I Dropped The Bidder To Keep My Empire Chapter 03
Lucas Roth and Grant Carver walked over.
“What happened?”
Lucas glanced at my swollen knee, his eyes cold.
“What’s the play this time, Vance? Trying to make Derek stay with that injury?”
Grant had his hands in his pockets. “Sierra, you pulled this stunt three years ago. Aren’t you tired of it yet?”
“Did you calculate the exact arc of your injury in that little notebook of yours?”
Lucas pressed his fingers against his brow. “Sierra, you’ve already pushed Ashley into a corner. All she wanted today was one tiara. Did you really have to hurt yourself in front of everyone?”
“If you just need to save face,” he said, his voice flat, “fine. I’ll dance the next one with you. That should get you off the hook, right?”
I pushed through the pain and stood up. I shoved past them.
“Move.”
“Sierra!”
Lucas lost his patience. He grabbed my arm. “You think you’d be where you are today if we hadn’t taken pity on you and helped you get a leg up?”
I fought to break free from his grip.
Then he yanked hard—
Crack.
My left shoulder popped out of its socket.
The pain of bone grinding against bone stole my voice.
Lucas’s hand froze in midair.
He stared at my limp arm, his voice still cold. “You’re going against me just to steal Derek?”
I clenched my jaw, my right hand gripping my dislocated shoulder.
Sweat dripped down my cheek onto my expensive gown.
Grant smirked. “Quit the act.”
“Who do you think you are, Sierra? You’re the real heiress who grew up on the streets. A little injury like this is nothing. Don’t expect us to feel sorry for you.”
My face was drenched in cold sweat, but I smiled at him.
“You’re right. I grew up tough. It doesn’t hurt.”
I let go of my right hand. My left arm hung at a grotesque angle, like a dead branch.
The smile finally disappeared from Grant’s face. He turned his head away. He couldn’t look at my shoulder.
Lucas’s voice shook a little. “I’ll go get the private physician.”
“No.” I stood as steady as I could. “If word gets out, Vance family stock will drop.”
“You’re insane!” Rage burned in Lucas’s eyes. “You’re always calculating. Always strategizing for your precious Vance family ‘big picture.’”
“Remember when Ashley had that allergic reaction? Her face swelled up like a balloon. But you were too busy negotiating with a supplier to care. You locked her in a storage closet just to protect your perfect record!”
He was breathing hard. “You don’t have a heart. All you care about is what you get out of it.”
He turned and walked away. The others followed.
Grant shook his head and laughed coldly. “Sierra, you’re just gambling that Derek will feel sorry for you, aren’t you? Even if you cripple yourself, he’s not coming back.”
I didn’t answer. I limped toward the end of the hallway.
Wind poured through the window.
I leaned against the cold wall. Waves of pain shot through my left shoulder.
But I didn’t let go.
It was time to kill every last hope I had left.
…
One in the morning. I got back to Vance Estate.
My father, Harrison Vance, sat in the dark study. The tip of his cigarette glowed on and off.
“I know everything that happened tonight.” He stubbed out the cigarette. “Derek can’t protect your position.”
I stood in the darkness. I didn’t say anything.
“Your grandfather will see the briefing tomorrow. You don’t have three days to wait on this marriage.”
“I already did what you wanted,” I said, my voice raw. “I dumped Derek. What more do you want?”
He looked up, his eyes hard. “I want to see you marry someone ‘suitable.’”
“Three days. Before your grandfather gets back. I want that engagement locked in.”