My ex-boyfriend, Carter Sterling, pretended to be poor for three years while we were together. When he found out my mom urgently needed money for surgery, he even faked losing his job so I would have to support him. I finally couldn't play along anymore. I dumped him and married the billionaire who was pursuing me. Today, I went to a client's wedding, only to find the groom was Carter Sterling. I overheard his groomsmen teasing him— "Remember when Carter insisted on playing the 'true love' game? Still got dumped." "What a pity. Faking unemployment was actually the final test. If she had just held on a little longer, she would be the bride today." "If that gold digger knew she dumped the heir to the Sterling Group, she'd probably be green with regret, haha." Actually, I knew everything. Chapter 1 Seeing Carter Sterling again was at my client's wedding. He was the groom. Dressed in an expensive bespoke suit, hair meticulously styled, he looked noble and arrogant—nothing like the destitute man from back then. I didn't plan on saying hello. Our breakup wasn't exactly amicable. I dumped him. At the time, he knelt on the ground, crying and begging me to stay, but I didn't look back once. Finally, he uttered cruel words: "Maya Zhao, don't you regret walking out that door. Even if you crawl back later, I won't even look at you!" I left without hesitation. I had lived with him in that cramped rental apartment for three years. I had enough. Running into him at his wedding was awkward. I turned to leave, but heard the groomsmen surrounding Carter, teasing him— "Remember when Carter insisted on playing the 'true love' game? Still got dumped." "What a pity. Faking unemployment was actually the final test. If she had just held on a little longer, she would be the bride today." "If that gold digger knew she dumped the heir to the Sterling Group, she'd probably be green with regret, haha." Amidst his friends' laughter, Carter sneered contemptuously. "Even if she regrets it, it's too late." I knew the "gold digger" they were talking about was me. So, they really thought I broke up with him because he was poor. Actually, I had known the truth for a long time. Chapter 2 Over a year into dating Carter Sterling. I was working part-time at a five-star hotel when I saw him walk in wearing a designer suit, inspecting the place. The manager called him "Mr. Sterling." That was when I learned the hotel was his family's property. The Sterling family was considered old money in New York. My poor, destitute first love turned out to be a wealthy heir! For me, it was like a drama turning into reality. I didn't have the aloof pride of a drama heroine; instead, I felt like I hit the jackpot. Because I was certain Carter truly loved me. He would comfort me when I was sad and take care of me patiently when I was sick. Rich or poor, he was the best boyfriend. Since he liked playing the "poor man" game, I decided to play along. Until later, when my mom fell ill and urgently needed money for surgery, and he still happily played poor to test me. I finally got tired. I dumped him and married the billionaire who was pursuing me. Sorry to disappoint Carter and his bros, but I don't regret it one bit! Suddenly, the bride walked over, grabbed my hand, and pulled me in front of Carter. Excitedly, she introduced me: "Carter, look! This is Miss Maya Zhao, one of the owners of the Azure Gallery I told you about. "I told you we look alike, but you didn't believe me." The man looked up. After a brief moment of distraction, he looked at me coldly. "Indeed very similar. But not as beautiful or young as my wife." Chapter 3 The bride, Lily Moore, was my client. Half a month ago, she came to my gallery looking to buy some art for her new home. When we saw each other clearly, we were both stunned. We looked at least 60-70% alike. We hit it off immediately. Lily visited the gallery four or five times, bought eight paintings, and generously swiped her black card for five million dollars. Before leaving, she gave me the address of an estate and warmly invited me to her wedding. These days, she often mentioned her fiancé casually. Young, talented, a rich second generation, handsome, and generous to her. Just preparing the wedding cost over ten million. When talking about this, Lily's face was full of happiness, lamenting how lucky she was. She was just a fresh college grad from an ordinary family, yet she managed to snag such a catch. She was indeed luckier than me. I met Carter right after college. Unfortunately, he kept pretending to be poor with me. Not only did he not spend money on me, he spent mine. I waited three years, and he had no intention of marrying me. Considering Lily was a big client and I wanted to expand my network, I accepted the invitation. But I really didn't expect the groom to be Carter. Chapter 4 The man sized me up as if looking at a stranger he had never met. The bride coquettishly scolded him: "Don't talk nonsense, she's my friend." Carter took the bride's hand from mine. "Watch your bracelet. It's the one I gave you, worth over two million. Careful that some vain people don't eye it." I knew he was deliberately taking a jab at me. Two million. So, Carter could be generous enough to buy such an expensive gift for a girlfriend. I touched my own wrist. There was a bracelet there too. Carter gave it to me. Two hundred bucks. It was when we were poorest. He said he earned it by wearing a mascot costume. In the 90-degree summer heat, he came back soaked in sweat. I didn't know then he had just come back from the gym. I was both heartbroken and moved. I stayed up late drawing designs and used my freelance money to buy him a five-hundred-dollar watch for his birthday. Looking at his wrist now, that watch had long been replaced by a Patek Philippe. This was his true self. Fact: Feeling sorry for a man brings a lifetime of bad luck. I chuckled lightly. "Miss Moore is truly blessed. Your husband is so generous. Unlike my ex-boyfriend—no parents, lived off me, ate my food, and even the bracelet he bought was only two hundred bucks." Carter's face darkened. Lily defended me indignantly: "He sounds like a scumbag. Good thing you broke up." Carter cleared his throat. "Maybe some people only deserve two-hundred-dollar bracelets. Unlike my Lily, who needs to be pampered. Any amount is worth it." So, in his heart, I wasn't worthy. Looking at the hypocritical Carter, I couldn't help but laugh. "You two are so in love, it's enviable. I wish you a happy wedding and a lifetime together." I made an excuse to leave. But Carter got anxious. "Miss Zhao is leaving so soon? Is this wedding not luxurious enough for your eyes?" I heard the sarcasm in his tone. Curling my lips, I replied with one word—"Yes." My wedding with my husband, Lucas Thorne, was held on a private island he just bought. We only invited close friends and family. Low-key, not overly extravagant, but it was my favorite. I didn't care for the wedding Carter prepared for another woman. Chapter 5 I refused the bride's attempts to make me stay and insisted on leaving. Behind me, the bride's complaining voice arose. "Carter, what's wrong with you today? You're talking so weirdly. "She came specially to congratulate us. You're being so rude." Even though she was naive, she sensed something wrong in the man's tone. Someone in the groomsmen group suddenly mentioned: "Maya Zhao, that name sounds familiar. Isn't that..." "Shut up." Carter interrupted him angrily. I walked out of the estate and waited for the driver to bring the car around. A gust of wind blew sand into my eyes, and I rubbed them. With the sound of hurried footsteps approaching, a hand reached out and grabbed my arm tightly. I turned back and met Carter's cold face. "Don't misunderstand. Lily insisted I come out to apologize to you. "Don't you have anything to ask me?" I shook my head. "No." Carter scoffed, looking at my teary eyes, and sneered: "Maya Zhao, stop being stubborn. "You're leaving so fast because you don't want me to see you looking pathetic, right? "Back then you dumped me because I was poor. Now seeing I'm rich, you must regret it." Regret? Yes. I regret not breaking up sooner and accepting Lucas's pursuit. That way, I could have bowed to poverty sooner, let my mom have the surgery, and she wouldn't be left with sequelae, confined to a wheelchair now.
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