He Sent Me To Marry Another, Then He Regretted

Chapter 3 Public Humiliation

I quietly started packing my bags.

Once I finished this last thing for Hilbert, the debt I owed him for taking me out of the orphanage would finally be repaid.

After that, we'd owe each other nothing.

For these last few days, all I wanted was peace. But Mandy clearly had no intention of letting me off that easily.

"Go make me some coffee. Hand ground beans, cream, no sugar. I need every dress in this suitcase steamed, and scrub the grout on my bathroom floor while you're at it."

She found new ways to order me around every single day, treating me like a live-in maid.

Burns covered my hands from the steam iron. My knees turned purple and bruised from kneeling on the floor for hours.

Hilbert saw all of it.

Every time Mandy humiliated me, he'd come find me afterward in private.

Holding my hands gently, he'd comfort me in that soft voice I used to love. "Just hang in there a little longer. Once this is over, I'll make it up to you."

That was always his way. He let Mandy hurt me, then turned around and gave me just enough tenderness to keep me obedient. Enough to make me willing to stay and be used.

Little by little, I became more disappointed in him.

Maybe out of guilt, Hilbert took me to an auction a few days later.

"See anything you like, just tell me. I'll buy it for you." Smiling, he reached out to touch my face.

I stepped away from him instinctively. "Thanks," I answered coldly.

Everyone at the auction knew each other. And everyone knew about the messy situation between the three of us.

The moment Hilbert and I walked in together, people started staring.

"Hilbert, where's Miss Hayes today?"

A man walked over to greet him, but his eyes kept drifting toward me.

Hilbert smiled casually. "Mandy's not feeling well. She's resting at home."

The people around us exchanged knowing looks and smirked.

"Looks like Mr. Ford is still living the dream, huh? Beautiful women everywhere."

I lowered my head immediately. I could hear the mockery beneath their words, and it made my skin crawl.

Then suddenly, the doors to the auction hall slammed open.

Mandy stormed in wearing a tight red dress, fury written all over her face.

The second she saw Hilbert holding my hand, her whole body shook with rage.

"Hilbert!" she screamed as she rushed toward us. "You said you had business at the office. This is what you meant? Taking this b***h to an auction?!"

The entire room instantly fell silent. Every eye turned toward us as whispers and laughter spread through the crowd.

"I knew it. No way Hilbert would actually let Vicky go."

"Damn, this is getting good."

Hilbert stood up quickly. "Mandy, I can explain..."

"Explain what?!"

Grinding her teeth, Mandy turned and slapped me.

The sharp c***k echoed through the silent hall.

My head snapped to the side as burning pain exploded across my cheek.

"I seriously underestimated you. Guess this unwanted orphan actually does know how to seduce men." She pointed at me mockingly.

Hilbert grabbed her arm immediately. "Mandy, stop. Everyone's watching."

"I don't care!" she shouted, shaking him off. "Make this b***h kneel and apologize to me right now."

I stared at her in disbelief. "Why should I?"

I hadn't done anything wrong. Why was everything always my fault?

My eyes turned red as I looked toward Hilbert instinctively.

He frowned, his gaze shifting between Mandy and me.

The crowd waited silently, eager to see who he'd choose.

Second after second passed. Finally, Hilbert looked away from me first.

"Vicky... just apologize."

The tears I'd been holding back finally spilled over. It felt like someone had stabbed a knife straight into my chest and twisted it until nothing inside me was left intact.

"Fine..."

In front of everyone, I slowly dropped to my knees.

At that exact moment, every feeling I had for Hilbert disappeared completely.

"I'm sorry, Miss Hayes. I shouldn't have tried to seduce Hilbert."

My lips trembled as I forced out every word.

Only then did Mandy finally smile in satisfaction. Looping her arm around Hilbert's, she said lightly, "That's more like it. Let's go."

I stayed kneeling there silently until everyone had left. Only then did I slowly stand up.

Wiping the tears from my face, I regretted meeting Hilbert for the very first time.

I regretted looking up that afternoon five years ago in the corner of the orphanage and locking eyes with him.