Jasmine's cold words pierced into my ears, shattering my heart into pieces.
I lifted my head to meet her bottomless, piercing gaze.
There was no pity nor remorse.
Of course, I had forgotten.
In her eyes, I was just a man willing to do anything for money.
Back when my mother's company faced its first crisis, everyone said I was only with her to chase the Lowe family's wealth and status.
Now that my family was bankrupt, asking her for money only confirmed their suspicions.
I did not care what the outside world thought, as long as Jasmine understood me.
However, she did not.
Her dislike for me went far deeper than that.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a smile. "Yes, I'm short on money. What else? Did you think I came here just to experience life, Miss Lowe?
"Are you that forgetful, Miss Lowe? Have you already forgotten I came to ask for a loan to keep my company afloat?"
My words cut her.
Her brows knitted instantly, and she put on a mocking smirk.
"Sebastian, you think I'd believe that? How could your mother's company suddenly go bankrupt? Stop this pitiful act. Don't embarrass yourself here!"
Her words hurt more than any blade.
I let out a bitter laugh. "I'm selling my father's only keepsake to save my mother's life. How is that embarrassing? Is it somehow more noble to spend $500,000 to please another man, like you just did?!"
Her face went pale in an instant.
Lionel quickly stepped forward, gently grabbed her arm, and tried to reason with her, "Jasmine, don't be angry. Sebastian must be joking."
He turned to me, putting on a concerned expression. "Sebastian, even if you're short on money, you shouldn't joke about your mother's company like that. Jasmine would take such a matter seriously. If you need something, just ask her directly. You two are a couple, after all."
I looked into his seemingly innocent eyes, feeling the sting of irony.
He knew I was Jasmine's boyfriend, yet he crossed every boundary without a second thought.
Jasmine never pushed him away. It was as though she were blind to his intentions.
I stared coldly at him. "I already told her, but apparently Miss Lowe wasn't listening."
Lionel's face paled. He pressed his lips together, and his eyes reddened.
Jasmine immediately moved in front of him, shielding him. Her gaze toward me grew ice-cold.
"Sebastian, I never imagined you'd become like this. You're so bitter and unreasonable! Lionel was just concerned for you. Why do you have to speak with venom in every word?"
"What do you mean, what I've become?"
Sadness and anger twisted in my chest, threatening to burst through.
"I'm being forced to the edge, having to sell the only keepsake my father left me, while my girlfriend is here, cozying up with another man! Do I not even have the right to question her? In your eyes, Lionel is this perfect, untouchable first love, and I'm just some useless fool who only brings you problems. Isn't that right?!"
"You're being completely unreasonable!" Jasmine was completely enraged by my words.
At that moment, the auctioneer's voice rang out.
"$300,000 once, $300,000 twice. Any higher bids?"
"I'll bid $350,000!" a voice suddenly called.
I turned toward it. It was Miss Zabel from West City, a notorious and wealthy socialite.
She was scanning me up and down with a blatantly provocative gaze.
Jasmine's face darkened further.
I knew she was not interested in the watch. She wanted me.
If I accepted her money, I would be accepting her.
The last shred of hesitation in my heart vanished the moment I saw the glance exchanged between Jasmine and Miss Zabel.
I understood immediately.
This was humiliating to Jasmine.
She wanted to see me humiliated instead, to see me suffer.
The auctioneer shouted excitedly, "$350,000! Miss Zabel bids $350,000! Any higher bids?"
I straightened my spine and said to the auctioneer, "I'll sell it!"
Then, I turned to Jasmine, speaking each word slowly and clearly. "Jasmine, from this moment, we're over."
Before she could react, I turned around and walked away.
Behind me came Jasmine's furious roar.
"Sebastian, how dare you!"
