The family business crumbled, and our once-proud name faded into ruin. My ex-boyfriend, that scumbag, vanished into thin air, taking every last penny I had with him. I was Skylar, a pampered heiress who knew nothing but lavish parties and endless shopping. This disaster hit me like a lightning bolt. One minute I was drowning in luxury, the next, I was practically staring down homelessness. So, I did the only thing I could think of. I marched straight to Jasper’s doorstep and hit the doorbell. My sworn enemy, Jasper, sat across from me, legs crossed, his fingers tapping softly on the table. His expression was utterly serious. “Skylar,” he drawled, “give me one good reason why I should take you in.” My mind raced, desperately searching for an answer. “Actually,” I blurted out, a desperate plan forming, “this bankruptcy… it was just my first step to getting close to you.” A single eyebrow quirked upwards. “So… you like me?” The auction hall buzzed with anticipation. On display, a necklace named ‘Emerald City’ shimmered under the spotlights. Forty-one exquisite emeralds from Kashmir, each radiating an exotic allure, were set into its intricate design. The auctioneer raised his gavel, ready to close the bid. Without a second thought, I called out, “Five million!” A collective gasp swept through the room. Everyone knew Skylar Chen, the pampered darling of the city. My parents had left me an endless fortune when they passed, and I’d been indulged my entire life. Just as I thought it was mine, someone, completely unfazed, raised the bid to ten million. I shot an arrogant glance towards the corner. There he was: Jasper, the city’s second-richest man. His face was sculpted, his composure unshakeable, every movement exuding effortless aristocracy. I knew him, alright. But I didn’t give him a second thought. After all, I was number one on that list. The ultimate pampered heiress, a trust fund baby who burned through cash like it was kindling. Just as I was about to raise the stakes again, Alfred, my long-suffering butler, leaned in. “Miss Skylar,” he whispered, “your parents stipulated a ten-million limit for auctions.” “Damn it!” I muttered, fuming. “Am I supposed to just take this?” The entire room was buzzing, speculating on who would finally claim the necklace. If I gave up now, I’d be utterly humiliated! Alfred tried to calm me. “Miss Skylar, it’s in the will. If you don’t abide by the rules, you risk losing everything.” I gnashed my teeth in fury, shooting a venomous glare at Jasper, then grabbed my purse and stormed out. Jasper, I swore I’d get him back for this. My second run-in with him was in Australia. “I’m sorry, Miss Chen, but the island you were interested in has just been sold.” The moment I heard, I had Alfred arrange a private jet. My heels clicked a furious rhythm as I rushed in, only to find Jasper, casually seated across from the service desk, just about to sign the papers. He leaned back in his chair, a lazy, amused smirk playing on his lips as he watched me. His eyes twinkled with a hint of challenge. A fresh surge of anger ignited inside me. I strode forward, one hand on my hip, my voice echoing through the office. “Hey! Are you seriously just going around snatching everything I want?!” Alfred immediately stepped in, apologizing profusely and trying to hold me back. Jasper, completely unfazed, simply dropped a bombshell. “Your eyeliner’s crooked.” Then, he turned and sauntered away, as if he hadn’t just insulted me. My fists clenched, ready to swing, but Alfred intercepted me again. “Miss Skylar, please don’t be angry,” Alfred pleaded. “You have more than enough islands. Your parents made it clear you shouldn’t be too extravagant.” “Fine! I’ll hold back… for now!” To cool off, I drove myself to my family’s private horse ranch after returning home. It had been so long, I’d actually forgotten the way. After several wrong turns, I finally found it. Talk about ironic. On this bright, sunny afternoon, I stood by the ranch entrance, about to walk in. Then, a cold voice spoke up behind me.
I spun around. Of course. It was Jasper. We stared at each other, disbelief plastered across both our faces. Then, in perfect unison, we blurted out: “What are you doing here?!” “What do you mean, what am I doing here?!” A few seconds of awkward silence followed. My patience wore thin. I crossed my arms, chin tilted, glaring down at him with disdain. “I let you have the necklace and the island,” I snapped, “but this is *my* family’s horse ranch! We’ve owned it for years. Are you seriously going to try and snatch this too?!” A flicker of surprise crossed Jasper’s eyes. His impressive six-foot-two frame bent slightly as he curved his lips into a teasing smile. “Miss Skylar,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement, “look closely. This is *my* private horse ranch.” I followed his gaze. ‘The Jasper Estate,’ large letters declared, prominently displayed above the entrance. My world went black. Just then, Alfred came rushing up. “Miss Skylar,” he panted, “the two ranches are quite close. I was worried you might confuse them, so I hurried over. I guess I was too late.” My face burned crimson. I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. After that whole ranch debacle, I seriously suspected our family property had some bad juju. I even consulted a spiritualist. The spiritualist said the only way to banish the bad luck was to move and find a boyfriend. So, that night, I moved into a sprawling penthouse in the city center. As for the ‘boyfriend’ part, I meticulously sifted through my many admirers and picked Kyle, an earnest-looking corporate executive who seemed reliable and harmless. I chose him because he seemed safe. I had no intention of anything serious, just needed him to help get rid of this bad luck. But who knew? That jerk cheated on me on our *third day* together! My friends said they saw Kyle flirting with some girl at a bar. And the kicker? I *owned* that bar! I gnashed my teeth, ready to storm in and cause a scene, but then I forgot the color of my new car and ended up circling endlessly in the underground parking garage. “Alfred,” I called, “I just bought a new Bugatti, right? Do you remember what color it is?” “Miss Skylar,” Alfred sighed, “you have so many cars, I can barely keep track. I wasn’t even aware you’d acquired another Bugatti.” I hung up, racking my brain. Black! It was black! Then, I realized I’d forgotten my car keys. Just then, the window of another black Bugatti next to me rolled down. “Skylar?” Jasper asked, from the driver’s seat, a cigarette held delicately between his fingers as he exhaled a plume of smoke. Through the swirling smoke, I saw a beacon of hope! I practically dove into the passenger seat, barking out an address and ordering him to drive. Still seething, I snatched the half-smoked cigarette from his fingers and took a long, furious drag. He paused, surprised, then blinked and asked what was wrong. I exhaled a cloud of smoke, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “Cheater busting,” I deadpanned. I didn’t notice his gaze linger on me for a fleeting moment. As I got out, I pulled a wad of cash from my bag and tossed it onto the seat. “I know you’re not hurting for money,” I said, “but I don’t take free rides.” Ignoring the way his eyes crinkled in amusement and a subtle smile played on his lips, I stormed into the bar, marched straight to the VIP section, and successfully busted the cheater. But soon enough, karma came knocking.
I went broke. Yep, you heard that right. I was getting a facial at a Korean beauty salon when I got the news. I nearly ripped off my mask in shock. I was the one who went broke? *Me?* Turns out, there were major management issues, basically, internal embezzlement. But whatever, even a collapsing empire has its spoils. After paying off all the workers and employee salaries, I still had enough left to live comfortably for the rest of my life. But then, the final, devastating blow came from my ex-boyfriend. Yes, Kyle, that absolute bastard! He’d transferred all my remaining money, using some genius method that a pretty, clueless mess like me would never have dreamed of. Still, it was fine. I had cars, houses, jewelry, and bags. I could sell off my assets and make a comeback. That’s what all the down-on-their-luck rich people do in movies, right? I’d be okay! It wasn’t until I actually checked that I realized Kyle, that thief, had cleaned me out! I now had fifty dollars spread across five different cards, and literally nothing but the clothes on my back. I slipped off my Patek Philippe watch and handed it to Alfred. “Alfred,” I choked out, “you’ve worked so hard all these years. This is a small token of my appreciation.” Then, I told Alfred to leave. And I left too. Walked out of that house. Overnight, the news of my bankruptcy—Skylar Chen’s downfall—spread like wildfire. Everyone knew. Everyone seemed eager to distance themselves from me. I walked the streets like a zombie, gazing at the bustling traffic and towering skyscrapers, a flood of emotions washing over me. Before, these were just insignificant things I’d barely deigned to glance at from my lofty perch. Now, standing on the ground, they felt impossibly high, unattainable. My eyes landed on a massive screen on a skyscraper, displaying the city’s wealthiest man. Jasper. His figure was imposing, like a stable mountain, perfectly complementing the city skyline behind him. “Jasper,” I murmured to myself. A brilliant idea sparked in my mind. Twenty-eight minutes later, I rang Jasper’s doorbell. Don’t ask why twenty-eight minutes. I had no money for a taxi, so I walked. It took exactly twenty-eight minutes. The moment the door opened, my heart leaped into my throat. But Jasper didn’t say a word. He just gestured for me to come in with his eyes. I swallowed hard, nervously following him inside. Then, I launched into my ‘grand plan,’ a river of compliments flowing effortlessly from me, each one more extravagant than the last. Jasper didn’t seem to be listening. He just walked straight to the kitchen. “I don’t have much food here,” he stated. “You don’t mind instant ramen, do you?” Instant ramen? That cheap, additive-filled, non-gourmet food totally beneath my dignity? I shook my head like a bobblehead. But then, my stomach let out a pathetic grumble, betraying me. Jasper shook his head, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, then deftly prepared the noodles. Before long, I’d slurped down every last drop of the broth. Jasper sat opposite me again, legs crossed, his fingers tapping softly on the table. His expression was serious. “Skylar,” he repeated, his voice firm, “give me a reason to take you in.” I forced a shaky smile. “My Lord Jasper,” I pleaded, “if you don’t help me, this poor girl’s going to be sleeping in the park tonight.” With that, I put on my most pitiful puppy-dog eyes, sniffled, and looked up, my big, watery eyes brimming with feigned injustice. “I know I’ve been difficult before,” I whimpered. “Can’t you just pity me, even a little?” Jasper was silent for a moment, then, coolly, he uttered two words: “No, I can’t.” My mind raced. I leaned closer to him. “Actually,” I confessed, “this whole bankruptcy thing… it was just my first step to getting close to you.” The words were out before I could stop them. I instantly regretted it.
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