He Said It Was A Joke And I Made Sure It Cost Him Everything Chapter 01

He Said It Was A Joke And I Made Sure It Cost Him Everything Chapter 01

On the day of the bidding war, Sienna Blair, who was practically Jackson Cole’s sister, said, “I’ve known Isabella forever, and I’ve never once seen her embarrass herself.”

Just because of that, Jackson, my fiancé, got so amused that he changed his company’s bid from six hundred million to six million.

“Jackson told me you’re practically damaged goods at this point. A clearance price is all you’re worth.”

“Your family’s project is just like you. Ninety-nine percent off. Six million is generous.”

The whole room burst into laughter.

Jackson barely glanced at me. “Sienna just likes to joke. Don’t take it personally. We’re getting married, so let’s keep it in the family. You’re just giving her a little laugh ahead of time.”

He added, “I’ll change the bid back in a minute. It’s not like I’d actually let your family lose money.”

Suddenly, none of it mattered. I looked back at him, calm. “Don’t bother.”

Then I walked straight to the man who had been listening in the corner.

“I’ll add another million. Seven total. The project is yours. Deal?”

***

Everyone in high society knew the bidding was just a formality. As the sole heir to Hartwood Capital, everyone expected me to hand the win to my fiancé as a courtesy.

So when I spoke, the room went dead silent.

The man in the corner barely paused. “Deal.”

Jackson was the first to snap back to reality. “Isabella, have you lost your mind?”

“Do you hear yourself? That land in Westbrook is worth over six hundred million. You’re selling it for seven million?”

So he did know. He knew the land was worth far more than six hundred million.

My father had won the government bid five years ago. Since then, the market value had risen over thirty percent.

He was only offering it at the original price to Jackson as a favor because of our engagement.

Jackson didn’t even bother to thank us. Instead, he stood by while the whole city watched him humiliate my family.

Thinking about it now, any last warmth I had for him vanished.

I laughed coldly. “You wanted to make your precious Sienna happy, right? Well, she got her wish. I just sold a massive piece of land for next to nothing.”

“She looks thrilled. So why are you upset?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sienna shaking with laughter. “I only wanted to embarrass her a little. I didn’t expect her to blow up her whole life.”

Jackson’s face went dark. “Isabella! Stop being so sarcastic. I told you I was going to change the bid back.”

“You know how Sienna is. She’s just blunt. She didn’t mean anything by it.”

He was trying to hold back his anger. “Look, it was a joke. Sienna and I were just having fun. Can you stop making a scene?”

“A scene?” I frowned. “I am the sole heir of Hartwood Capital. What makes you think a public promise from me is a joke?”

Jackson’s brows locked together. “You’re serious?”

Before I could answer, the murmurs spread through the crowd.

“Jackson really messed up this time. He was so cocky, and now his own girlfriend just shot him down.”

“If he doesn’t get that land, how’s he going to explain this to his family?”

Jackson clenched his fists, his face burning red.

Then he laughed at me. “Cole Enterprises won’t collapse without that land. We’ll just stay where we are. But you? You need this money to keep your company afloat.”

“You’d burn your own family’s future just to save face? You’re going to bankrupt the Hartwoods over a tantrum?”

Everyone finally understood. After a moment of shock, they turned on me. “Wait, the Hartwoods are in trouble? If that’s true, Isabella is being reckless just to protect her pride.”

“What a way to repay her parents. If they can’t pay for their next project, they’ll be bankrupt in weeks.”

“Her parents must be wishing they had a second child right about now.”

People whispered, mocked, and watched with glee.

The man in the corner looked at the crowd, then directly at me. “You can still back out.”

I steadied myself and shook my head.

Jackson stared in disbelief, his voice full of anger. “You’d really do this? Making a point is one thing. But this kind of stupidity has real consequences.”

I looked at him coldly and said nothing.

“Fine,” he said, laughing without humor. “Let’s see you explain this one.”