Chapter 1

My boyfriend came from a poor family. From his third year of university to his master's degree, I lived a frugal life and worked part-time jobs just to support his studies until he could provide for me. It was not until I overheard his conversation with his friends while I was doing my part-time job as a cleaner at a bar that I discovered he was the son of the Blakes. The only reason he dated me was that he lost in a game of truth or dare. He would spend a fortune on his dream woman but never a single cent on me. To him, I was just his tool for entertainment and to test human nature. That man dated me for five years just because the rules of the game didn't allow him to break up with me. When I found out the truth, I decided to break up with him. I brainwashed myself into thinking I had been providing for an orphan for the past five years. However, he kept pestering me, begging, "I'm sorry, Serena Ashford. Please come back…" … It was 1:30 am by the time I ended my shift at the milkshake shop, so I rushed to the bar in the pouring rain. Casting me a look of disdain, the manager scolded, "Why are you late again? You were late so many times this month. Do you still want this job? If you don't, get lost." I could only hang my head low and apologize, "I'm sorry. It won't happen again." The manager gave me an earful before instructing coldly, "Clean Room 6. Don't mess up. The customers there are a group of rich kids." I quickly nodded and changed into the cleaner's uniform, feeling a little dizzy. To pay for my boyfriend's education, I had to work up to seven part-time jobs. Whenever I was hungry, I would fill my stomach with buns and plain water. I barely had the energy to go through a day. When that happened, I would think of the oatmeal he prepared and how he'd hold my hand with a sorry look while saying, "Serena, I'll provide for you once I'm rich." Thanks to that, I would regain my strength. I really wanted to have a home with him. Thus, I believed all the hard work would be worth it. Moreover, it was his birthday the day before, and I had bought him a pair of limited-edition shoes. If not for the part-time jobs, we would have trouble paying rent. By the time I snapped out of my thoughts, I was already standing in front of Room 6. Voices rang out in the room. "Julian, haven't you sorted things out with that broke woman? Didn't we agree you'd just mess around with her if you lost the game?" I stopped in my tracks, wondering if the name was just a coincidence. Just then, I heard a familiar voice say, "What can I do?" The same man laughed and continued, "That broke woman will never ask for a breakup. She keeps talking about working part-time jobs to provide for me. If she still doesn't ask to break up next month, I'll have no choice but to make up lies like having a million-dollar debt." Someone laughed and joked, "If she likes you so much, maybe she might even be willing to repay your debt." I stopped breathing, thinking I had mistaken someone's voice for Julian's. I refused to believe my ears. In fact, I hoped the name and voice were only a coincidence. It was true that Julian had asked me for a large sum of money, but it was only because he was going abroad for training. There was no way he was lying. The part about the game also confused me. If that were true, it meant he only dated me because of an absurd game. Immediately after that, Julian's friend said something that shattered my delusion. "By the way, Serena's quite pretty. She's got big boobs and smooth and fair skin. Maybe she sells herself to make money for you." The people inside burst out laughing. "Julian, have you ever had sex with her?" Julian snickered, saying, "I'm only playing with her. Why should I have sex with her? I'm not interested." Someone clicked their tongue. "She's quite a beauty. Aren't you the least bit tempted?" Julian replied mockingly, "So what? I'm too good for her." Chuckling, his friends agreed, "It's true. It'd be hilarious if a son of the Blakes married a broke woman." My mouth fell open, shocked by the information I had just learned. Julian was a son of the Blakes. I knew the Blakes—they were a prestigious family in Grandview. So, my poor boyfriend who was still studying was born with a silver spoon. For the past five years, I worked multiple part-time jobs and lived frugally just to support his education. I did all that so he could study peacefully. However, he was simply taking advantage of my hard work and sincerity. I wondered if I was such a cheap person in his eyes. I balled my hand into a fist and was about to storm in to question Julian when a woman approached and eyed me suspiciously. "Are you here to clean the room? Why aren't you going in?" The people inside finally realized there were others standing by the door. Julian lifted his head and cast me a piercing gaze. Failing to recognize me because of my mask, Julian strode to the woman and said, "Elena, you made it." His expression held a warmth and politeness I had never seen before. He was also wearing the pair of sneakers I bought him using the money I had saved for two months. "Was it cold out there? I was worried you wouldn't have time to eat, so I went to West Street and bought some mushroom soup for you. Here, have some." The woman smiled at him, saying, "Thank you, Julian." That was when I noticed the gigantic birthday cake and balloons in the room. There were even expensive bottles of wine and presents on the table. Indeed, the setting was more befitting of a son from a rich family. It was a stark comparison to the simple meals I had. My hand that held the broom trembled. I wanted to call out his name, but I felt ashamed for some reason. All I could do was hang my head low and sweep up the broken wine bottles. Julian barely spared me another glance. He brought the woman to the couch, announcing, "Elena, this is for you." Carefully, he took out a small box that contained a star-shaped pink diamond necklace. "Do you like it? I got this custom-made." His friends teased, "Whose birthday is it, really? Why are you the one giving gifts?" The woman lowered her head shyly. "I like it." As Julian carefully put on the necklace for her, she took out the present that she brought. "I bought you the limited-edition shoes you like that have the signature. Do you want to put them on?" With that, she eyed the pair of shoes he wore and teased, "Why are you wearing such a cheap pair of shoes today?" Julian tensed. Without hesitation, he threw the shoes I bought him into the trash can and put on the limited-edition shoes. "I just picked a random pair." My heart sank instantly. To him, the shoes I gave him were cheap. But to me, they were the fruits of my labor. I worked late nights at a barbecue restaurant, washing dishes with ice-cold water. I even put on heavy mascot costumes and gave out flyers under the hot sun. That money came from working long hours and getting only four hours of sleep every night. In the past, I thought he loved me as much as I loved him. We were surely going to build a wonderful family together. When I stared at the pair of shoes in the trash can, I could not help but think what a joke I was. Just then, I heard someone discussing softly, "Mr. Blake's really generous. If I'm not mistaken, that necklace costs more than a million dollars." "She's his dream woman, after all. Mr. Blake has been pursuing Elena for ten years. He's in a rush to get rid of that broke woman because Elena has returned—" "Hush. Don't let Elena find out about this." Their comments were like cold daggers that stabbed repeatedly at my heart. Not only did Julian not love me, but he was also willing to spend more than a million dollars on a necklace for another woman. In my case, even a bowl of oatmeal or a hair accessory that cost less than ten dollars was like a blessing. They were the male and female leads in the main story while I was just a side character who slipped into his life. I didn't even have the courage to reprimand him. I hung my head low, suppressing the suffocating feeling as I finished cleaning the room. I wanted to leave as I couldn't bear staying here for even another second. To my surprise, Elena suddenly said, "Julian, I really want to have the milkshake from the next street, but it's raining heavily out there." "Silly. There'll be people willing to do it for you as long as you pay them." Frowning, Julian scanned the room until his gaze finally fell on me. I was exiting the room when he stopped me and passed me a wad of cash. "Go get a milkshake for me. This is your tip."