Chapter 1

The day after my family went bankrupt and my father jumped from the rooftop of our company building, Julian showed up at my front door with his lawyer to call off our engagement.

We hadn't even had time to set up the memorial service yet. The house was in total chaos, with my mother and our grieving relatives sobbing in each other's arms.

Julian stood at the doorway in an immaculate, custom-tailored suit, without a speck of dust on him.

"Tessa, step outside for a minute." His voice was as cold and aloof as ever, devoid of any emotion.

He pushed a three-million-dollar check toward me.

"The debt your father left behind is too deep of a black hole. The Vance family cannot go down with you. My mother has already chosen a new fiancée for me."

He paused, a rare flush creeping up behind his ears.

"My future wife is Chloe."

The fragile smile I had been forcing instantly shattered.

Chloe—the girl Julian had desperately chased for three years during his college days, his untouchable dream girl.

Later on, I handled my father's funeral all on my own, liquidated every single asset, and clawed my way back up from hell.

When we met again, it was at his and Chloe's lavish wedding.

With bloodshot eyes, he told me he regretted it all. He claimed that I was the only woman he had ever truly loved.

I pulled my hand back with a faint smile and handed him the positive ultrasound report I had picked up just this morning.

"Mr. Vance, I'm already married."

I rested my hand gently over my stomach and smiled softly.

"And my husband is waiting for me to come home and share the good news."

After laying my father to rest, I began selling off whatever remained of our family's assets.

The suburban villa, luxury sports cars, rare art pieces... everything that could be converted into cash was put up for sale.

Even with Julian's three million dollars, it was barely a drop in the bucket against the suffocating debt my father had left behind.

Overnight, I tumbled from a pampered heiress surrounded by admirers to a broke, debt-ridden outcast.

The "friends" who used to swarm around me now treated me like the plague.

My phone stayed dead silent, save for the debt collectors who called with vicious punctuality.

One afternoon, carrying several limited-edition designer bags, I headed to the largest luxury consignment boutique downtown.

The boutique owner, Clara, had been on good terms with my family, and I had brought her plenty of business in the past.

The moment I walked through the doors, I saw several familiar faces.

It was Julian's close circle of childhood buddies, Austin and Tyler.

They were crowding around an elegant, slender woman, browsing the latest fine jewelry collection.

I froze, a numbing cold washing through my limbs.

That woman was Chloe.

When Austin spotted me, a sneer instantly curled onto his face.

"Well, well, isn't this Miss Tessa? What happened? Fallen so hard you're hawking used bags now?"

Tyler chimed in with sharp sarcasm, "Come on, Austin, don't be so harsh. She’s being totally independent and self-reliant now. So inspiring, really. I just wonder if the millions Julian gave her was enough to cover her debts."

I gripped the bags against my chest, my nails digging deep into my palms, though my face remained blank.

I didn't bother wasting my breath on them. Walking straight past them to the counter, I set the bags down before Clara.

Clara looked at me, her eyes filled with sorrow and sympathy. Lowering her voice, she murmured, "Tessa, sweetheart, why push yourself like this? If you need help, talk to me. Don't carry it all alone."

I shook my head and forced a tight, bitter smile.

"I'm fine, Clara. Just please appraise these and see what you can give me. I need the money urgently."

Chloe overheard us.

Clicking her high heels, she strolled over with practiced elegance.

Her gaze drifted lazily over the bags on the counter, a faint, condescending smirk playing at the corner of her lips.

"Miss Tessa, I never expected to run into you in a place like this."

Her voice was sugary sweet, but laced with haughty pity. "Aren't these the birthday gifts Julian bought for you over the years? Rushing to sell them off so quickly... it seems you really are desperate for cash."

Her words felt like needles pricking straight into my heart.

Right then, the boutique door was pushed open, and Julian walked in.

The moment his eyes landed on me, his expression darkened. His brow furrowed tight, radiating undisguised disgust.

"Tessa, what are you doing here?" he demanded coldly. "Are you stalking me?"

I was so infuriated that I couldn't even muster a sarcastic laugh. A shiver ran down my spine. I lifted my chin and looked at him calmly.

"Julian, I'm just here to sell some personal items."

My calm demeanor seemed to infuriate him even more.

Chloe immediately linked her arm through Julian's, speaking in a gentle, soothing tone. "Julian, please don't be angry. Miss Tessa probably just happened to be in the area. Given her difficult situation, we should be a little more understanding."

Her performative grace made me look even more like a pathetic, clingy ex.

Austin poured fuel on the fire from the side. "Julian, she’s clearly still obsessed with you and trying to worm her way back into your life! You should stay as far away from this woman as possible!"

Julian's face grew uglier. As if unwilling to waste another breath on me, he pulled a thick stack of cash from his designer wallet and slammed it onto the glass counter with a heavy thud.

"I'm buying these bags." He glared at me, his eyes cold as ice. "Tessa, I told you, we're completely even. Take the money and never show your face in front of me again."

That contemptuous tone and arrogant charity struck me like a resounding slap across the face.

The stack of bills sat on the counter, glaring and sharp, mocking whatever pathetic shred of pride I had left.

I looked at the money, then at Chloe beaming at his side, and finally at Austin and Tyler gloating behind them. Suddenly, it all felt utterly absurd.

My hands trembled uncontrollably at my sides.

After a few silent seconds, I took a deep breath, swallowing the bitter bile rising in my throat, and stepped forward.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, I reached out and picked up the cash.

Then, right in front of them, I counted the bills slowly, one by one.

Looking up, I flashed Julian a stiff, polite smile. "Three thousand dollars in total. You're very generous, Mr. Vance. These bags were worth far more when they were bought, but since they're second-hand now, I suppose this will do."

I slid the cash into my worn canvas tote bag, turned to Clara, and said softly, "Clara, keep the bags here. Mr. Vance has already covered the bill."

Julian clearly hadn't expected me to react like this. A flicker of shock crossed his handsome face, followed by an even deeper, darker scowl.

I didn't look at him again, nor did I look at anyone else. Straightening my spine, I turned around and walked out of the store, step by step.

It wasn't until I cleared the glass doors and the biting afternoon wind hit my face that the tears finally spilled over.

Clutching the worn tote holding that humiliating charity, I crouched on the bustling street corner and sobbed like a lost, broken child.

It turned out that in the face of brutal reality, a person's pride could truly be ground into dust.