At a high school reunion, my ex-boyfriend held his fiancée and announced their engagement. I snapped a photo and texted it to his mother. “They look like a perfect match. Congratulations on getting exactly what you wanted.” Just as I was about to hit send, my wrist was gripped viciously. “Oh? Still keeping in touch with my mother?” He glared at me, his face dark and menacing. “What, haven't squeezed enough money out of her yet?” The room went dead silent. I looked up at him, my face draining of color. I didn't even notice when the music stopped. I had become the center of everyone's attention. 1 Everyone knew I had dumped Caleb Thorne for money. During the year he loved me the most, I accepted two million dollars from his mother, Evelyn Thorne. And then I walked out of his life without a backward glance. Furious with his mother's interference, he went on a hunger strike, starving himself until he was barely recognizable. His friends, unable to watch him destroy himself, swallowed their disgust for me and showed up at my door, begging on his behalf. I refused to see a single one of them. Later, when he was on the brink of death, his mother, "out of options," called and begged me to be a "mediator." When I appeared in his hospital room, he clung to me like a drowning man and refused to let go. Even though he was emaciated, the sheer force of his grip made my bones ache. “Maya, you came. You still love me, don't you? I knew it—” The joy in his voice was unmistakable. I pushed him away coldly. I played an audio clip for him and showed him a text message. The audio was a recording of me demanding three hundred thousand dollars from his mother in exchange for visiting him. The text was the bank notification confirming the transfer. He stared at me, his eyes wide and blank. When it finally registered, he shoved me away violently. But because he used too much force, he fell out of bed, coughing until it sounded like his lungs would tear. “Maya, get the hell out of here!” He lay pathetically on the floor, grinding out each word through clenched teeth. I did exactly as he asked. I walked out cleanly, without ever looking back. I don't know whose mouth leaked the story. From that day on, I became a massive joke in New York high society. Anyone who knew the story said that my greed was only matched by my cruelty. Others claimed I never loved Caleb to begin with; I was only with him for the money. As for the truth? No one cared... Later, when Caleb recovered, he agreed to a corporate marriage with Serena Vance, the treasured daughter of the Vance Group’s CEO. I received over a dozen invitations to his engagement party. Sent by none other than his loyal friends. Honoring my "agreement" with his mother, I completely vanished from his world. But over the years, I knew his every move like the back of my hand. I knew he and Serena went to the US for grad school, living together the whole time. I knew that in just two years, he completed a grueling JD/MBA joint program at Harvard. I knew that the moment he entered his family's company, he ruthlessly handled several massive crises, forcing the veteran executives who doubted him to bow in respect. I knew that even though he and Serena hadn't officially held a wedding, they were already calling each other's parents "Mom and Dad"... It wasn't that I was intentionally seeking this information; his friends were practically tripping over themselves to report back to me. A good ex should be as quiet as the dead, but they constantly wanted to dig me up and parade my "corpse." It was as if proving how exceptional Caleb was somehow proved how incredibly stupid I had been. Today was our high school reunion. It was the first time I had seen Caleb in three years. Tomorrow, I would be leaving for a completely different life. From then on, he would remain high up in the clouds, enjoying his wealth and power. And I would be down in the dirt, enduring the harsh realities of the world. Before coming here, I had called his mother with a request. “You can go, but remember what you shouldn't say and what you shouldn't do.” That was her exact phrasing. I agreed. And my official reason for being here was simply to accompany an old friend, Julian. My actual reason was to find an old classmate who specialized in nephrology, to verify some medical records. There were things I had to know before I could finally let go... I had anticipated Caleb's humiliation and coldness. I had anticipated the mockery and bullying from my old classmates. What I hadn't anticipated was that Caleb would turn this reunion into a pre-wedding celebration. As the undisputed center of attention, he navigated the drinking games with Serena with effortless grace, putting on a sickening display of affection. The atmosphere was electric. No one was tactless enough to bring up the past. I also got the answers I needed from my old classmate. Because Julian got tied up chatting, I ended up staying a bit longer. I never expected that in the brief moment it took to snap a photo and type out a text, Caleb would materialize in front of me like a ghost. Dragging me out to be scrutinized by everyone. 2 "So what if I've squeezed enough, and what if I haven't?" I met his gaze provocatively. "Is Mr. Thorne offering to pay the difference?" "Maya, three years later, and you're still as cheap as ever!" He looked down at me from his towering height, those beautiful eyes freezing over with hostility. His words were like a sword, twisting in my gut until my organs ached. I scrutinized him through the hazy club lighting. The man he used to be was like a beam of light—real, stubborn, standing firm in this unpredictable world. Now, he was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his striking looks undiminished, but his eyes were like a bottomless abyss. Looking at me now, there wasn't a single trace of the gentle affection he once had. I twisted my wrist, forcing him to lean in closer. "Flirting with another woman right in front of your fiancée... tell me, who's really cheaper?" I fought him, "tooth and nail," just like I always used to. Only, we used to whisper sweet nothings. Now, we were spitting razor blades. Caleb seemed to snap back to reality. He violently shoved my hand away, grabbed a wet wipe from the table, and meticulously, repeatedly scrubbed his hands. The humiliation was deafeningly clear. I didn't want to stay a second longer. I exchanged a look with Julian, stood up, and prepared to leave. But Caleb stepped into my path, blocking my exit. "Serena, come here. I want to introduce you to someone." He reined in his hostility and waved Serena over. "Caleb, is there something special about this lady?" Serena trotted over, taking small, delicate steps. She intimately linked her arm through Caleb's, leaning softly against him as if she had no bones. Just as her name suggested, she looked sweet and adorable, clearly a girl who had been pampered her whole life. "She's very special." Caleb directed his words to Serena, but his eyes were locked on me. "This is the ex-girlfriend who dumped me for two million dollars. Maya." His voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear. The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. A massive wave of shame threatened to swallow me whole. I kept my face perfectly neutral, quietly hiding my trembling hands behind my back. Because tonight, I could hurt, I could laugh, but I absolutely could not show a single ounce of vulnerability. "Is two million a lot? The jewelry set Caleb gave me cost ten million." Serena's pale, manicured fingers lightly brushed the dazzling diamond necklace around her throat. Matching earrings swung from her delicate earlobes. "Ten million?! Eight figures!" A chorus of gasps rippled through the crowd. Followed closely by jeers and mockery. Mocking me for giving up a handsome, billionaire boyfriend for a mere two million. Crack— From the crowd, came the sharp sound of an aluminum can being crushed. Startled, I turned toward the noise. Julian was casually tossing a mangled beer can between his hands, a dark, unreadable smirk playing on his lips. I shook my head slightly at him, signaling him to stay calm. Caleb suddenly let out a low, dark chuckle. He pulled a thick stack of hundred-dollar bills from his jacket and casually tossed them into the air. "Maya, I have plenty of money." "But you. Don't. Deserve. It!" The bills fluttered down like snow, landing on my face, my shoulders. And scattering around my feet. "With a boyfriend this amazing, you better hold on tight, little sister." I forced a smile, enduring the onslaught of judgmental stares. "Of course I will." Serena looked up at Caleb. Her gaze met his, perfectly perfectly matching his look of adoration. "Wow, so sweet, so romantic~" "If you guys don't kiss right now, it's a crime against nature!" I don't know who started it, but the chants of "Kiss! Kiss!" grew louder and louder. Caleb suddenly hooked an arm around Serena's waist, dipped her back onto the sofa, leaned down, and kissed her. The atmosphere hit a fever pitch. Under the flashing lights, barely an arm's length away from me, they kissed passionately. Around me, the crowd roared. But in my ears, there was nothing but dead silence. 3 I threw up in the bathroom until I felt like I was going to pass out. When I stumbled out, the first thing I saw was a tall, blurry figure standing in the shadows. People were walking in and out of the nearby private rooms. The strobe lights flashed across his face, illuminating a storm of pure fury. It was Caleb. My body reacted before my brain. I turned on my heel and power-walked in the opposite direction. I was fast, but Caleb was faster. Just as my foot hit the floor, he grabbed me hard by the back of my shoulder. "Running the second you see me? Feeling guilty?" He used all his strength, his grip making my shoulder throb with pain. I tried to break free, but it was useless. "Guilty about what?" I laughed, my voice raw. "I just don't think we have anything left to catch up on." "Maya, you've been strutting around right under my nose all night, and now you say that? Isn't it a bit late?" His voice was chillingly cold. "What do you mean, strutting around right under your nose? Just because we broke up doesn't mean I can't come to a high school reunion." I straightened my spine, turned around, and swatted his hand away. "If that's true, then why were you hiding in the bathroom puking?" He reached out and pinched my chin. "Did you get knocked up by some random guy, or did I just make you sick?" The memory of him kissing another woman flashed through my mind, and my stomach violently churned again. To avoid blowing my cover, I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek. "I didn't eat much, so it was mostly just dry heaving," I gave him my assessment, ignoring his question. My words made his eyes burn with anger. "Caleb, we've been over for a long time. What exactly do you want?!" I shoved him hard, but he pinned my wrists against the wall. "I should be asking you that." He leaned in close. "Since you disappeared, why did you show up again?" The disgust and loathing in his eyes were completely undisguised. The blood in my veins turned to ice. I suddenly smiled brightly. "What answer do you want to hear? That I can't forget you and want to get back together? Or that I regret everything and want to beg for your forgiveness?" He didn't say anything. He probably really wanted to hear an excuse. "Of course it's because—" "She came with me." Before I could finish, a teasing male voice cut in. A few feet away, Julian was leaning against the wall, hands casually stuffed in his pockets. I had no idea how long he'd been watching from the corner. "Bro code dictates you don't touch your buddy's girl. Caleb, you're crossing a line." He added calmly. "What... what do you mean?" Caleb's voice suddenly trembled slightly. "It means Maya is my girlfriend now." "I'm a year older than you. What, are you the only one allowed to have a fiancée, but I can't date?" Julian lazily rolled up his sleeves. It was obvious that if Caleb didn't let go, he was ready to throw down. "Are you two really... together?" Caleb's gaze shifted back to me. Even in the dim light, his stare felt incredibly heavy. "Do you need a French kiss as proof?" I lowered my eyes and sneered. "Be my guest..." Caleb let go of me, turned, and walked away. Julian let out a sharp whistle, a sly, victorious smirk spreading across his lips. With my facade entirely shattered, I slumped weakly against the wall, closing my eyes in exhaustion. "I told you not to come, but you wouldn't listen. Do you consider this a self-inflicted wound?" Julian's exasperated huff sounded in my ear. I opened my eyes and looked at him. "There are some things that no one else can do for me." Knowing I was going to see our old classmate who was a doctor, he had offered to ask on my behalf, but I refused. Because I needed to hear the truth with my own ears. "But you can fool yourself; you can't fool anyone else when it comes to feelings." Julian stepped closer, placed one hand on the wall behind me, and looked down at me. "Maya, I've watched over you for seven years, and you never gave me the time of day." "Just now, when he was publicly humiliating you, I wanted to punch him, and you wouldn't even let me." "Is he really that great? Is he really worth you agonizing over for three years after you broke up?" Even though he was saying hurtful things, the underlying heartache in his voice was impossible to hide. I raised my arms, wrapped them around his waist, and buried my face in his chest. He visibly stiffened. "Julian, some forms of protection have nothing to do with love, and life doesn't offer many chances to turn back." "Back then, when he begged to see me, I refused. So of course my presence today is an eyesore to him." "If he needs to curse me out to feel better, I'll take it. After all, I'm the one who needed a favor today." I patiently explained it to him. "Did you get the answers you wanted?" Julian sighed. I nodded slightly. "Then let's head back." He ruffled my hair. "I'll go get the car. Wait for me at the entrance." "Okay." I slowly let go. In the periphery of my vision, a figure quietly walked away... 4 On the drive home, Julian was unnervingly quiet. He didn't speak, and I definitely didn't have the urge to say anything. "Remember what you promised me. I'm driving you tomorrow." When I went to get out of the car, he suddenly hit the central lock. I was about to refuse, but when I saw his stubborn expression, I changed my tune. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten." I gave him a reassuring smile and flashed an "OK" sign. Only then did he unlock the doors. As Julian's car sped away, I stood on the sidewalk, lost in thought. He and Caleb used to be best friends. They grew up together, as close as brothers. Before Caleb and I got together, Julian had publicly given me a love letter. When I rejected him, he shamelessly declared he wouldn't give up "until the bitter end." After Caleb and I started dating, he started dating too, but he cycled through girlfriends quickly, never staying with one for long. I thought his interest in me had just been a passing phase. But he gradually faded out of Caleb's and my life, eventually becoming entirely estranged from Caleb. I once thought I would never cross paths with him again in this lifetime. But after my family's tragedy, he was the one who spent countless agonizing days and nights with me at the hospital. He even acted as my smokescreen, successfully making Evelyn drop her guard around me. Besides my parents, I have two great regrets in the first half of my life. One is failing Caleb, and the other is being unable to return Julian's love... The cold night wind started to pick up, biting into my exposed skin like needles. I wrapped my scarf tightly around my face and turned to walk toward my apartment building. Not far away, a car's hazard lights suddenly flashed twice. By the light of the streetlamp, I recognized the person in the driver's seat. It was Carter, the trusted driver of Caleb's mother. I couldn't help but sneer. Talk about lingering like a ghost. I quickened my pace, pulled open the passenger door, and slid inside. "What is it?" "Please pack your things, Ms. Sterling. We're leaving tonight." His voice was as stiff and uncompromising as ever. "Isn't my train ticket for 6 AM tomorrow?" I turned to look at him. "Can't Mrs. Thorne even wait one night?" He didn't answer. Instead, he placed his phone on the center console. It was mid-call, on speaker. "Does Ms. Sterling have a problem with that?" Serena's voice came through the speaker. It was arrogant and domineering, a far cry from her demure and gentle daytime persona. "I wouldn't dare." I frowned and chuckled. "I just wanted to know if this is Mrs. Thorne's order or Ms. Vance's?" "Does it make a difference?" A scoff came from the other end. "It doesn't matter whose order it is. Ms. Sterling just needs to know that only when you're gone can Mrs. Thorne have peace of mind." She paused. "Only then can I have peace of mind." Remembering the figure I saw leaving the KTV earlier, I laughed out loud. We only met once, and she was already guarding against me. And I, what power did I have to command such fear? "I'll go." I was too tired to argue, and moved to get out of the car. My things had been packed for a while; all that was left were a few everyday items. When I finished packing, I zipped up my suitcase and took one last look around. My parents bought this apartment. We lived here for over twenty years, and every corner held traces of our family. But now, everything was different, and even the property deed had changed names. I placed the keys on the shoe cabinet by the entrance, locked the door, and carried my suitcase downstairs. As the car headed toward the highway, I opened my phone to send a goodbye message to my new employer. I immediately noticed an unsent message. The urge to antagonize Evelyn was long gone. I put my phone away and stared out the window, silently bidding farewell to this bustling city. The city lights illuminated the pitch-black sky; towering skyscrapers stood everywhere, and the neon lights were blinding. This city held countless lonely souls, countless joys, angers, sorrows, and tragedies. But it no longer held a place for me... 5 The car drove further and further from the city center. It wasn't until I saw a familiar courtyard that I realized with a shock that Carter had driven to the Thorne estate. "Mrs. Thorne wanted to say goodbye to you in person." Carter parked the car and politely opened the door. "Is that really necessary?" I remained seated. I could count on one hand the number of times I had been here, but each visit was unforgettable. I didn't want to add another. "I'm just following orders," he said, looking straight at me. "I hope Ms. Sterling won't make this difficult for me." I sat in the car, locked in a stalemate with him. "The young master hasn't lived here for a long time." After a long pause, he added. Only then did I step out of the car. Walking boldly into the house, I saw Evelyn sitting in the parlor, watching financial news. A woman nearing fifty, her skin was still porcelain smooth. Under the sparkling light of the crystal chandelier, she seemed to glow. "Here is your ID. Carter will see you to the station." After I sat across from her, she turned down the TV volume and handed me an ID card. The woman in the photo looked a bit like me. "Mrs. Thorne certainly went through a lot of trouble to hide my tracks." I smiled. "Where are my actual documents? When are you giving them back?" "After Caleb and Ms. Vance are married." She pushed a brand-new smartphone toward me. "Until then, I expect Ms. Sterling to know her place." I instantly understood her intent: she was confiscating my phone. My throat suddenly felt tight. Wasn't it enough that she took my residency and ID? Now she wanted to cut off my social network too? "And if I refuse?" I pressed my hand against the pocket holding my phone. Caleb gave me this phone five years ago; it was a matching set with his. I had used it all these years, and it was already lagging and crashing. Because it held so much, I couldn't bear to replace it. I even winced if it got bumped... "I don't want outsiders coveting my chosen daughter-in-law's husband." She pushed the new phone closer again. "Ms. Sterling, don't force my hand." Her single sentence clarified the power dynamics and her stance. Knowing I had no way out, I reluctantly pulled out my phone and placed it on the table. "Carter, handle it." She gestured. Carter picked up the phone, removed the SIM tray, snapped the card in half, and then broke the phone in two with his bare hands. I watched helplessly as my phone was reduced to a mangled mess. "Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Sterling." Evelyn nodded in satisfaction. "If that's gratitude for my obedience these past three years, I accept." My gaze drifted over the ruined metal and plastic. "If it's for my inability to fight back today, then keep it." "The road ahead is long. Ms. Sterling is still young; you need to look forward." She raised her chin and ordered Carter, "It's getting late. Take Ms. Sterling to the station." "Yes, ma'am," Carter replied. I stood up silently, lowering my head as I walked toward the door. Carter took two quick steps and shoved the new phone into my hand. I took it numbly. "Maya—" Just as Carter was about to open the parlor door, Evelyn spoke again. I turned around like a marionette. "Live well. Nobody wants to compete with a dead woman." She crossed her arms, exuding an aura of absolute authority. I let out a bitter, silent laugh. All these years, she guarded against me like I was a thief. She even destroyed my phone before I left to prevent me from contacting Caleb again. But Caleb was such a proud man; after I had hurt him so many times, how could he ever look back? The most ridiculous part was that after doing so many unspeakable things, she still hypocritically wished me a long life... "Understood." I answered coldly, brushing past Carter to open the door. The moment the door opened, I froze in my tracks. Caleb stood right outside. His posture was rigid, his breathing steady. But those dark eyes burned with a dark, smoldering fire. 6 "Caleb, what are you doing here?" Evelyn's voice couldn't hide her shock. "You told me to come home if I missed it, didn't you, Mother?" "Now that I'm back, Mother seems so surprised—" The corner of his mouth twitched up, as if he was smiling, but not really. "Is it because I'm not welcome here, or is Mother up to some shady business again?" Every sentence used the formal "Mother," but every word was coated in venom. I frowned as I listened. Even though Caleb's relationship with his mother used to be tense, he at least called her "Mom." Now he couldn't even be bothered to say "Mom," yet he called Serena's parents "Mom and Dad." What exactly had happened these past few years... "Ma'am—" Carter suddenly rushed toward the area behind me. My thoughts abruptly cut off, and I turned around in confusion. Evelyn lay stiffly on the mahogany sofa, her breathing ragged, her usually composed face a sickly shade of grey-blue. I couldn't help but feel anxious. Because with Carter moving away, the space around me felt suffocating. I could even smell the faint scent of alcohol on Caleb. For me, this proximity was far too dangerous. In any other setting, I might have just lashed out. But here, in the Thorne estate, right in front of Evelyn, I couldn't bring myself to scream or curse. It would only make me look like a cheap clown. I casually took two steps to the side, trying to distance myself from Caleb. But he took a large stride forward, hooked an arm around my waist, and dragged me straight toward his mother. His arm felt like an iron bar. I wanted to glue my feet to the floor, but I lacked the strength, forced to let him drag me forward. "It's so late, and my dear Mother is still hosting guests. Working so hard." Caleb forcefully pushed me down onto the sofa. "What kind of deal did you strike? Let me hear it too." "Carter, take Ms. Sterling home." Evelyn caught her breath, but she radiated a dark, oppressive energy. I obediently stood up. But Caleb pushed me back down again. "I'm basically half the master of this house now. If Mother acts like this, isn't it a bit disrespectful to me?" He adjusted his watch, his expression lazy, but every word was a warning. With Evelyn glaring like a hawk in front of me and Caleb aggressively cornering me, I was trapped. I touched the cold, new phone in my hand, caught in a dilemma. After three years away, I had absolutely no desire to meddle in their family drama. I wanted to just walk away, but all I had was a fake ID. Without Carter's help, even if I knew where to go, I wouldn't pass the facial recognition at the station. As the three of us remained locked in a standoff, Evelyn spoke again. "Don't you want to know what happened three years ago? Let her leave, and I'll tell you." "God knows what kind of lies you'll spin. Compared to you, I'd rather hear it from her." Caleb's tone was flat. Evelyn sneered. "If you want to hear it from her, you have to see if she's willing to tell you." Everyone's eyes immediately fell on me. "I don't have a fetish for catching up with my ex." The corners of my lips curled up. "I'm afraid my boyfriend, Julian, would get jealous." Caleb kicked the coffee table, sending it crashing over. He clenched his fists, the veins on his neck bulging, looking like lightning hidden in thick, dark clouds, ready to destroy everything. I knew he was absolutely furious. But I felt zero sense of accomplishment. As someone who once loved him deeply, I always knew exactly where to stab him so it hurt the most. When we were together, I never thought a day would come where I'd use my knowledge of him as a weapon against him. Over these three years, I had ruthlessly poured all that knowledge out to wound him... "Let's go." I stood up and signaled Carter. He looked at Evelyn. Evelyn gave a stiff nod. As we walked out, Carter kept looking back, clearly worried about Evelyn's safety. "If you don't leave now, you might regret it." I offered a subtle warning. Carter flinched, and his steps instantly quickened. This time, Caleb didn't try to stop me.
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