Chapter 3

3: 3

I showed up at the Skyline Residences sales office.

I pulled the brim of my baseball cap down low and found a seat in the waiting area near the VIP room.

Less than ten minutes later, I spotted those two familiar figures.

Maxwell had a brand-new suit on now, all polished up like he was somebody.

The woman on his arm wore a Chanel outfit, chin tipped so high it practically pointed at the ceiling.

The captions floated past:

【The suit's rented, the confidence is fake, and only the broke part is real.】

【That Chanel outfit is a knockoff. She only ever buys off-season fakes.】

Carolyn leaned against Maxwell's shoulder, all sugary.

"Max, I really love this floor-through unit, especially the walk-in closet. It's just big enough for all my bags."

Maxwell waved a grand hand.

"Buy it! As long as you like it, forget the floor-through, I'll buy you a mansion!"

"I knew Max treats me the best. Not like that roommate you share a place with, so stingy she counts every takeout order."

Carolyn covered her mouth and giggled, her eyes full of contempt.

Roommate?

That was how Maxwell had introduced me to her?

"Carolyn, don't worry. Once we hand over the down payment today, we'll go back home and get the marriage license."

Maxwell clasped her hand, all tender devotion.

"As for that stupid woman, I already got rid of her with a hundred thousand. She's probably wandering around some mall right now, happily picking out a bag."

"A hundred thousand? That's way too generous!"

Carolyn rolled her eyes.

"A poor, shabby woman like that would be over the moon if you gave her ten thousand. Using my money to pay her off, that stings."

Your money?

I almost laughed from the sheer nerve of it.

The high-interest loan he'd taken out on my ID, when exactly did that become her money?

Just then a sales manager came over with a few documents.

"Miss Henson, Mr. Dickerson, the purchase contract is ready. The down payment comes to one point eight-eight million. Card or transfer?"

"Card!"

Carolyn pulled a bank card from her purse with a flourish and slapped it down on the table.

That card was the very account that had received the one point nine million in dirty money yesterday.

I watched the manager pick up the card reader and silently counted down.

Three.

Two.

One.

"Transaction declined. Insufficient funds or account error."

The smile froze on Carolyn's face.

"That's impossible. Is your junk machine broken or something?"

She snatched the card back and glared at the manager.

"One point nine million just came into my account yesterday. There's no way it's short!"

The manager gave an awkward little smile.

"Miss Henson, why don't you try another card? Or check your mobile banking?"

Maxwell quickly leaned in to look at Carolyn's phone.

"Carolyn, check it, is there a bank limit on it?"

While they were scrambling to check the account, I tossed the brochure aside and rose to my feet, unhurried.

I smoothed down my clothes and, heels clicking, walked over to them one step at a time.

"No need to check."

I looked at their stunned faces and pulled the corner of my mouth into a brilliant smile.

"That card's already been frozen."

The instant Maxwell saw me, the color drained from his face, like he'd seen a ghost.

"Al… Alice? What are you doing here?!"

Carolyn looked me up and down.

"Max, this is that roommate of yours? What's she here for? Following us?"

I ignored Carolyn's yapping and stared straight into Maxwell's eyes.

"Maxwell, you took out a two-million high-interest loan on my ID just to buy this woman a home?"

"You've got some nerve."