My billionaire wife, who’d been pretending to be poor for seven years, ran over my mom and daughter with her Maybach. A month later, it finally dawned on her that something was off. She asked her assistant, “After I ran over those worthless nobodies, that old woman and child, did their family not kick up a fuss about compensation?” Marcus, her assistant, his face grim, replied in a low voice, “Madam, *you* are their family.” Seraphina looked completely lost. “What are you talking about?” “That night, when you were drunk, you ran over the old woman and her granddaughter. Mr. Julian tried to stop your car, demanding answers, but you were so intoxicated you didn’t recognize him. You kicked him away and just drove off.” Before Marcus even finished, Seraphina stiffened, her face draining of all color, ghostly pale. It was then that she remembered. Back then, she’d faked bankruptcy and a severe illness, forcing our family to work day and night, spending every last penny of our savings to pay off imaginary billions in debt. To buy her life-saving medicine, my mother and daughter worked tirelessly. But while working in a wealthy neighborhood, Seraphina, driving her luxury car, had plowed into them, their bodies mangled beyond recognition, instantly killed. Numb with grief, after my mother and daughter’s bodies were cremated, I received a call from my wife’s assistant. His tone was like a debt collector’s. “How much do you want? Name your price!”
“I know my boss ran over your mom and daughter, but they were just two worthless lives. How much could they possibly be worth? A million is more than enough for a couple of cheap lives.” “My boss will meet you in person the day after tomorrow, at 2 PM.” Listening to the disdainful male voice on the other end of the line, I felt all the blood rush to my head. The lock clicked. Seraphina walked in, wearing a dress I’d bought her years ago, her eyes curved into a smile as she waved a steaming-hot insulated container at me. Every cell in my body trembled at that moment. Finally, I spoke into the phone, “Alright.” Seraphina didn’t notice anything off about me. Seeing me hang up, a gentle smile played on her lips as she walked toward me. “Julian! I got you your favorite gourmet burger and fries! Come on, try it!” She wrapped her arms around my stiff body and guided me to sit on our thrifted couch. She carefully broke open the forks and handed them to me. A pained look about the price crossed her face. “The boss hiked the price up another two bucks. That could have bought Chloe a new drawing book!” Seraphina glanced around. “Why aren’t Mom and Chloe here? Where did they go? I bought Chloe some sweets with today’s wages. Doesn’t Chloe love sweets the most? But you need to keep an eye on Mom, she can’t have anything sweet with her condition!” Where did Mom and Chloe go? In that instant, as Seraphina’s words landed. My mind was flooded with the image of my mom and Chloe being thrown into the air by that Maybach that plowed into them on the street. “Mom—Chloe—” Watching them tossed in an arc like rag dolls, hitting the ground with sickening thuds. Their warm blood splattered on my face, my screams and the chilling crunch of bones swallowed by the screech of tires. “What… what’s going on? Where did that… pauper come from?” The blinding high beams slowly dimmed, and a drunken voice drifted over. I stared blankly at the driver’s seat. The next second, I saw Seraphina behind the wheel, her brow furrowed as she glared through the window at me, sprawled in the pool of blood. All the blood in my veins froze. How could it be Seraphina? Wasn’t she in the hospital? How could she be here? The next moment, she rolled down the window and vomited, a thick stench of alcohol mixed with blood invading my nostrils. Her eyes blurry, she looked at me. “Who the hell is in my way? Get lost!” I struggled to my feet. “Seraphina!” But Seraphina didn’t recognize me. Instead, she turned the car around and sped out of my sight. Devastated, I was taken away by the Officer who arrived shortly after. He didn’t show me the accident footage. Instead, he sighed and advised me, “The person who ran over your mother and daughter was Miss Seraphina Sterling, the heiress. Our recommendation is to settle this privately.” Seraphina Sterling! The Sterling heiress? A choked sob caught in my throat. I pressed on, “Officer, can you… tell me about this Miss Sterling?” “Mr. Julian, I know what you’re thinking, but I still advise you against suing. The Sterling family could make this city crumble with a snap of their fingers, and this Miss Sterling is the most notorious for her wild antics in the last twenty years.” The next second, I saw pity and helplessness in the Officer’s eyes, then heard him sigh heavily. “Instead of dreaming big, you should try to get more money when Miss Sterling arrives.” As soon as he finished speaking, a voice came from outside. “Miss Sterling, this way, please.” As the words fell, two figures emerged from the automatic sliding doors. I had never seen Seraphina like this. She was dressed in an expensive haute couture dress from a luxury boutique’s display window, every inch of her radiating nobility. She held the leash of a pampered poodle, and Dominic stood beside her, strikingly conspicuous. “…Seraphina!” I instinctively moved forward, desperate to demand what was going on. “Dominic! My ‘poor girl’ bet expires next month. If you keep clinging to me then, I won’t be so nice!” What ‘poor girl’ bet? Seraphina’s words froze me in my tracks. Dominic shrugged nonchalantly. “Why are you mad at me? Isn’t this your family’s bet?” “I don’t necessarily think you’ll win. Who knows, maybe once you’re tired of playing with Julian, you’ll come home and fulfill your engagement to marry me?” Seraphina scoffed. “Delusional! Julian will always be my only husband!” I stared at Seraphina in shock, but her gaze didn’t shift an inch. Even if someone stood directly in front of me, she’d only need to turn her head slightly to see me, the “only husband” she spoke of. But she didn’t spare me even a glance. Instead, she walked past me, chin held high, with an arrogant demeanor I’d never seen from her before. Soon, Seraphina and Dominic entered the glass-walled office just a few feet from me. Their conversation inside was clearly audible. “Miss Sterling, the victim’s family is here. Would you like to meet them?” I couldn’t help but look at Seraphina. Her legs were crossed, propped on the coffee table, her eyes closed as she massaged her temples. “No need! These poor people, once they get involved, they stick to you like superglue! Can’t you even handle this small matter?” Seraphina’s dismissive attitude instantly ignited my fury. Just as I was about to burst in and confront her directly. Dominic’s voice drifted into my ears. A slight smirk on his lips, he said, “Sera, I have a great idea. Let Julian pay the money back. If he doesn’t help you, you lose the bet.” Seraphina opened her eyes and glanced at Dominic, scoffing. “Don’t dream about it. Julian has stayed by my side all these years, even when I was faking poverty and illness. I don’t want to bother him with something like this!” Dominic didn’t get angry, just clicked his tongue. “I wonder if you’re just scared. Is Julian really incapable of coming up with a million dollars for you?” I couldn’t listen anymore. But as soon as I took a step, a sweet, metallic taste filled my throat, and after spitting out a mouthful of blood, I passed out cold. Seraphina’s voice pulled me back to reality. She held me in her arms, speaking softly. “Julian, I accidentally ran over someone last night while making a delivery. They’re demanding an exorbitant sum, saying if I don’t pay, they’ll make me go to jail.” I stared at her, my eyes bloodshot. “But you can’t drive, can you? How could you hit someone?” Seraphina’s eyes darted away, her voice tinged with guilt. “I didn’t want to stay in bed, being a burden to you. I wanted to earn some money to send Chloe to enrichment classes.” Tears instantly welled up in my eyes, but I swallowed them back. I abruptly pulled Seraphina closer, pressing her. “Seraphina! Then I ask you, do you know who you hit?” Hearing this, Seraphina frowned, displeased. “What’s wrong with you? Why are you so emotional?” Looking at the indifferent expression on Seraphina’s face, a raging fire burned in my chest. At this moment, I began to doubt myself, wondering if I had ever truly known the woman I married! “Seraphina!! I ask you! Do you know *who* you hit?!” My emotions were completely out of control now, unstoppable tears bursting forth with my trembling voice. “I think it was an old woman and a little girl. I figured they just wanted to extort money from me.” I didn’t miss the fleeting look of disdain that flashed in her eyes. All my strength drained away in an instant. I said weakly, “Seraphina, I don’t have the money for you.” This was the first time I had ever refused Seraphina’s request. Her face instantly soured, visibly hardening. She stood up abruptly. “Are you really that unwilling to part with a million dollars? Are you just going to stand there and watch me go to jail?! I’m your wife!” In that moment, I suddenly wanted to rip off her disguise. The Sterling family was one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the city. A mere million dollars, what did that amount to in her eyes? “Seraphina, my mom…” Before I could finish, Seraphina impatiently cut me off. “It’s always your mom! How tired could your mom be?! She sits and does intricate needlework all day! She sells it to rich people, adds her pension, and a million should be easy, right?” Watching Seraphina storm out, slamming the door, all the strength drained from my body. I collapsed onto the floor, biting my teeth, silently sobbing. Tears mingled with the blood at the corner of my lips. Before my eyes, I saw my mother and daughter’s tragic deaths, lying in pools of blood, intermingling with seven years of my life with Seraphina, making me question what was real and what was false. Not long after, the doorbell rang.
Mrs. Henderson, our next-door neighbor, saw me when I opened the door, and a look of pleasant surprise crossed her face. “Julian! Not working today? Where’s Chloe? Look what I brought for your little one!” “This paint set is a reward for Chloe! Chloe loves to paint, doesn’t she?” “Oh, and where are your mom and Chloe?” Mrs. Henderson held a back support belt, peering into the house, searching for my mom and Chloe. My throat tightened, and I bit down hard, fighting back tears. “What’s wrong? Julian, why are you crying?” The smile slowly faded from Mrs. Henderson’s face. As if sensing something, her eyes instantly reddened. She looked at me in disbelief, as if hoping for a different answer from my words. “Mrs. Henderson, my mom and Chloe already…” I closed my eyes for a moment, finally uttering the answer. “…are gone.” “What happened?!” Mrs. Henderson cried out in alarm, the gift in her hand falling heavily to the floor. Hearing Mrs. Henderson’s sobs, my own tears couldn’t be held back. I choked out, “A car accident.” I couldn’t bring myself to look up, my shoulders shaking as I quietly wept. A pair of warm arms wrapped around me. Mrs. Henderson wailed, cursing, “That heartless monster! Your mom never even got to enjoy life, and Chloe was so young…” “Oh, does Seraphina know?” The question felt like a sharp blade piercing my heart. Under Mrs. Henderson’s concerned gaze, I slowly shook my head. “She doesn’t know.” Even now, Seraphina had no idea she’d gotten drunk and killed my mom and Chloe. Thinking of this, I could no longer control the grief in my heart and sobbed like a child. After Mrs. Henderson left, I buried my head in my pillow and cried for a long time, until I received a message from the funeral home. Five hundred thousand. Looking at that astronomical sum and my bank account balance, I felt utterly desperate. Where was I going to find five hundred thousand dollars for my mom and Chloe’s burial? As I scrolled through my phone book, trying to find someone I could borrow money from, Seraphina’s call came in. “Don’t let Mom and Chloe work late tonight. I’ll be home early to celebrate Chloe’s birthday.” My mind was still on that five hundred thousand dollars. After a moment of hesitation, I asked, “Seraphina, do you have five hundred thousand?” A long silence on the other end of the line. Finally, she spoke. “Julian, are you kidding me? Where would *I* get money? Didn’t all my wages go to buying things for Chloe and Mom?” There wasn’t a hint of guilt in Seraphina’s voice. She’d told the lie so many times, she even believed it herself. Tears brimmed in my eyes. Suddenly, I cried out loudly, “Seraphina!! You’re lying to me! You do! You clearly do! You just don’t want to give it to me!” Seraphina’s voice rose several octaves. She snapped angrily, “Julian! What are you doing?! What kind of person do you take me for? If I had the money, do you think I wouldn’t give it to you? Who’s been feeding you lies?!” “Please! Can you stop making things difficult for me?!” Oh, “stop making things difficult for me,” indeed! With that, she hastily hung up the phone. To gather enough money for my mom and Chloe’s burial plot, I couldn’t afford to wallow in my grief. I had to rush to the agreed-upon workplace. Encased in a thick mascot costume, I was led into a private room, clumsily swaying my limbs to the music. After my performance, laughter erupted from around the room. “How’s it, Sera? The birthday gift I prepared for your Chloe in advance, pretty good, right?” “Sera dotes on her daughter like the apple of her eye. All the money she earns by humbling herself, she spends on her mother-in-law and daughter.”
It was stiflingly hot inside the mascot suit, yet I felt as if I’d plunged into an ice bath. It was only then that I saw her. In the enormous room, Seraphina was sprawled lazily on the couch, carelessly swirling the wine in her glass, like an untouchable queen. “Looks alright. I’ll call my daughter and ask if she likes it.” As Seraphina picked up her phone, my daughter’s unique ringtone sounded in my ears. But soon, her brows furrowed, and her eyes instantly filled with confusion and worry, because Seraphina had called Chloe several times, but the calls went straight to voicemail. My whole body trembled, tears streaming down my face. Seraphina, you killed our daughter! You’ll never reach this number again! Dominic was close to me. Hearing my fingernails scratch against the mascot suit, he glanced at me. “Sera! You have such incredible patience, pretending to be poor and sick for seven years, tricking Julian, a brilliant graduate from a top university, into slaving away for you, while you, an heiress, condescended to play house with them.” Seraphina scoffed. “Once I win the bet, I’ll bring them back to the Sterling estate. They won’t have to suffer anymore.” Catching the hint of guilt in Seraphina’s voice, I looked at her sharply. “Now you’re putting on the act of a good wife and mother. But why didn’t you give Julian money when he asked you for it just now?” “Why are you meddling in my affairs? If he’s asking for my help, it must be because my mother-in-law’s condition has worsened.” Seraphina’s tone was assertive. “Next month, I’ll find the best doctors to cure my mother-in-law!” “His mom is sick, how could he possibly help you pay?” Dominic’s laughter grated on my ears. Seraphina looked embarrassed. “He *will* help me! If you don’t believe me, I can call him right now and ask him for the money!” My mind went blank. I instinctively raised my clumsy arm, trying to find my phone. It wasn’t until I heard the busy signal that I realized I’d left my phone in my bag before work. “Damn it! What time is it, and he’s not answering my calls!” Dominic casually glanced at me. “That’s why I say, all poor people are the same. What’s love in the face of money? There are plenty of people who would sell their dignity.” Seraphina’s eyes grew colder and colder. Suddenly, she stood up and walked over to me. The next second, her cold eyes stared directly at me, as if piercing through the bulky mascot suit to see my face. Had she finally recognized me?! Just as tears streamed down my face and I prepared to rip off the mascot head to demand what I meant to her, she suddenly spoke. “Would *you* sell your dignity for money?” My hand slowly dropped. I said nothing. Seraphina pulled a stack of money from a nearby box and slapped it against my face. “Get down on your knees!” She yanked my arm, a cold smile on her face, and dumped the entire box of money over my head. Under her icy gaze, I slowly bent down, kneeling before her to pick up the scattered banknotes. I had no reason to refuse this money. With this money, I could buy a better burial plot for my mom and Chloe. “See? Typical poor people, they pick up money the moment they see it! Hey, let me ask you, if I gave you money and told you to die, would you just obediently do it?” “But Julian is different from you! He’s with me only because he loves me, not for money, so whatever I say, he’ll believe it!” I lifted my head, meeting Seraphina’s eyes through the mascot head. I chuckled self-mockingly. “You’re right!” I *am* one of those poor people you talk about! For money, I can also sell my dignity! The moment Seraphina heard my voice, her pupils constricted, and she instinctively reached to pull off my mascot head. But I didn’t dodge. In fact, I was almost looking forward to seeing her reaction when she saw who was under the mask. Dominic pressed down on her hand, scoffing playfully, “Sera, Julian might have upset you, but you shouldn’t take it out on a mascot, should you?” Seraphina angrily yanked her hand away from Dominic’s grasp and glared at me. “Now get lost.” Seraphina didn’t come home that night. It wasn’t until the next morning that I received a text from her. “Julian, my condition relapsed yesterday, and I fainted and was taken to the hospital. I just woke up.” “How’s Mom’s condition? And have you collected enough money for me?” This wasn’t the first time Seraphina had used this excuse for staying out all night. Expressionless, I packed all my belongings and shipped them away, then headed to the address Seraphina’s assistant had given me. As I walked into the high-end restaurant, I immediately spotted Seraphina’s familiar back in the distance. Chloe’s phone watch in my pocket was still buzzing. Seraphina had been calling it incessantly since yesterday evening.
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