I took in a man. At first, I thought he was just a poor, unwanted soul with nowhere to go. He wanted to marry me, to offer himself in return for my kindness, but I told him, “I can’t look at a man who doesn’t own a house.” The house not only had to be paid in full, but the deed could only have my name on it. Even if it was a tiny, run-down place, it would still cost a couple hundred grand, at least. I thought he’d back off at that point. But he looked at me and said, “Alright, anything you want. I’ll make sure to put it right in front of you.” To buy me that house, he took on five different jobs. He worked nearly 20 hours a day out of the 24. Every month, he’d hand me his paycheck, and I’d count it—$8,527. He’d flash me that big, happy smile of his, showing off his two little dimples. “Cate, I’ve already found the perfect spot. You love lively places, so you’ll definitely like this one.” “I’ll save up faster, I promise. You’ll have your own home in no time!” But later… I saw him at a private auction, spending millions just to see some woman smile. He gifted her a diamond-embellished lingerie set worth over a million dollars.
Because of the tough economy, I lost my job. I didn’t want to worry him, so I kept it to myself and started applying for jobs in secret. Today, a friend helped me get a gig at a private auction. “One million, going once!” “One million, going twice!” “One million, sold!” “Congratulations to bidder 1306 for purchasing the diamond-embellished lingerie!” “Please wait a moment, our staff will bring the item to your VIP lounge!” This was a private auction, divided into a main hall and separate VIP lounges. I carried the tray with both hands and stepped into the VIP lounge. The moment I saw the man sitting in the center, my mind went completely blank. That morning, when I pretended to head out for work, he was still holding me close, whining that he didn’t want to go to work. He even said I wasn’t allowed to go either; he just wanted us to spend every moment together. He begged me to make him soup after I got home. Yet not even a day had passed, and there he was with another woman in his arms. “Blake, you really outdid yourself this time! Spending a million just to make a lady smile—shouldn’t that at least earn you a kiss?” “Yeah! Kiss her!” The others around them started to cheer. Blake Montgomery’s smile was soft, the kind of smile I’d seen before. He lifted the woman’s chin and kissed her. The way he moved, so practiced and casual, like this was routine. In front of me, he had always been cautious, careful, acting like a man terrified of losing me. Now, he was the complete opposite. I felt a chill wash over me, like the air conditioner in the VIP lounge was broken, making the room feel like a freezer. I couldn’t move. My body was numb, and I didn’t know how to take another step forward. They were living in some blissful paradise, a place I clearly didn’t belong. The group egging him on—I knew them. They were the street gang that had once beat him up over unpaid debts. I’d met Blake on a rainy day. I had just finished feeding some stray cats when I saw him getting beaten by that gang. I was an orphan. I didn’t have anyone to back me up, and I wasn’t about to get myself involved in trouble. So, I hid in a corner and waited it out. Once they left, I grabbed my umbrella and started heading home. Suddenly, I felt a tug at my pant leg. I looked down and saw his eyes, drenched and desperate. He reminded me of a stray puppy I’d once brought home. He had that same helpless, clingy look that made my heart ache. That dog had gotten sick and died, though, and I hadn’t had the heart to adopt another since. But I took Blake in anyway. He was broke and an orphan, like me. Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of owning my own home. I worked for years, saving every penny, until I had a decent amount saved up. But when Blake needed medical care, most of it went to his hospital bills. I cared for him for half a year until his injuries healed. I made him write me a loan agreement, promising to repay me in monthly installments. He agreed without hesitation, then blushed and asked if I’d marry him. He promised every dollar he earned from then on would be mine to manage. I never planned on being with anyone, so I told him he’d have to buy me a house first if he wanted to marry me. He smiled, looking overjoyed. I was confused, wondering if I should take him to get his head checked. But then he said, “Alright, you didn’t reject me, and that’s all I care about.” “Cate, anything you want, I’ll make sure you have it.” To save up for the house, he worked himself to the bone, taking on five jobs. He barely got five hours of sleep a day. I thought he’d give up soon, but he kept going for two months straight. One night, I got a call from the hospital. When I arrived, the doctor told me Blake was severely sleep-deprived and malnourished. If he kept this up, he’d work himself to death. I sat by his hospital bed until he woke up in the middle of the night. The first thing he asked was what time it was—he had to go deliver milk. I told him to stop. No more delivering milk. He still hadn’t realized he was in a hospital. He looked confused and asked, “But if I stop working, it’ll take longer to buy the house and marry you.” He started calculating how much time it would add if he gave up the milk route. “Cate, why are you crying? You’re scaring me. What happened?” It was only then that I realized my cheeks were wet. I wiped my face and said, “Just promise me you won’t deliver milk anymore, and I’ll stop crying.” He hurried to wipe my tears, panicking, “Okay, okay, I’ll stop. As long as you don’t cry, I’ll do anything.” Even then, he was still mumbling about money. “Cate, I know you want a home soon. Don’t worry, I’ll just pick up more clients.” “But you have to promise me one thing—don’t leave me. If someone else offers you a house, you can’t run off with them.” He rambled on, looking terrified that I’d abandon him. My heart softened, and I smiled, “Okay.” There were so many memories like that, moments where he broke down the walls around my heart. But now, those memories felt like a cruel joke. Reality mocked me, revealing that all of this was just a game for some rich kid. They say the best hunters disguise themselves as prey. Now, I truly understood the power of that statement. Blake Montgomery was never the helpless puppy I thought he was. He was a tiger, hiding his claws until he no longer needed to. And I was just the mouse he toyed with, cheering for his every move, completely lost in the performance. I fought the urge to confront him. Who was I to him? Who was he to me? Our worlds were galaxies apart, and any words I said would only make me look like a fool. To him, I was just one of many women. Maybe the beginning was different—after all, he had tailored everything just for me. But the end was always the same. I was nothing more than a temporary fling, someone to be thrown away once he grew tired of me. At this point, I just wanted to leave with some dignity and protect the little self-respect I had left. Luckily, all the staff here wore masks and heavy makeup, with standardized uniforms, so no one would recognize me. The woman in the red dress clung to Blake, breathless from their kiss, while he left marks on her neck before finally letting go. She slithered back into his arms like a boneless snake. “Blake, I want to wear that lingerie tonight. Why don’t you help me see if it fits?” She was giddy with excitement, but Blake’s eyes had already turned cold, though he still agreed to her request. I laughed at myself for ever believing he wanted to spend every moment with me, for believing the way he cared when he ended up in the hospital trying to save for our house. The woman in red smiled brightly, “Blake, why don’t you stay with me tonight? You always leave by 11, and I still have so many ways to spoil you that I haven’t had the chance to try yet.” His eyes narrowed. “You think you can manage my time?” Blake hated being controlled, hated being told what to do. The woman turned pale, apologizing, trying her best to make amends. Blake shook her off, his disdain for her evident. “You know the rules—I decide what I do, and no one gets to question that.”
“Blake, you’re practically turning into that girl’s perfect boyfriend these days.” “Yeah, no matter how late it gets, you always head back to her.” “Blake, don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen for her—like, seriously thinking about marriage?” Blake shot a glare at the few friends teasing him, pulled out his phone, and started dialing. “Shut up.” Seeing this, the group fell silent, knowing better than to push it further. That’s when my phone started vibrating. The sound, faint as it was, echoed in the stillness of the VIP lounge, catching everyone’s attention. All eyes were on me. My hands trembled, a light sheen of sweat forming on my forehead. I flinched, and the tray tilted. The diamond-embellished lingerie tumbled to the floor. A million dollars! I panicked, dropping to my knees to pick it up. Thankfully, the thick carpet cushioned the fall, and the item wasn’t damaged—though it was definitely covered in dust. The woman in the red dress had only insisted on wearing the lingerie tonight to get Blake to stay with her. Seeing the dirt on it, she slapped me across the face. “You useless idiot! You couldn’t even handle something as simple as this! A million-dollar lingerie set! You’d have to sell yourself a hundred times over just to afford it!” Her fury only grew, and she raised her hand again, ready to strike. The first time, I hadn’t expected it and took the hit. But this time, I wasn’t going to let her get away with it. I grabbed her wrist and looked her dead in the eye, refusing to back down. The woman raised her other hand to strike me once more. “Stop!” Blake’s voice cut through the tension, startling us both. The woman froze, confusion flashing in her eyes as she turned to look at him. I could feel his gaze fixed on me. My body stiffened, afraid to look up and meet his eyes, terrified that he’d recognize me and tear away the last shred of dignity I was clinging to. “Your eyes,” he said, his voice lighter, almost playful. “They remind me of hers—the way you don’t back down. But she doesn’t wear makeup. That’s where you two are different.” I could hear the amusement in his tone. “It’s just a piece of clothing. Wash it and move on.” The woman in red recognized the command in his voice. Though she was reluctant, she couldn’t do anything about it. She shot me a venomous glare before backing off. I discreetly silenced my phone, trying to stay out of sight. The others, however, were quietly alarmed. They knew Blake Montgomery too well—he was ruthless and vindictive. Normally, a server like me would’ve been tossed out and punished for such a mistake. His leniency was unsettling. I watched as he dialed my number repeatedly, his expression growing darker with each unanswered call. Just when I thought he might go home to check on me, he pressed a few keys on his phone, tossed it aside, and took a sip of his wine. “I’m not coming with you to the next stop,” he told his friends. “I’ll hang out for a little longer, then I’m leaving.” The woman in red immediately panicked. “But Blake, you said you’d come to my place tonight!” Blake turned to her, his face set in a cold, hard stare. She was desperate. She knew that as long as Cate was involved, she’d always be cast aside. But thinking about the million-dollar lingerie set Blake had bought for her tonight, and the way he’d appreciated her efforts in bed, she felt a renewed sense of confidence. Pouting, she rubbed her arm against his, her voice dripping with seduction. “Blake, I’ve prepared all your favorite things at my place. She could never understand you like I do.” Blake’s expression shifted into a sneer. “You think you matter? You’re just a whore money can buy. Don’t you dare compare yourself to her.” Her face turned ghostly white at the blunt, humiliating insult. His friends were stunned into silence. One of them finally spoke up, shocked, “Blake… are you serious this time?” Blake said nothing. Just as I thought he wouldn’t respond, a smile curled across his lips, and he laughed. “What are you thinking?” “There isn’t a woman alive who could make me stay.” His careless tone made it hard for me to breathe. “Haha, still the same Blake. Even if you’ve been with a thousand women, you never let one get to you.” “A woman’s just for fun. No matter how pretty or interesting, once you’ve slept with her, she’s all the same.” One of the men grinned, then asked in a low voice, “But Blake, I’ve gotta know—this girl you’ve been with for over a month, what’s she like in bed? She must be something special to last this long…” He didn’t get to finish his sentence. Blake’s fist collided with his face in a heartbeat. For the first time, I saw the violence Blake was capable of as he pummeled the man to the ground. The others hesitated to intervene at first, but when they realized their friend was barely breathing, one of them, probably the closest to Blake, stepped forward to pull him back. Finally, Blake stopped, straightened up, and cast a threatening glance around the room. “She’s not someone you’re allowed to talk about. If I ever hear any of you mention her again, I’ll make sure you end up worse than him.” At that moment, Blake resembled some dark god of vengeance, radiating an aura of danger that made everyone in the room swear they’d never speak ill of me again. Seeing my chance, I turned to slip away, but Blake’s voice called after me. “What’s your name?” I froze. If I spoke in my normal voice, he’d know who I was immediately. Luckily, I’d taken two months of voice acting lessons before. I wasn’t great, but now was the time to make it work. “Sir, my name’s Liz,” I said, my voice rasping slightly. He frowned, “Why does your voice sound so weird?” I coughed lightly. “I used to scream a lot when I was younger. My voice just turned out like this. Sorry if it bothers you.” He stared at me, then leaned in to study my eyes. “So similar,” he muttered. Suddenly, his hand reached out and touched the spot where the woman in red had slapped me. I almost gasped in shock, barely holding back my natural reaction. “You’re lucky you’ve got eyes like hers. Be more careful next time.” Then, he pulled out a thick wad of cash from his wallet and handed it to me. “Use it to get something for your face.” The cash had to be at least a couple thousand. His wallet—it was one I had made and given to him. But this was the first time I’d ever seen him carry so much money in it. He could drop over a million on lingerie, then casually throw a few thousand at a stranger. Money meant nothing to him. And I—meant even less. I didn’t take the money. He threw it onto my tray. He looked at me one more time, commenting that a face like mine didn’t deserve to be bruised. Then he shook his head and chuckled, “You really look too much like her. For a second, I thought it was her who got hit.” “But this place is somewhere she would never set foot in. Right now, she’s probably at home making me soup.” His lips curled into a tender smile. At that moment, Blake seemed like a sweet, devoted boyfriend. But the reality was, a woman stood beside him, waiting to serve him in bed. Any trace of affection I once had for him instantly vanished.
I had only worked a few hours, but I felt completely drained. Curling up in the corner of the couch, I hugged my knees to my chest, searching for some sense of comfort. I didn’t know how long I stayed like that before I drifted off to sleep, but when I woke up, I realized Blake had carried me to bed. The moment I opened my eyes, he kissed me. The images from earlier that night—him with another woman—flashed through my mind, and I felt sick. As I tried to push him away, he held me tighter, kissing me more insistently. I gave up struggling, staring blankly at the ceiling. Kisses, embraces—these had once been moments I cherished, when I believed they represented our connection, our trust, our bond. But now, they were hollow gestures. My stomach churned violently. I shoved him off and rolled to the edge of the bed, dry heaving. “Cate, what’s wrong?” Blake asked, his voice panicked. “Are you sick?” I didn’t respond, lying there motionless. He grew more frantic. “Cate, do we need to go to the hospital?” Blake pulled me upright and pressed the back of his hand to my forehead to check for a fever. I stared at him, feeling utterly exhausted by the charade he was playing in front of me. “Cate, say something. Did someone hurt you? Tell me who, and I’ll make them pay!” His concern seemed genuine, and it startled him when I didn’t react. He hugged me so tightly I could feel my bones ache. “I’m fine,” I finally muttered. Relief washed over his face. “You scared me. You’ve been acting strange all day. How about some good news to cheer you up?” Blake’s eyes lit up as if he were about to reveal something exciting. “I found another job today—factory work. I’ll be working four hours a night after my regular shift.” He smiled proudly, like he was doing this huge thing for us, already counting how much sooner we’d have enough money for the house. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small hair clip. “Surprise!” he said, eager for my reaction. “Tonight’s pay was just enough to get this. I remember you wanted it when we were out last week. Other girls have nice things, and so should you.” My eyes burned with unshed tears. If only all of this were real. But it wasn’t. I forced a smile and took the hair clip from him. It was something I had admired when we went shopping, but I’d moved on, thinking it was too expensive. I had no idea how many women he had practiced this act on. Every day after work, Blake brought me things I liked—my favorite desserts, cute accessories, things I’d casually mentioned. He never missed a detail. Looking into his expectant eyes, I coldly pointed out, “You’ve got lipstick on your collar.” His pupils shrank, and instinctively, his hand reached for his shirt. He was about to touch the collar but changed direction at the last second, scratching his head in confusion. “Cate, I work with all guys. Where would a lipstick stain come from?” He seemed genuinely puzzled, oblivious to what I was implying. Of course, he had changed into the cheap T-shirt I had bought for him. Someone like Blake wouldn’t make such a sloppy mistake. Watching him try to act innocent, I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Blake Montgomery, do you love me?” Without hesitation, he grabbed my shoulders. “I love you, Cate! I swear it—if I’m lying, may I never marry, never have children!” His hand shot up in a mock vow, his expression sincere. I broke down in tears. If I hadn’t seen everything with my own eyes tonight, I would’ve believed him. No one could have convinced me otherwise. Right then, I wanted to scream, cry, demand to know how much of his love was real and how much of it was a lie. If he loved me enough to swear never to marry or have kids, how could he still kiss and sleep with other women? But what would be the point? Once the truth was out, I’d be the one left humiliated, realizing I had been played all along. For him, this had been a game—like a cat toying with a mouse, just waiting for the moment I called him out so he could laugh at me before ending it. There were plenty of women eager to take my place. What was I to him? I opened my mouth, my throat dry and rough as sandpaper, struggling to form the words. “We’re breaking up.”
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