Celeste faced financial ruin, supposedly owing five million dollars.
The day our wedding had to be postponed, she told me she had a serious illness.
So, to pay for her medical treatment and settle her ‘debts,’ I started juggling four jobs a day.
Until this one day, I got a part-time gig at an amusement park.
I heard some rich heiress had rented out the entire park to celebrate her male assistant’s birthday.
All I had to do was spend a day in a mascot costume under the scorching sun, and I’d get three hundred bucks.
Three hundred bucks – that would cover two days of Celeste’s hospital bills.
But the moment I put on the mascot head, I saw Celeste, who was supposed to be in a hospital bed.
She was leaning into her male assistant, Tyler, nibbling ice cream from his hand.
Just then, the ice cream in Tyler’s hand dropped, splattering onto his shoe.
Before I could even process the shock, Celeste waved me over. She pulled out a wad of cash, tossing it at my feet.
“Wipe my boyfriend’s shoe clean, and this money is all yours.”
Realizing what was happening, my body started to tremble uncontrollably.
Watching Tyler’s foot extend towards me, I instinctively wanted to rip off my mascot head and demand an explanation from Celeste.
But then, Tyler spoke up:
“Sis, you’re celebrating my birthday today, what about Liam? What if he goes back to the hospital and finds you gone?”
Hearing that, my hand froze.
Celeste leaned in close to him, sticking her tongue out to playfully lick the ice cream from his fingers.
“He won’t find out. When he left this morning, he specifically told me he was taking on a part-time job, earning three hundred bucks for the day.”
Tyler suddenly burst out laughing. “Three hundred bucks? Sis, how much did you spend to rent this entire amusement park today? Two million?”
“More than two million, but as long as you’re happy on your birthday, I don’t care how much it costs.”
Celeste said, then stood on her tiptoes and passionately kissed Tyler’s lips.
My hands clenched into tight fists inside the mascot costume.
For three years with Celeste, she always claimed to be the shy, modest type, never even initiating holding my hand, let alone such a passionate kiss.
After the kiss, Tyler wore a smug, sated look.
Seeing me standing there, dumbfounded, he kicked my leg.
“I gave you such a big tip to clean my shoe. What are you standing there for?”
I stumbled and fell. Tyler then wiped his foot on me a few times before taking Celeste’s hand and walking away, high and mighty.
I stared blankly at their retreating figures. It took a long time before I finally took off the mascot head, the suffocating pain almost keeping me from getting up.
I looked at the scattered bills on the ground.
Scattered bills and loose change.
One crumpled twenty-dollar bill had a smudged oil stain on it.
I remembered that bill. Yesterday, when I was hustling at my street cart, a drunk guy knocked over my produce. He tried to leave, and I stopped him. He sneered, pulled out that twenty-dollar bill, and tossed it onto my stand.
I crouched down and picked up all the money.
It wasn’t much, just two hundred and sixty-five dollars in total.
All cash from my street sales.
Yesterday, I’d given that money to Celeste.
I knew her credit cards were frozen due to her supposed debts, so I’d saved that cash for her to buy food and drinks when I wasn’t around.
“Liam, I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you. Once I’m well, we’ll get married.”
Yesterday, when she got the money, Celeste was crying her eyes out.
But today, she’d casually used that same money as a tip for Tyler to clean his shoes.
I wandered the streets in a daze.
Clutching those two hundred and sixty-five dollars tightly in my hand.
Passing a small diner, I walked in without hesitation. After ordering a few dishes, I devoured them.
Since Celeste got ‘sick,’ I’d often bought myself cheap microwave meals to save money for her treatment.
In just one year, I’d lost thirty-three pounds.
Now I knew it was all an act. If she could spend over two million to rent an entire amusement park just to make Tyler happy on his birthday, how could she be deep in debt?
My tears fell into my food. I knew Celeste and I were over.
When I returned to her hospital room that evening, Celeste was already back.
She lay in bed, looking at me with a serene and innocent expression.
A complete contrast to the arrogant and entitled heiress I’d seen that day.
Noticing my grim face, she took my hand, gently tracing the calluses and rough patches on my hands, marks from all the odd jobs and hustles I’d taken on.
“Are you tired today? You don’t look so good.”
Hearing that, I let out a cold laugh.
“And you? Were you tired from playing at the amusement park today?”
Celeste’s face stiffened.
“What amusement park? Did someone tell you something? I’ve been in this room all day because I’m sick…”
Before she could finish, I pulled out the two hundred and sixty-five dollars from my pocket.
The moment she saw the money, Celeste’s face went utterly pale.
After a long pause, she asked,
“Was that you in the mascot costume?”
“You figured it out?”
I nodded. Before I could speak, Celeste quickly said,
“Okay, I admit it, I’m not broke, and I’m not sick. But you know my family is very wealthy. Marrying me isn’t easy; you have to pass our family’s test.”
“I didn’t mean to deceive you, it’s just that my family wants you to treat me well. They want to see your sincerity.”
She looked at me anxiously when she finished.
“Actually, you should be happy, right? Knowing I’m not sick means you won’t have to work so hard anymore. I can tell you now, you’ve passed our family’s test. You can marry me.”
She flashed me a dazzling, saccharine smile.
In the past, hearing her say she wanted to marry me would have thrilled me.
But now, I felt our relationship was nothing but lies and deceit.
“No need. We’re breaking up.”
“And all the medical bills and ‘debts’ I paid for you over the years, you need to pay me back.”
Hearing me say that, Celeste panicked.
“I can give you the money, but breaking up is absolutely not an option. We’ve been together for so long, and we’re about to get married. How can we break up now? I know you’re upset about this, but I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
She said, pulling out her phone to transfer money to me.
But just then, Tyler’s FaceTime call came in. Almost instantly, Celeste answered.
“Sis, I feel awful. Can you come stay with me?”
Tyler’s drunken voice came through the phone.
Celeste immediately became flustered.
She didn’t even care that she was wearing a hospital gown, rolling out of bed.
I stopped her, asking,
“You said you’d compensate me.”
Celeste shot me a disgusted look.
“Money, money, money. Is that all you care about? Didn’t you hear Tyler’s drunk? What if something happens to him?”
“I don’t think you passed my test at all. You’re just after my family’s money. The test has to continue.”
With that, she strode out of the hospital room. I watched her retreating back with a cold smile and dialed a number I hadn’t called in a long time.
Celeste, what makes you think I can’t live without you? What makes you think I care about your so-called test?
2
After hanging up, I went back to the luxury apartment Celeste and I shared.
It was a sprawling two-thousand-square-foot flat, costing four thousand five hundred dollars a month in rent.
Before Celeste’s supposed bankruptcy, I owned a three-bedroom house.
But after she ‘went broke,’ I sold that house to help her pay off her supposed debts.
Originally, I thought we could rent a two-bedroom apartment to save money for her treatment.
But she insisted on this large apartment.
She said living in a cramped two-bedroom would make her unhappy, and her condition would worsen.
Knowing she’d been spoiled rotten since childhood, I gritted my teeth and rented this apartment at four thousand five hundred dollars a month.
I hadn’t been home long when the door opened from outside.
I looked up to see Celeste helping a drunken Tyler inside.
Tyler was completely sloshed, practically hanging off Celeste.
Seeing me stare at them, an annoyed expression flashed across Celeste’s face.
“What are you standing there for? Aren’t you going to help?”
I almost laughed in anger. “Celeste, what is the meaning of this? You’re not even pretending anymore? You’re bringing him directly into our home?”
“What are you jealous about? Can’t you see Tyler’s drunk? I remember you can make hangover soup. Go make some for him now.”
She said, settling Tyler onto the sofa.
Tyler, still drunk, wrapped his arms around her waist and rubbed against her chest.
“Sis, don’t bother Liam. It’s late, and he’s been busy all day. I’m not that bad. I’ll be happy as long as you’re with me.”
Seeing me standing aside, staring at them coldly, Celeste’s face immediately darkened.
“Is it so hard for you to make Tyler some hangover soup? How do you expect to pass my test like this? My family would never allow a narrow-minded man like you to marry me.”
Hearing that, I let out a low laugh.
“Celeste, what makes you think I still want to marry you?”
Celeste’s face fell. A moment later, she suddenly burst out laughing.
“Liam, there’s a limit to your jealousy. If you didn’t want to be with me, why would you follow me around like a puppy? When I said I was broke, you sold your house to pay my debts. When I said I was seriously ill, you worked four jobs a day for my treatment. Didn’t you do all of that just to marry me and be with me?”
“I’m telling you now, if you just make this bowl of hangover soup, I’ll consider you passed my test. How about it?”
Celeste looked at me triumphantly, as if she had me completely figured out.
But I just sneered.
“This apartment is rented in my name. We’ve already broken up. Please take Tyler and get out. Otherwise, I’ll call security to kick you both out.”
At that moment, Tyler, lying on the sofa, suddenly chuckled.
“Kick us out? Liam, don’t you know this apartment is in my name?”
After saying that, he suddenly looked at Celeste somewhat timidly.
“Sorry, Sis, I just remembered you didn’t want me to tell Liam.”
“Liam, you probably didn’t know? This apartment used to be in Sis’s name. But today, for my birthday, Sis gave it to me. Next time you pay rent, you can just give it to me.”
3
I froze, staring at Celeste in disbelief.
Celeste clearly hadn’t expected Tyler to blurt that out.
A flicker of panic crossed her eyes.
I gave a cold laugh.
“No wonder you insisted I rent this apartment. Back then, I was paying off your debts and earning money for your medical expenses. The pressure was immense. You *insisted* on living in an apartment with such high monthly rent, Celeste. Do you know? At that time, I even considered selling my blood!”
“And now you tell me this apartment was yours all along? Is it really that fun to toy with me like this?”
Seeing the sheer brokenness in my eyes, a clear look of distress appeared on Celeste’s face.
“Celeste, forget about any ‘tests.’ Did you ever truly love me?”
“I…”
Celeste was speechless.
Tyler, however, stood up.
“So what? Liam, isn’t it what you’re supposed to do for a woman you love, suffer for her? Besides, testing you was the Song family’s idea. You’re a poor nobody, but the Song family is an old-money dynasty. If you don’t pass their test, what right do you have to be their trophy son-in-law? Having a chance to marry Sis means fifty fewer years of struggle. What’s not to be satisfied about?”
His words made the flicker of distress in Celeste’s eyes vanish.
I looked at Tyler, a cold smile on my face. “In that case, that trophy son-in-law position is all yours.”
With that, I grabbed my jacket from the sofa and walked straight out the door.
Celeste was about to call out to me, but Tyler stopped her.
“Sis, I’m still feeling a bit dizzy…”
The moment he mentioned dizziness, Celeste’s face immediately filled with worry.
Just as I reached the complex gate, a Maybach pulled up in front of me.
The driver got out and bowed respectfully.
“Young Master, you’ve finally come to your senses and cut ties with that nouveau riche Song family.”
“Ms. Lin, your fiancée, will be flying back from Northern Europe tomorrow. I’m just waiting to celebrate your engagement.”
Over the next few days, Celeste didn’t contact me.
I returned to the Gu family estate and was lectured by Grandfather, who wielded his cane.
Years ago, I fell for Celeste at first sight and was determined to pursue her.
Grandfather, furious, cut off all my cards, leaving me only with a three-bedroom house.
Back then, I’d vowed to win the girl and prove Grandfather’s judgment wrong, but now I had to admit defeat.
My meeting with Aurora went smoothly. Both families were eager, so the engagement party was set for three days later.
The Lin and Gu families were both top-tier dynasties. On the day of the engagement, many guests arrived. As Aurora and I stood at the entrance greeting them, I suddenly heard Tyler’s voice:
“Sis, the Gu Group heir’s name is also Liam? What a world of difference!”
“Why are you bringing him up for no reason?”
A flicker of annoyance crossed Celeste’s face. “He really hasn’t contacted me all these days.”
“Sis, don’t worry. He’ll come back to you eventually. After all, he’s just a gold digger. He spent so much money on you, he’ll definitely come back for it. He’s just playing hard to get right now.”
Tyler said, pulling her into a hug to comfort her.
“Sis, I’m a man, I understand guys like him and their little games.”
Celeste’s expression softened, and she followed Tyler towards us.
Aurora knew about my past quarrel with Grandfather over Celeste. She came over, linked her arm through mine, and whispered in my ear:
“Is this the girl you gave up the entire Gu family for? She doesn’t seem worth it.”
My face darkened. Just then, Tyler saw me.
“Liam, what are you doing here?”
He eyed me up and down.
“What are you wearing? Don’t tell me you’re here working as a server?”
Celeste’s gaze, however, was fixed on Aurora beside me.
“Liam, what is this supposed to mean? You knew I was coming to this event, so you brought a woman just to spite me? Let me tell you, if you think this will make me jealous, you’re wrong.”
Aurora covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
She leaned into my ear.
“Your ex-girlfriend certainly is interesting.”
Seeing our intimate gestures, Celeste clenched her fists hanging at her sides even tighter.
From her perspective, I was constantly provoking her.
“Is this the kind of place a poor nobody like you can come to? Are you here crashing for free food and drinks, or working as a server? And bringing a woman, too.”
Celeste rolled her eyes at Aurora’s long red mermaid dress.
“Country bumpkins have no manners, don’t they know what day it is? Wearing a bright red dress? Today is the engagement of the Gu Group heir and the Lin family heiress.”
Then she looked at me. “Liam, are you just trying to scam people by claiming to share the same name as the Gu Group heir?”
“I think so too. I’ll get the security guards right now and have these two poor nobodies kicked out. Do they really think this place is for just any random person off the street?”
Tyler echoed Celeste.
In their eyes, I was that pathetic.
As if my poverty was a crime.
Yet, it was this same person they looked down on so much who, when Celeste lied about being broke, sold his house and worked four jobs a day to help her pay her debts.
When a person is pushed to their absolute limit, they truly do laugh.
Tyler made good on his word. He grabbed a patrolling security guard, pointing at Aurora and me.
“These two don’t have the right to attend the Gu and Lin family engagement party. They might be here to scam people. To ensure the safety of our guests, you should kick them out immediately.”
The security guard looked at him as if he were an idiot, then bowed to Aurora and me.
“Mr. Gu, Ms. Lin, should we escort this disruptive gentleman out?”
I waved my hand. “Since they’re here, they’re guests. They’re just trying to freeload, no need to worry about it.”
Hearing me, the security guard eyed Tyler, who had widened his eyes in shock mixed with fear, then respectfully said to me,
“Understood, Mr. Gu. If you need anything, please call us immediately.”
I nodded, ignoring Tyler’s stunned and somewhat fearful gaze, and turned back to Aurora, only to find she had already extended her hand to Celeste.
“Hello, I hear you’re Liam’s ex-girlfriend, right?”
“I’m Liam’s fiancée, Aurora Lin.”
↓ ↓ Download the Novel Master app, Search 【 293821 】reads the whole book. ↓ ↓
NovelShort
