! Your father will be thrilled to know you're willing to come back and take over the family business! As for the marriage, the Smith family's candidate may be a bit older and has some trouble with his legs, but he's a good man with real power—ten thousand times better than those good-for-nothing heirs! The Smith family said that as long as you're willing to marry him, 30% of Smith Corporation shares will be your wedding gift!"

I looked at myself in the mirror—haggard but with cold eyes—and slowly smiled, "Fine, I'll marry him. Please arrange for a helicopter to pick me up. I'm in New York right now."