Chapter 1

After getting back together, Ashton Blackwood spent one hundred million to buy his first love’s virginity.

When I went to confront him, I found them tangled together, naked, in our marital bedroom.

Right in front of me, Ashton calmly dressed Vivian, whose skin was still marked with traces of their intimacy, his movements gentle—almost tender.

He said, “Be understanding and gracious. Vivian once saved my life. I still can’t forget her.”

He was certain that, this time too, I—Seraphina—would swallow my pride and endure it.

But faced with Vivian’s taunting smile, I was tired.

I took out the divorce agreement.

“Let’s get divorced. I really don’t want you anymore.”

Seraphina's POV

I dated Ashton for four years. The moment I discovered his affair, I didn't hesitate to break up with him.

The first day after our breakup fight, Ashton knelt outside my apartment building for a full day and night, trying to win me back. I ignored him completely.

A week after the breakup, Ashton learned to bake my favorite strawberry mousse himself. I fed it to the dog without even looking at it.

A month after the breakup, Ashton bid on my favorite antique piano at auction. I donated it to a children's home on the spot.

After that, Ashton publicly announced that he was transferring all his shares to my name. If he ever wronged me again, he'd be left with nothing.

After a whole year of going back and forth, I was moved. I agreed to get back together with him.

On our wedding day, Ashton rented every billboard in the city, displaying our photos on rotation, announcing our wedding of the century in the most high-profile way.

He kissed me under the fireworks.

"Everything I have is yours now, Seraphina. You're my everything. From now on, I'll never let you go."

In that moment, I truly believed he would love me like his own life and never betray me again.

Until that charity gala night. Ashton brought me to the event, but during the auction segment, he saw a girl in a white dress with a pale face.

She was brought on stage by the host as a "special auction item." Dinner with the highest bidder.

With just one glance, Ashton's expression changed completely.

"Ten million."

"Twenty million."

"Fifty million."

The gavel rose and fell.

Ashton's bids grew more frantic each time, every raise of his paddle carrying absolute determination.

The numbers climbed to absurd heights. Even the auctioneer started sweating.

"One hundred million! Sold!"

The final strike of the gavel. Ashton won the "dinner rights" at an astronomical price.

The entire venue erupted.

Before the applause even stopped, Ashton was already striding onto the stage. Under everyone's gaze, he took off his suit jacket and draped it over the girl's trembling shoulders.

"Mr. Blackwood?"

The gala host approached in surprise.

Ashton ignored him. He grabbed the girl's wrist, his voice low.

"What are you doing here? Do you know what this so-called dinner right actually means?"

"I..."

Tears instantly welled up in the girl's eyes. She looked pitiful.

"I need money. They said if someone was willing to bid on my dinner rights, I'd get one-tenth of the auction price. My mom is sick and hospitalized. I need a lot of money. I had no choice..."

Ashton's thumb gently wiped away her tears, the gesture painfully tender.

"How much do you need?"

The girl named a figure.

Without a word, Ashton signed a check and handed it to her.

The gala host, reading the room well, immediately stepped forward to smooth things over.

"Mr. Blackwood, what is your relationship with this young lady...?"

"She's the daughter of an old friend."

Ashton said, his gaze never leaving the girl.

"Her father saved my life."

I stood frozen in place, nearly crushing the pearl clutch in my hands.

I recognized her, of course.

A year ago, I broke up with Ashton because of her.

Under the host's subtly changed expression, Ashton finally looked at me.

"Seraphina, don't misunderstand."

He quickly turned and came down from the stage to my side.

"Her father died saving me years ago. Now her mother is sick and hospitalized and needs money. I can't let her go down the wrong path for money. You know what this dinner right really means."

Those words were like a key, unlocking the floodgates of my memory.

A year ago, when I discovered those intimate text messages on Ashton's phone, he said the same thing.

"Seraphina, let me explain. Her father died saving me. I'm only taking care of her to repay that debt."

But later, when I caught them in bed together, he had another righteous explanation.

"Seraphina, listen to me. I was drugged last night. I thought she was you."

And now, hearing his excuses that barely differed from a year ago, I couldn't help but laugh.

"A year ago, you took care of her in every way, saying it was to repay a debt. Later, when you were in bed together, you said you'd been drugged and mistook her for me. Now you've spent a hundred million on dinner rights with her, saying you don't want her to go down the wrong path for money."

My heart felt like it was being carved with a knife, my voice trembling.

"Ashton, how many more reasons and excuses do you have?"

Ashton hadn't expected me to question him publicly. His face immediately darkened.

"Seraphina, that's enough. Don't make a scene here."

"A scene?"

I laughed.

"Ashton, am I the one making a scene?"

Behind him, the girl timidly tugged at his sleeve, her voice barely a whisper.

"Mr. Blackwood, please don't fight with Ms. Hart because of me..."

Ashton stepped forward, shielding her behind him, his gaze falling on me.

"We'll talk about this at home."

I watched him protect another woman and found the whole situation absurdly laughable.

"Ashton, do you remember what you said to me before?"

He said he would cut all ties with this girl. He would never wrong me for another woman again.

Ashton's expression flickered. He was about to speak when I turned and left.

"Seraphina!"

He called after me.

I didn't look back, just walked quickly away from this suffocating gala.

Ashton instinctively moved to chase after me, but the girl gently held him back.

"Mr. Blackwood, Ms. Hart seems really angry... It's all my fault..."

He paused mid-step, turning back to look at her.