My company was bankrupt, drowning in massive debt. I sat on my penthouse balcony, chugging a bottle of whiskey, and dialed Ethan Chen’s number. “Can you come see me one last time?” He scoffed. “You want me to beg you not to die? Don’t pretend, you’re not the type to give up that easily.” “Oh, and that proposal from yesterday? It’s off. I have no interest in becoming a co-debtor.” In the background, a woman’s sweet voice cooed, “Ethan, focus, darling. Don’t mind that old hag.” I shook my head, a bitter smile playing on my lips. Five years I’d nurtured him, only to find him an ungrateful dog. My phone vibrated. A new message. Dad: “Had enough fun? Come back and inherit the family business!” 1 Three minutes later, on board the private jet dispatched by the Sterling Corp. Ethan texted: “Get your stuff out by end of day.” I leaned back in the plush leather seat, my fingertips barely touching the screen as I typed: “Just trash it all.” He instantly replied: “Ordering me around? Still think you’re Harper Lin, the high-and-mighty CEO?” I let out a soft laugh, tossing the phone aside. He’d been my executive assistant for three years. I supposed he’d felt truly wronged. The jet landed on the helipad of a sprawling hillside mansion. Pushing open the heavy front door, I found my clothes and jewelry crammed haphazardly into cheap duffel bags. A few pieces of expensive lace lingerie had been deliberately pulled out and strewn across the floor, soaked in red wine, cigarette burns clearly visible. Several of his friends lounged on the sofas, eyeing me with meaningful, smirking gazes. My hands clenched, trembling as I looked at Ethan. He wore a silk black shirt, collar slightly unbuttoned, his charming eyes now glacial, making him look even more alluringly cruel. Suddenly, he pulled out a thick wad of cash and flung it directly at my face. The bills fluttered down, a few sticking to my cheek, like dirty paper meant for a mockery. Everyone burst into laughter: “Harper just came back from the brink, she needs a good cleanse! What if she loses it again and tries to off herself? Where would we collect our debts then?” “Off herself? She’d never abandon our Ethan!” One of them nudged a lace bra on the floor with his foot. “The tags are still on. Guess she never got to wear it for Ethan.” Ethan sneered, walking closer, his voice dripping with sarcasm: “Harper Lin, how does it feel to be humiliated with money? All these years, what else could you do but throw cash at me? Limited edition cars, yachts, hundreds of designer suits…” “Aside from spending money, do you have any other talent? If you’d shown me even a shred of genuine affection, you wouldn’t be in this position today!” I tugged at the corner of my lips: “Ethan Chen, you missed one thing: this $20 million mansion? I gave you that too.” I remembered our first time, in his cramped apartment. My heart ached for him, and I bought this villa the very next day. Later, anything good I saw, I wanted to give him. Now, that’s considered lack of sincerity? He looked disgusted. “What? You want it back?” I gazed at him, my fingertip lightly tracing his lips: “Considering how hard you worked in bed all these years, it’s yours. I really don’t lose anything.” He slapped my hand away, his face contorted in rage: “Do you know how disgusted I was every time I touched you? Your garish lipstick, your fake moans, even your breathing made me want to gag!” A dull ache swelled in my chest. I had money, looks, and on top of that, I’d tried every way to please him in bed, yet he despised me so much. The onlookers stifled their laughter, their gazes filled with contempt, mockery, and revulsion. Someone shook his phone: “Ethan, that’s not fair, man. Those private pics of Harper you shared in the group… her figure was totally smoking hot.” “Didn’t expect Harper, usually so poised and dignified, to be so wild in private.” “Shut up!” Ethan snapped, cutting him off, then turned to me with a cold smirk, “Even the best body can’t compare to a single strand of Chloe’s hair.” He’d actually shared my private photos with others to admire. My voice was hoarse: “How truly difficult for you, Ethan. Fetching my coffee all day at the office, and then at night having to endure your disgust while ‘servicing’ this ‘old hag.’ If I’d known it was such a burden, I would’ve hired a few more attractive assistants to spare you the effort.” Ethan suddenly clenched my wrist: “Harper Lin, do you have no shame? If you hadn’t bought off Chloe and forced her to leave the country, forced her to break up with me, how would I have ended up with you…?” “I forced her?” I raised an eyebrow. “Don’t play innocent!” He ground his teeth, “If you hadn’t meddled, why would Chloe and I have been apart for five years?” I suddenly remembered five years ago, Chloe Su standing timidly in my office: “Ms. Lin, I, I can let you have Ethan. Could you give me some money for my studies abroad?” At the time, I found it utterly ridiculous. A man Harper Lin wanted? Did I need someone else’s permission? Out of pity, I’d allocated funds from my philanthropic foundation to her. Unexpectedly, that very night, Ethan spent all his savings to book the most exclusive restaurant in town, proposing to me with a diamond ring. Looking at the man now, his face filled with resentment, I suddenly felt a profound sense of weariness. Too lazy to explain, I shook off his hand and walked straight out. “Ms. Lin, long time no see.” A syrupy voice suddenly floated to my ears. 2 Chloe Su glided gracefully toward me on stiletto heels, her Givenchy couture dress accentuating her slender figure. She covered her mouth with a delicate hand, a challenging gleam in her eyes. “Ms. Lin, you’ve maintained yourself so well. You really don’t look thirty at all.” I eyed her coldly. Five years abroad had indeed polished away some of her former tackiness. But her habit of saying nasty things remained unchanged. She intimately linked her arm through Ethan’s. He immediately tenderly smoothed a strand of hair from her temple. I spotted the sapphire necklace around her neck. “Nice necklace,” I drawled, “I have an identical one.” Chloe suddenly stepped forward and embraced me, whispering in my ear: “Ethan said, anything you have, I have to have too. And it has to be better than yours.” She pulled a necklace from her palm, tilting her head, her smile both innocent and venomous: “This one is yours, a cheap imitation worth a few bucks. Mine is the real deal. Look at the wear and tear, Ms. Lin must have worn it often, right?” I stared at the necklace that had accompanied me to countless important events, my fingertips growing cold. The gift I had cherished as a treasure was nothing but a fake. And I had felt sorry for Ethan, always reciprocating his gifts with luxury watches and custom suits worth a hundred times more. Taking a deep breath, I reached up and ripped Chloe’s necklace from her neck, tossing it into a nearby trash can. If I had to wear a fake, why should she get to wear the real thing? Chloe shrieked in shock. The next second, Ethan shoved me hard: “Harper Lin! Are you out of your mind? Desperate for cash, are you? Trying to steal a necklace now?” My back slammed against a stone table, the searing pain making my vision blacken. He grabbed the trash can and dumped its contents over my head: “Pick up the necklace yourself!” Cigarette ash, fruit peels, and foul-smelling liquid cascaded over me. The stench was unbearable. I ripped the cheap fake necklace from my collar and hurled it at him. I gasped, writhing in pain, yet managed a brilliant smile: “Ethan Chen, that cheap trash isn’t even worth me touching.” Ethan’s face twisted, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Harper Lin, even now you’re still so shallow, always measuring everything by money!” He sighed heavily, “We’re clearly not from the same world. Forget it. I was originally planning to give you some emergency money…” I cut him off, contempt and mockery lacing my voice: “No need. I agree, we were never in the same world.” He sneered, “Butler, show her out!” The servants, who had once been so respectful, now herded me toward the door like a stray dog. My bodyguards, waiting outside the main gate, rushed to steady my stumbling form. “Miss, should we deal with this?” I looked back at the two figures embracing inside the mansion, and gently shook my head. How ridiculous. Even after all this, I still couldn’t bring myself to harm him. 3 Back home, my father was leisurely sipping tea. “My girl, that $10 billion tuition fee? Totally worth it!” He said, a smile crinkling his eyes, “Tomorrow, you’ll take over as Chairman.” I collapsed onto the sofa, groaning: “Dad, I just drove a company into bankruptcy. Can’t I get a break?” “Alright,” Dad slowly set down his teacup, “How about a blind date tomorrow then?” I instantly sprang up from the sofa: “No way!” Late that night, a friend request popped up on my phone. I casually accepted it, and out of curiosity, tapped on the sender’s social media profile. The latest post was a photo: Chloe Su in a bikini, lounging in Ethan’s arms, the two of them passionately kissing on a yacht deck. The location showed Hawaii. The date was last month, when Ethan had told me he was going abroad for a business trip. The most ironic part? The luxurious yacht in the background was the very gift I’d commissioned for him, thinking he deserved it after all his hard work. I let out a soft chuckle, then posted a comment: “Truly a match made in hell.” Not long after, Ethan sent a message: “I wired you $100,000 for emergencies.” “Don’t sleep under a bridge, it’s not safe.” I lightly tapped the ‘thumbs up’ emoji, then casually returned the transfer. Next, Chloe eagerly sent a video. In the footage, Ethan was breathing heavily, his voice laced with a vulnerability I’d never heard from him: “Baby, please, don’t ever leave me again. Do you know how I’ve survived all these years?” “Every time I was with Harper Lin, I’d close my eyes and imagine she was you. It was the only way to trick my body and not throw up.” “She clung to me every day, like a persistent fly! Even when she smiled at me, I felt like she was just laughing at my misery.” “Did she really think money could buy love? Buy my body and my dignity? Ridiculous! She’s just a crude, arrogant nouveau riche. How could she ever compare to my baby?” Every word was a poisoned dagger, piercing precisely into my heart. Only then did I belatedly realize, with him, I might have actually fallen. I fiercely wiped away the tears on my face, then carefully applied my flawless makeup. It’s just a man, isn’t it? When have I, Harper Lin, ever been short of them? I changed into the red dress he always loved to see me in, slipped on my high heels, and headed straight to the exclusive club. I picked a male escort who was handsomer and seemed more docile than Ethan, and collapsed into his embrace: “Does my smile really make people hate me?” His eyes were so tender they could melt. “How could it? Ms. Lin, your smile is as captivating as moonlight.” See? This is what a professional does. Not like Ethan, that hypocrite, who wanted my money yet still gave me that condescending sneer. I lightly kissed his lips. “So, will you keep me company tonight?” His Adam’s apple bobbed. He seemed conflicted. My heart suddenly sank. Was it true, as Ethan had said, that I was disgusting? “Harper Lin!” The VIP room door was brutally kicked open. Ethan’s face was grim with fury: “We’ve only been broken up for fifteen hours, and you’re already so desperate you have to come to a place like this? If someone hadn’t sent me the video, I wouldn’t have believed you could sink so low!” 4 Ignoring him, my fingertips traced circles on the male escort’s throat: “A million dollars, just for tonight?” The escort’s breath hitched, clearly tempted by the million. The next second, he smoothly swept me into his arms. Ethan lunged, trying to grab me. “Get down, now!” I tilted my head, looking him over: “What, Ethan? Do you want the million too? Too bad. I’ve already moved on from your model.” Ethan’s face instantly turned ashen: “Harper Lin, you sicken me! Don’t flatter yourself. I just don’t want my ex-girlfriend buying escorts and becoming a laughingstock in our circle!” “Ex-girlfriend?” I wagged a finger: “Ethan, your memory’s truly terrible. Between us, it was always patron and plaything! And now, the former patron is about to spoil her new favorite.” Ethan scoffed: “Your accounts are probably frozen! You think you can actually pull out a million? I suggest you stop now, before you get sued for skipping out on your bill at a place like this. I’d be embarrassed for you!” Suddenly, the escort looked at me, a handsome smile gracing his features: “Tonight, I’ll be happy to provide complimentary service for Ms. Lin, along with a top-floor suite experience.” Ethan sneered, “Harper Lin! You’re not even ashamed of a man who’s up for sale like that?” “Ashamed?” My fingertip traced the escort’s collar, “It’s better than someone who acts all sincere on the surface but secretly cheats behind your back! At least he’s upfront about his price. No surprises.” Ethan’s gaze darkened abruptly. That familiar, possessive look was back. I rolled my eyes; his clumsy acting no longer fooled me. I urged the escort: “What are you waiting for? Show me what you’ve got.” Ethan glared at us from behind, eyes burning. The escort carried me out, striding confidently, and ran straight into Chloe Su. Seeing the situation, a flicker of jealousy crossed her eyes as she intimately linked arms with Ethan. “Ethan, finding male escorts is Ms. Lin’s personal hobby. We should learn to respect that, shouldn’t we?” She deliberately raised her voice, drawing the attention of nearby guests. The men stared at me with lecherous gazes, as if appraising an item for sale. The women whispered amongst themselves, occasionally casting scornful or curious glances. I subconsciously looked at Ethan. The disgust in his eyes was almost palpable, as if I were some kind of scarlet woman. I gave Chloe a cold glance: “At least I’m better than Ms. Su. I have no interest in picking up someone else’s used trash.” Chloe’s face went pale. Ethan immediately gritted his teeth, “I’m used trash? Harper Lin, you’re utterly disgusting!” Disgusting? I’d become numb to it. Too lazy to argue with him further, I signaled for the escort to leave. The escort gentlemanly opened the Maybach’s door for me. As the door closed, the car started. “Wait!” I quickly rolled down the window. “Didn’t we say we were going to the suite?” He smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes: “Harper Lin, you really don’t remember me?” He was…? There was no time to think, the car was already moving. I let out a sigh of relief, collapsing back into the seat. I furiously scrubbed at my lips until I tasted blood. Good thing he didn’t get in the car. That act almost fell apart. Ethan’s disgusted face flashed involuntarily in my mind again, and my eyes suddenly grew hot. Damn it! He wasn’t worth a single tear! 5 My father hosted a grand welcome reception to celebrate my official return to the Sterling Corp. I wore a stunning Valentino couture gown, linked arms with my father, and chatted elegantly with various business magnates. When I went to the ladies’ room for a touch-up, Chloe Su was leaning against the hallway wall, studying my gown and jewelry with a mix of envy and disdain. “Ms. Lin, quite the strategy! You certainly latched onto the Sterling Corp. tree quickly.” “Mr. Lin might be a bit older, but he’s got deep pockets. With your skills, becoming Mrs. Lin must be just around the corner, right?” “I heard the Lin family assets are worth hundreds of your old companies combined. When you get tired of servicing the old man, you can always spend money to find male escorts for fun. How enviable!” “I don’t quite understand your pursuits, but congratulations in advance!” I nonchalantly toyed with my perfect manicure. When she finished, I raised my hand and delivered a sharp slap. “That’s to teach you to control your filthy mouth. Say one more word, and I won’t hesitate to have security escort you out.” She dramatically tumbled to the floor, covering her face and whimpering. “Harper Lin! You’re abusing your power! Does having money mean you can just hit people?” “Hitting you doesn’t require power; it’s merely cleaning up trash.” Suddenly, a commotion erupted behind me. Ethan rushed over, his hand raised, and delivered a stinging slap across my face. “That’s for Chloe!” The fiery pain hadn’t even fully subsided when a second slap landed with heavy force. “And that one’s for Chloe’s baby!” My ears buzzed, but I only registered the word “baby.” He had once said he wanted to enjoy our time as a couple, always making sure I took birth control afterward. Despite such caution, I had still accidentally conceived his child once—a tiny life that was gone at just four weeks. My heart felt as if an invisible hand had violently squeezed it, yet I managed a perfect smile: “Ethan Chen, do you really hate me that much?” His eyes flickered for a brief moment, then hardened. “Otherwise?” “Alright, I understand.” I turned to leave, but he roughly grabbed my arm. His voice held a note of disbelief: “Harper Lin, you’re not even arguing? What scheme are you planning now? I’m warning you, if you dare touch a single hair on Chloe’s head, I will make you pay!” I sighed tiredly: “Are you done? Can I go now?” Since childhood, not even my father had ever raised his voice at me, yet today I had received two solid slaps from him. I wasn’t even holding it against him, so why was he throwing a tantrum? Ethan stared at my swollen cheek, frozen in place. But Chloe lunged forward, kicking me hard in the back of my knee. “Harper Lin, I’m not done with you yet!” I buckled, falling to my knees on the marble floor, a piercing pain radiating through my entire body. Chloe seized the opportunity, clutching my long hair and forcing my head back: “Called you Ms. Lin, and you really thought you were someone? A rat fleeing with billions in debt, you think you’re worth anything in front of me?” “Honestly, a useless person like you should’ve jumped off that rooftop yesterday and ended it all!” In my periphery, Ethan’s brows were tightly furrowed, but he made no move to intervene. I slowly curled my lips into a smile: “Chloe Su, this time, you’ve truly messed with the wrong person.” She first froze, then burst into exaggerated laughter: “Oh, Ms. Lin’s getting fierce? I’m so scared.” Around us, snorts of laughter erupted: “Oh, who’s this ‘elite socialite’? Still so defiant even after getting beaten up like that.” “She probably played mistress and got what she deserved from the main woman! Serves her right!” “Dressed like a human, but who knows how depraved she is underneath.” Amidst the cacophony of harsh whispers, a commanding voice boomed like thunder: “I’d like to see who’s tired of living, daring to touch my daughter on Sterling Corp. property!”
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