“Send the Poor, Ugly Girl—He’ll Reject Her!” They Laughed… Until the Millionaire Stood Up
Chapter 9
The locker was at the old train station.
Inside was a metal box.
Claire’s hands trembled as she opened it.
There was a letter from her father.
A small key.
And a flash drive.
The letter was addressed to Claire.
She read it silently.
Then again.
Her father apologized.
He explained the deal.
He explained the property.
And then he revealed the secret that changed everything.
The twelve-million-dollar land wasn’t simply valuable.
A major company had discovered rare minerals beneath it.
The property could be worth more than fifty million.
That was why Vanessa’s family had been desperate to take it.
Claire stared.
“Fifty million?”
Adrian nodded.
“Now you understand.”
She read the final page.
There was one sentence:
Don’t let them tell you that your worth depends on what they can buy.
Claire began to cry.
Adrian took the letter from her.
The flash drive contained recordings.
Her father had secretly recorded meetings.
Vanessa’s father.
Adrian’s father.
And finally Vanessa herself.
In the recording, Vanessa discussed the plan.
“Send the poor girl,” she said.
Everyone laughed.
Claire listened.
Then another voice asked:
“What if Adrian likes her?”
Vanessa laughed.
“He won’t. Men like him want beauty.”
Claire closed her eyes.
The old wound returned.
Adrian took her hand.
“Look at me.”
She did.
“I don’t care what she believed.”
He touched her cheek.
“I care what I know.”
“And what do you know?”
“That you’re brave.”
She smiled through tears.
“I’m scared.”
“So am I.”
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Of what?”
“Losing you.”
Her breath caught.
He kissed her forehead.
Then the flash drive revealed something else.
A transfer scheduled for midnight.
Vanessa planned to move the property through a shell company before the court ruling.
They had hours.
Adrian called his lawyers.
But Claire stopped him.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“No?”
“I want to do something myself.”
“What?”
She smiled.
“I want to go to the meeting.”
Adrian immediately shook his head.
“Absolutely not.”
“You said you wouldn’t control me.”
“I also said I’d protect you.”
“I know.”
She stepped closer.
“But this is my family.”
He looked at her.
Finally, he nodded.
“Then I go with you.”
Claire smiled.
“I expected that.”
They drove to the warehouse.
Vanessa was waiting.
She saw Claire.
Then Adrian.
Her smile disappeared.
“You brought him.”
Claire answered:
“No.”
She stepped forward.
“I brought myself.”
