Chapter 4
As Raelynn walked into the auction hall, she made her way to her seat.
Just as she was lowering herself to sit, a large hand yanked the chair away from behind her.
Unprepared for the sudden move, she crashed to the floor.
A piercing pain radiated through her tailbone, causing her face to go pale.
When she attempted to stand up, a glass of red wine was dumped over her head.
Her dress and makeup were spoiled in an instant, and the once silent auction hall burst into laughter.
She glanced up to find the three Norster brothers looming above her.
Adam’s eyes were intense, his sharp gaze narrowing a bit. “Didn’t you promise to never seek us out again? What hap- pened, can’t resist already?”
Benjamin’s icy expression twisted into a sneer. “I can’t believe I actually thought you were serious about giving up. But then we got wind that the Norster family is hosting a wedding in two weeks. Which one of us did you decide on?”
Charlie’s face darkened, his voice laced with anger. “Regardless of who you picked, let me warn you—this is just a small warning. If you really go through with marrying one of us, your married life will be even more miserable than it
is now.”
As soon as the three finished speaking, the entire room was filled with gasps of shock.
“It’s unfortunate. A young woman from such a prestigious and affluent family facing such embarrassment.”
“All these years, and not one of the three Norster brothers has taken a liking to her. If I were in her shoes, I would have stopped pursuing them ages ago.”
“Exactly. She’s already enduring so much hardship even before marriage. If she goes ahead with it, who knows how difficult her life might become afterward.”
They pointed and whispered, enjoying the scene, though there was a subtle hint of sympathy in the mix.
Raelynn inhaled deeply. After a brief pause, she pulled out some wet wipes from her bag, wiped the sticky red wine from her face and clothes. Then she pulled up a chair and took a seat.
“Let me say this one final time. I’m getting married in two weeks, but the groom is not any of you.”
Adam furrowed his brow. “Aren’t you forming a marriage alliance with the Norster family?”
“Yes,” she answered with composure.
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Chapter 4
Benjamin sneered. “First, you deny it’s us, and then you admit it’s the Norster family. Other than the three of us, who else in the Norster family could marry you? What kind of game are you playing now?”
“Do you honestly believe this will sway us?” Charlie retorted with impatience. “We don’t like you. Our loyalty is solely to Alice. No matter what stunts you try, abandon that fantasy once and for all!”
Raelynn was about to speak when the auction began.
“The charity auction is now starting. Let me introduce the first item up for bid…”
Alice swiftly tugged at the sleeves of the three Norster brothers and gently urged them, “Mr. Adam, Mr. Benjamin, Mr. Charlie, remember that Ms. Margrett has a marriage alliance with the Norster family and will eventually become the rightful Mrs. Norster. You shouldn’t treat her this way.”
“Alice, you’re the one we like. Even if we marry someone else, she’ll just have the title of wife, which doesn’t come close to the place you hold in our hearts.”
The three Norster brothers declared their devotion together.
They even competed against each other to purchase several items that caught Alice’s eye, buying them for her.
Raelynn ignored the commotion around her, silently anticipating the final item to appear on stage.
At last, the watch was presented.
Once the auctioneer announced the starting bid, Raelynn promptly lifted her paddle. She continued to raise it, incre- menting the bid repeatedly, attracting the attention of the three Norster brothers.
The watch, called “Devotion,” was intended, barring any surprises, to be purchased by Raelynn as a gift for them.
How ridiculous.
Despite knowing they didn’t like her, she continued to go out of her way to please them.
Ultimately, Raelynn managed to get the watch.
As she held the watch, which felt solid and weighty in her hands, she couldn’t stop picturing how Joshua would ap- pear with it on his wrist.
As the auction was wrapping up, Raelynn was ready to leave, having successfully won her bid. Just then, she heard Alice speak, her face pale and her voice faint, “Mr. Adam, Mr. Benjamin, Mr. Charlie, my stomach hurts all of a sud- den. It might be my period. Could you… Get me that?”
Upon hearing this, the three men immediately showed serious and urgent expressions. They exchanged a quick glance and swiftly divided the tasks among themselves.
One went to buy sanitary products, another headed to the nearest pharmacy, and the third called their private doctor.
