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."

Chapter 2

It was a thick wad of cash. At a glance, there was probably around two thousand dollars.

I gripped the broom, my fingernails digging into my flesh. It was generous of him to offer so much money to get someone to buy a cup of milkshake.

If I was not mistaken, there were even blood stains on the top few notes. That was the money I left for him before going out last night.

In fact, it was my salary from the barbecue restaurant. Before getting my salary, I accidentally cut my hand on a beer bottle and bled all over the floor. My wound was still bleeding when I took the money, so some notes were stained.

In order not to let Julian worry, I simply wrapped up my wound with a bandage and put on a glove before going home.

Julian didn't notice it. As soon as our dinner to celebrate his birthday was over, he indirectly informed me he had run out of his living expenses.

I never expected him to offer me that same bundle of money to buy a milkshake for his "girlfriend".

I wondered what that made me if Elena was his girlfriend. Suddenly, I had an epiphany. I was his amusement.

The thought of that sent pangs of pain into my heart. Nonetheless, I quietly took the money from him and turned around to leave.

It was pouring outside, but I didn't bother using an umbrella. There was no point using one in the heavy rain.

By the time I returned to the private room with the milkshake, I was pathetically drenched.

Placing the cup on the table, I informed hoarsely, "Here's your milkshake." Stunned, Julian looked at me suspiciously, though he was still unsure if it was really me.

However, his dream woman frowned at the milkshake that had been drenched in rainwater. "I don't want it anymore—it's all melted and dirty."

Snapping out of it, Julian said, "You don't need to drink it, then." He threw the milkshake into the trash can and looked at me indifferently with a dismissive wave. "You may leave."

I gave him one last look before leaving the room. Since I was drenched, I was feeling light-headed by the time I finished cleaning the other rooms.

At 4:00 am, I got off work. It had stopped raining, but the wind was sharp and biting.

I dragged my feet out of the bar, wanting to go home while suppressing the dizziness. I was going to sort things out with Julian and give him the breakup he wanted.

Halfway home, my head felt dizzier, and my vision grew blurrier. Suddenly, a honk sounded.

All I saw was a car coming my way. I subconsciously moved backward, but I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my ankle and fell. The dizziness grew more intense. Too weak to stand, I watched the driver walk to me before losing consciousness.

…

"The patient's leg is fine. She has a high fever and is severely hypoglycemic. It's probably caused by malnutrition," someone said softly.

"Okay. Thank you, doctor," answered a deep voice that sounded familiar. However, I could not recall where I had heard it before.

As I tried to open my eyes, I felt a cold but large hand touch my forehead. The person's sleeve had a mellow, woody scent that was rather soothing.

Suddenly, the person froze and retracted the hand. At the same time, I opened my eyes.

When I saw who the person was, my mind blanked instantly. It was Alex Hastings. Seeing him here surprised me.

The Alex I knew was a handsome, indifferent person who always wore a white shirt. After not seeing him for many years, he had become more mature.

He looked respectable and elegant in his black suit and had a pair of glasses sitting on his nose bridge. His facial features had not changed much, still as delicate as ever. He looked like a sculpture in a museum.

However, he exuded a more oppressive air now. For some reason, I felt suffocated just seeing him sit by my bed and looking at me.

I opened my mouth and forced out a greeting, "Mr. Hastings…"

Staring coldly at me from a higher point, he questioned, "You're not going to address me as Al anymore?"

I didn't want to call him by his nickname although we were step-siblings. In fact, he should not want me to do that either.

When I was younger, my mother was the Hastings family's nanny. When she first introduced him to me, she said he was the Hastings family's youngest son and I was not to disturb him.

Thus, I did as told and watched him play the piano, paint, and read books I did not understand. I even addressed him as "Mr. Hastings".

Back then, Alex was kind and gentle. He would pat my head, saying, "Don't call me that. You can call me Al."

Even though I was the daughter of his nanny, he treated me well. He taught me how to play the piano and how to do my homework. He even brought me around to play and secretly got me sweets.

As a young girl, I naturally had delusional dreams about him. Yet I was aware of the differences between us.

Even the Blakes were not as respectable as the Hastings family, who monopolized all the industries and real estate in Grandview.

The Hastings family was extensively involved in internet-related projects and e-commerce. As the only son of the family, Alex was like a prince.

Back then, I hated my family background. I hated my father, who was a gambler. If I had been born to a rich family, perhaps I would've been qualified to fall in love with Alex.

To my surprise, my wish came true—sort of.

When Alex's father was drunk during one of the banquets, my mother slipped into his room. Just like that, she became his new wife.

Unfortunately, Alex never let me address him by his name from then on. All that was left in his gaze for me was indifference and disgust.

From that moment on, he became my step-brother. The last thing he said to me before that was "Do you also want to get to the top by approaching me?"

From then on, I moved out of the Hastings residence and made a living on my own.

At first, my mother would give me money. As time passed, she forgot the fact that she had a daughter and poured all her time and heart into winning the Hastings family's favor.

That was why I worked so hard for the sake of Julian's promise—I desperately wanted a home.

Recollecting my thoughts, I met Alex's icy gaze and replied politely, "Mr. Hastings, I'm just the daughter of a nanny. It's not appropriate for me to address you by your name."

Alex eyed me, his gaze incomprehensible. After some time, he said plainly, "It's been so many years. You're still angry about it?"

Turning my head away, I uttered, "I'm not angry. You still haven't told me why you're here."

Alex leaned against the chair and stroked the armrest. "When you fainted on the street, a passerby found your mother's number on your phone. She isn't in Grandview now, so she asked me to come."

I lowered my gaze, surprised by how he was willing to come despite his hatred for me.

Pursing my lips, I said, "Thank you for coming all the way here, Mr. Hastings. I'm fine. You're quite busy, aren't you? Why don't you go home first? I'll be fine by myself."

To my surprise, he lifted his chin and asked, "Where's that boyfriend of yours? Why isn't Julian here?"

I froze and asked instinctively, "You know Julian Blake?"

Chapter 3

Alex chuckled and mocked lightly, "You're really stupid. How could you fall for someone so useless? You left the house for so many years just to be played by a trashy guy?"

His words left my mind buzzing. Alex had known about my relationship with Julian all this while.

Then again, it made sense since Alex and Julian were in the same circle. However, that meant he had been watching me go through all that for the past few years.

When I met his gaze again, his eyes felt strangely colder. Alex was probably happy to see me live such a pathetic life.

Perhaps to Alex, I was like my mother—a gold digger. He might even have assumed I dated Julian because I knew his identity.

I trembled with anger, but I had no right to blame Alex. I was nobody to him, so he wasn't obliged to warn me.

My eyes reddened, but I said flatly, "That's my problem for being stupid. It has nothing to do with you. If you're here to make fun of me—"

Before I could finish, Alex suddenly got to his feet and approached me. My instinct was to avoid him, but he caught my wrist.

"I don't have the time to make fun of you. As a brother, I find it embarrassing to see you living so pathetically. Why don't you come home instead? At least you won't be treated like a clown."

I yanked his hand off, my voice trembling. "What does anything I do have to do with you?"

Alex stared coldly at his grip, which was now empty. "Are you going to be so stubborn?"

I took a deep breath to calm my breath, but my fingernails were already digging into my palm. "I'm not being stubborn. Although my mother married into the Hastings family, I'm not related to you or your family. You don't have the right to ask me about my matters as well.

"I'm tired. Please go home, Mr. Hastings. I'll transfer the medical fees to you later."

Alex gazed at me and said, "Alright."

Before I realized what was happening, he took my phone and unlocked it using facial recognition. Then, he added his number to my phone.

I snatched the phone with a frown. "What are you doing?"

Unfazed, Alex asked, "You want to pay me back, don't you? How can you do that if you don't have my contact? Besides, the bill isn't even out yet."

Bereft of words, I put away the phone and said stiffly, "I'll pay you back once the bill is out."

With that, Alex left the ward without a word.

I sat up with some difficulty and spotted a Patek Philippe watch at the bedside table. Immediately, I knew it was Alex's.

Astonished by his carelessness, I sent him a text telling him to retrieve it. However, he did not reply.

Given no choice, I decided to keep it with me. After all, it was extremely costly. I would not be able to pay for it if it was lost.

Although my body's condition was not too good, there weren't any major issues. Hence, I was discharged by noon.

After paying Alex back according to the figure stated on the bill, I went home. Meanwhile, Julian was playing games in the living room.

When he saw I had returned, he scowled. "Where did you go last night? Who on Earth works for the whole night?"

I found the displeasure in his eyes funny. He had already claimed his first love to be his girlfriend, and yet he wanted to know my whereabouts.

I didn't want to put up with his nonsense for a single second more. Thus, I said straightforwardly, "It's none of your business. Let's break up."

Julian was taken aback. At first, I thought he would agree instantly, but to my surprise, he grabbed my hand and asked, "Why? Do you not want to be with me anymore just because I'm poor?"

Resting his cheek on his hand, he uttered word by word, "Serena Ashford, I can't believe you're that kind of person. I thought you'd—"

I freed my hand and gave him a tight slap. "Did you think you could fool me forever? Mr. Blake?"

While Julian stared at me in disbelief, I took out the wad of cash he gave me and threw it at his face. The notes scattered on the ground as I stared fixedly at him. "Why are you refusing to break up now?

"Didn't you say you were just playing with me and you were too good for me?"

Julian paled at the sight of the drenched and blood-stained notes. "The cleaner from last night was… you?"

I smiled. "That's right. Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Blake. The tip for getting a cup of milkshake is my entire month's salary."

Julian curled his hands into fists, unable to say a word.

I, too, did not want to talk to him anymore. Putting down my bag, I entered the bedroom and packed my things.

I was the one who rented the house, but the thought of staying here for just another second disgusted me. I had so few things that I was done packing with just two pieces of luggage.

When I came out of the room, Julian was holding the Patek Phillipe watch Alex had left behind. Sensing I was exiting the room, he stormed toward me with the watch.

"Whose watch is this? Why do you have such an expensive item? Who gave it to you?"

Julian looked like he had lost his mind. "What gives you the right to question me?" I yelled.

His eyes were red with fury as he shouted, "I'm your boyfriend. I haven't agreed to the breakup!"

I glanced at the cash on the floor, curling my lips into a smirk. "If you're my boyfriend, who's that lady from last night? You treated the shoes she gave you like some precious treasure while you threw mine into the trash. I thought you truly loved me and wanted to give me a home.

"In the end, our relationship was only a game to you. What makes you think you can call yourself my boyfriend?"

Julian huffed but did not say a single word. I had no intention of arguing with him anymore.

Taking the watch, I informed him, "I'll bill you for everything I've spent on you. Please pay me back as soon as possible, Mr. Blake. Otherwise, I'll sue you."

I knew I should not stay involved with someone like Julian. However, I felt bad for all my hard work. Sighing deeply, I grabbed my luggage and left.

Thankfully, I had rented a house with access to transportation to make it easier for Julian to travel. This also made things convenient for me.

As soon as I got out of the house, I managed to hail a cab. The driver pulled up in front of me and asked, "Hello, miss. Where to?"

I froze for a moment. The driver's question made me wonder where I could go. All these years, my life's goal had been to support Julian.

Now that I was leaving this place, I did not have a destination in mind. The thought of it made me feel sad.

"Send me to the farthest hotel," I said, placing the luggage into the car. I wanted to leave this place and that jerk as far as possible.

To my surprise, just as I was about to get into the car, Julian ran out of the house with bloodshot eyes.

He opened the trunk and removed my luggage. When he was doing that, I saw his hands tremble a little, which made me scoff.

At first, he played with me. Now that I had exposed him, he was panicking. Julian sure was unpredictable.

Chapter 4

"What are you guys up to?" The driver's furious words interrupted my thoughts, and I frowned at Julian.

"We're not leaving." Waving dismissively, Julian gave the driver two hundred dollars and sent him off.

I let out a long sigh. "What are you doing? Mr. Blake, the game is over."

"Serena, I…" With reddened eyes, Julian hesitated for some time before finally saying, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have fooled you. I just… thought it was fun. I was wrong. Please forgive me."

I studied his expression to find out if he meant those words.

Thinking I was still mad at him, Julian swore, "I mean it. Please don't go. I'll take you to the mall tomorrow and buy you a gift to make it up to you. You liked that one bag when we went there last time, right?"

During our last visit to the mall, I fancied a bag that cost one thousand dollars. However, I wanted to save the money for Julian, so I gave up on buying it and only admired it. I never told him how much I liked the bag.

Julian knew what I liked all this while. Yet all he did was enjoy the things he received from me instead of reciprocating.

At that moment, I felt that Julian was truly regretting his actions. "Do you really want my forgiveness?" I looked at him.

Julian immediately smiled, thinking I had changed my mind. "Of course. We were so happy together. It's not worth breaking up over such a small matter."

I scoffed in my heart. To him, fooling me for so many years was just a small matter.

Crossing my arms, I stared at him dead in the eyes. "Sure, we can still be together. But I can't accept the fact that you like another person. As long as you break up with Elena, we can go back to what we were."

"No!" Julian refused without even thinking about it. I let out a scoff, causing him to snap out of it.

A look of discomfort flashed past his eyes, but he insisted, "Nothing is going on between me and Elena. Don't get the wrong idea."

I cast him an icy glare. "The wrong idea? I witnessed everything in person!"

I could not be bothered to waste my words on Julian anymore. I snatched my luggage from him and hailed another cab.

When Julian wanted to act out the same scene again, I held the car door firmly and warned, "Julian, it's over."

Seeing I was really going to leave, Julian threatened, "Serena Ashford! Now that you know my identity, you'd better think things through. I won't give you another chance after today. If you come back now, I promise you'll never need to worry about your needs, nor do you have to work so many part-time jobs.

"You'll even get to enjoy living life as a rich person. You won't lose out on this deal."

His prideful and confident tone made me laugh sarcastically. "I don't want it. Let go or I'll call the police and sue you for harassment."

He looked at me in astonishment as I continued, "If you don't want to appear in tomorrow's headlines for harassing a young woman, you'd better move out of the way." I meant what I said.

Perhaps the seriousness in my gaze took him by surprise, and he let go of the car door without realizing it. I got into the cab confidently and said, "Let's go, mister."

The cab slowly picked up the pace and drove farther away. I watched Julian take a few steps forward before stopping in his tracks and staring at me.

Sighing internally, I glanced out the window and watched the night view with mixed emotions.

I would be lying if I said I was not sad. After all, I had put my whole heart and soul into my relationship with Julian, only to find out I was fooled.

Even so, I knew I needed to put an end to things or they would only get messier.

Our difference in status and family background was not the biggest problem—it was the gap between our differences in thinking.

Despite understanding that, I still felt an inexplicable sadness in my heart.

The cab had crossed half the city, yet I did not find it unfamiliar. For the past few years, I had taken up jobs all over Grandview just to support Julian. Thus, I was familiar with most of the major streets. By the time a lighthouse came into my sight, I could no longer suppress my feelings.

"Mister, please stop the car."

There was a river that ran through the middle of Grandview, and both sides of the river were the city's most prosperous areas.

In the past, I always passed the area as a busy employee. But now, I wanted to enjoy the view.

Although the wind was strong, I did not feel the least bit cold. Just like that, I strolled along the riverbank.

In the middle of the river was the lighthouse that Julian had once stared at while promising to marry me. He even told me once he made some money, he would book the lighthouse and light it up for the proposal.

Julian wanted to propose there as a promise to become the lighthouse in my life.

When I recalled those memories, I could not help but tear up. Every memory from the past started surfacing, making me feel more depressed.

My silent sobs gradually turned into anguished cries. I had done so much for Julian and yet, he only treated me like a joke.

Just then, my phone rang with notifications. I took it out and found that Julian had sent me texts.

"Serena, I bought you the bag you wanted and other gifts to make it up to you. I was wrong. Please forgive me."

When I read his texts, all I felt was emptiness. Then, my phone rang. The sight of Julian's name on the caller ID triggered a sense of annoyance.

I turned the phone off, and everything around me fell silent again. I continued walking along the river, but all I did was wander around the lighthouse.

My mind was in such a mess that I didn't notice the clouds gathering in the sky. By the time I came to my senses, it was already pouring.

As the rain poured on me, I felt my anger dissipating. The cool sensation was extremely comfortable.

Lifting my head, I stared helplessly at the dark sky as tears trickled uncontrollably down my cheeks.

Chapter 5

"Why? Why am I being treated like this?" I let the rain pour on me as I vented to my heart's content.

I was determined to become a new person when I woke up tomorrow. By the time I was done venting, my clothes were drenched, and I was feeling a little dizzy.

Drying my tears, I picked up my luggage to find a place to stay temporarily. As soon as I turned around, I found a familiar man standing in the distance.

He was holding an umbrella and looking at me coldly. It was Alex.

I felt slightly depressed and ashamed to have him see me so pathetic. I looked down and pretended not to have seen him.

If Alex was perceptive, he would do the same. Alas, Alex was not.

When I walked past him, he reached out and stopped me. "You're really useless," he uttered through gritted teeth as if he was mad about something.

"How could you make yourself end up in such a pathetic state just for a man?" he continued.

Not backing away, I glared at his hand that was grabbing mine and asked coldly, "What does that have to do with you? If you find me embarrassing, then you should just ignore me."

Alex gave my hand a slight tug and brought me closer to him to share the umbrella. There was not much room under the umbrella.

I almost bumped into him, but he helped me up. We were so close to each other that his breath fell on my face.

I instinctively backed away, but he warned coldly, "Don't move. Don't you know you're having a fever?"

As he said that, he touched my forehead gently. His cool hand felt nice on my forehead.

Frowning, Alex said, "You're burning up. Why would you do so much for that dude from the Blakes when he doesn't even care about you?"

Alex's questions made me feel anguished, but I refused to show my emotions. However, my dizziness was worsening. I needed to find a place to stay.

Hence, I said nothing and tried to free myself from Alex again. "I'll take you to the hospital." Alex grabbed my hand, stopping me from leaving.

I had just taken a step forward when my vision went dark and all my energy disappeared.

…

By the time I regained consciousness, my throat felt like it was on fire. I swallowed with difficulty.

Just then, a spoon touched my mouth, and a mildly sweet liquid flowed into my throat. Feeling a little more energized, I slowly opened my eyes to find myself looking at Alex.

He was still in his usual neat suit. He sat by the bed while feeding me some water.

Shocked, my eyes flew open, and I took a look at the time. It was already the next afternoon. "I was out for a day," I muttered softly.

Seeing I was awake, Alex put the cup down and picked up his watch. "Take it. I kept it for you when you left it in the hospital last time," I explained hoarsely.

Alex studied the watch and frowned. "Did you break it?" he asked.

"That's impossible." I fought to sit up, but I didn't have any energy to do so. I gave up and asked, "Are you trying to blackmail me?"

Alex seemed to be amused by my question. "You were so sick that I sent you to the hospital from the river. I can't believe you're accusing your savior of blackmailing you as soon as you're awake. Besides, you're broke. Why would I blackmail you?"

Alex looked as though he could not believe that the accusation had come out of my mouth.

I cleared my throat and avoided his gaze. "What's wrong with the watch?" I asked. Without saying anything, Alex handed me the watch.

I took the watch and studied it. The second hand was not moving, and the time had stopped at 10:00 pm.

It was around 10:00 pm when I was standing under the rain by the river last night. Since the watch had been with me all this while, that meant it broke because it got wet.

Frowning, I asked, "How is an expensive watch like this not water-resistant?" Alex merely eyed me with an accusing look. I should've left it at the hospital. You were the one who lost it anyway," I complained.

Suddenly, the doctor entered the ward and asked politely, "How are you feeling, Ms. Ashford?"

Of course, I knew the doctor's politeness was purely because of Alex's presence. Forcing myself to sit up, I smiled at the doctor and said, "I'm feeling much better."

"I'll need to do another test. If the test results are fine, you can be discharged. Please remember to drink lots of water."

I nodded. The doctor then flashed an awkward smile, saying, "As for the fees…"

I felt a little embarrassed. Although I had earned quite a bit in the past few years, I had spent it all on Julian. I didn't have much money left. If I paid for the bill, I'd be sleeping on the streets that night.

I was about to inform him that I'd settle the bill later when Alex put out his hand to stop me. "I'll take care of it."

Once again, I owed Alex another sum. Immediately after the doctor left, I offered, "To thank you, I'll get your watch fixed."

Picking up his things, he said, "Sure. I'll send you the address of the shop. I'll get going first."

With that, he left the ward. As I stared at his receding figure, a myriad of emotions bubbled in my heart.

I didn't understand why I always encountered Alex whenever I was at my worst. There was only one explanation—Alex was my nemesis.

After I was discharged from the hospital, I checked the balance in my bank account. I decided to fix Alex's watch first. Once that was done, I could continue working my part-time jobs. I didn't want to owe Alex anything.

The repair shop was at a premium mall in Grandview. As I stood outside the mall, I heaved an enormous sigh, wondering if I had enough in my account to pay for it.

Following the address given by Alex, I took the elevator to the top floor, where all the luxury items were. I would never venture to that floor on a normal day.

When I stepped out of the elevator, I saw two familiar figures in the distance—Julian and Elena.

Elena was trying on some clothes in one of the premium stores while Julian held her bag, beaming and occasionally giving her comments.

I couldn't help but think of our time together. Sometimes, I would squeeze out some free time in the afternoon, hoping Julian could go shopping with me.

Chapter 6

But Julian would always just look at me with a serious gaze and say, "Shopping costs money. Let's skip it today. We should save up. I want to buy a new pair of shoes soon."

A wave of bitterness and irony washed over me.

It seemed like Julian had noticed me. After a brief pause, he walked over.

Annoyed by his presence, I ignored him and headed straight to a nearby watch repair shop. I handed my watch to the shopkeeper and said, "Hello, could you repair this for me?"

The shopkeeper's eyes widened with respect as he examined the watch. "This model is quite old. We'll need to order some special parts. Please wait here for a moment."

I hadn't expected the repair to be so complicated. I sat down on the nearby couch, and soon, the shopkeeper returned while carrying a plate of assorted snacks and fruits.

"Please enjoy, Ms. Ashford," he said.

Just as I was about to thank him, Julian stormed in, shouting, "Serena!"

I turned to him, a mix of confusion and annoyance on my face. I glanced at him briefly before looking away.

Clearly taken aback by my indifference, Julian stormed over and grabbed my wrist. "This is a high-end shop. What are you doing here?"

"Why should I explain myself to you?" I shot back coldly.

The shopkeeper gave Julian an odd look, which clearly made him uncomfortable. He lowered his voice and asked, "You're here because of the owner of this watch, aren't you?"

I raised an eyebrow. Julian was surprisingly perceptive.

Seeing that I wasn't going to respond, he pressed on, "Who is that man? Serena, don't think you can fool the rich and powerful so easily. You need to face reality."

I had no interest in arguing with Julian. There was no point in explaining myself to someone like him.

Sensing my irritation, the shopkeeper stepped in. "Ms. Ashford, is this gentleman a friend of yours?"

I shook my head. "No, I don't know him."

Julian stared at me in disbelief. "What did you say?"

Before I could respond, the shopkeeper politely signaled for him to leave. Just then, Elena, who had been trying on clothes, emerged and looked around for Julian.

With a reluctant glance, Julian left.

Through the window, I saw Julian step outside with a displeased expression. Still, he spoke to Elena in a gentle tone, leaning down to say something to her.

The shopkeeper returned with a receipt. "Here's your receipt, Ms. Ashford. You can pick up the watch in three days."

I glanced at the receipt and pulled out my phone to pay. "How much is it?"

The shopkeeper looked surprised. "The repair fee is due when the watch is ready. You don't need to pay now."

I frowned, thinking it was different from what I had expected, but seeing the shopkeeper's confident expression, I decided not to argue.

After thanking him and taking the receipt, I left the shop.

Julian and Elena were nowhere in sight.

I let out a sigh. Running into Julian today had been an unpleasant experience.

Grandview was a city known for its glitz and glamour. As I walked through the shopping mall, surrounded by designer bags and clothes with price tags in the tens of thousands, I couldn't shake the sense of melancholy that crept over me.

Over the years, I had dedicated myself entirely to making money, only to find myself in this situation.

"Serena," a voice called from behind. I turned to see Julian rushing toward me.

Before I could say a word, he grabbed me and yanked me into a nearby room. It took me a second to realize it was the men's restroom. I struggled, but he was too strong and dragged me into a stall.

"What are you doing?" I demanded, my voice trembling with anger.

"Did you betray me?" Julian's eyes were red, a mix of sadness and pity clouding his gaze.

I scoffed. "Betrayed you? While you were flirting with Elena, I was working my ass off to support you."

"I-I..." Julian stammered, his voice faltering. "I just sent her away. It's just us now. Let's talk."

"Talk? In the men's restroom?" I replied coldly, my anger still unrelenting.

"Did you cheat on me?" Julian ignored my question and grew aggressive. "Did you seduce some rich guy? Is that why you're leaving me?"

"Julian!" I shouted. "You're the one who's guilty, so don't assume everyone is like you. I left you because you disgusted me."

"I don't believe you," Julian insisted, and before I could react, he started tearing at my clothes. "Let me see if he's touched you."

A shiver ran down my spine as my shoulder was exposed. My fear and anger surged within me.

I struggled against him but couldn't break free. In my panic, I grabbed a nearby object.

Without thinking, I swung it at Julian's head. Even though he was holding me, the impact was enough to snap him out of it. He stared at the ashtray in my hand, his expression shifting in realization.

"I'm sorry," Julian said, his eyes filled with a pitiful look that made me want to turn away. "Serena... I was just acting on impulse."

I struck him across the face. He flinched before clutching his cheek. I took a deep breath, straightened my clothes, and left.

Julian was the man I had once loved deeply, but now, he filled me with nothing but disgust.

As I left the mall, I took a deep breath and made a decision. From now on, I would focus on myself.

I went back to the hotel to collect my things and moved back into the dorm. Like Julian, I was a student at Grandview University, but I spent most of my time working to support him. Thankfully, I hadn't neglected my studies.

I quietly opened the door to my dorm room. Grandview University's dorms were doubles, so I assumed my roommate, Lila Westbrook, would be asleep.

But as I crept toward my bed, I caught sight of her sitting up and glaring at me with a resentful expression.

"Well, well, look who's back. What brings you here, Serena?" Lila asked. She pulled open the bed curtain completely, sat up, and crossed her arms.

I froze with my luggage in hand as I recalled the time I decided to move out of the dorm for Julian. Back then, Lila had strongly advised against it and even scolded me angrily.