“She sold her grandma’s heirloom for me. Tell me that’s not stupid.” In 104-degree heat, I stood frozen at the villa gate, takeout bag in hand. I knew that voice too well—my boyfriend, Brandon, the guy who had “failed” seven startups. Then another voice chimed in from inside: “Brandon, if she ever finds out you’re actually a billionaire and only pretending to be broke to get back at Chloe, she’ll lose it.” Laughter erupted. My entire body went cold. I stepped aside, dialed a number, and said quietly, “Grandpa… you win. I’ll go through with the arranged marriage.” Chloe’s syrupy voice drifted from inside the mansion “You’re the best, Brandon. What is Amelia, anyway? She never deserved you. Two years with you was more than she deserved.” I stood stiffly outside the door, the takeout bag suddenly heavy in my grip. Today was our second anniversary. I’d planned to finish this delivery and surprise Brandon at home. Brandon’s voice was relaxed in a way I’d never heard. “She never deserved me. If it weren’t to avenge how she treated you back then, why would I play this role for two years?” Chloe giggled. “Look at her, Brandon. So pathetic, delivering food every day and actually thinking she’s saving her bankrupt prince.” Through the cracked door I saw Brandon lounging on the sofa without any trace of his failed entrepreneur act. My grandmother’s bracelet glittered around Chloe’s wrist like a cruel joke. He pinched her cheek. “Watching her beg customers for extra delivery tips never gets old.” My vision blurred. For two years I woke at 4 AM, worked until 11 PM, sold everything valuable. Even the bracelet my grandmother left me. That night he’d held me, whispering, “When I get back on my feet, I’ll give you the life you deserve.” Now I understood. His bankrupt family, his dead parents, all those failed startups. Every part of it was a lie designed to help another woman destroy me. I slammed the door open. The laughter died. Brandon shot up from the sofa as if electrocuted, the blood draining from his face. “Amelia? What are you…I can explain! This is just a business meeting.” My gaze never reached him, locked on the bracelet circling Chloe’s wrist. “The bracelet. Give it back.” She tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips. “Why should I? Brandon gave it to me as a gift.” “That was my grandmother’s,” I said, my voice shaking. “I pawned it to fund his so-called startup.” Brandon’s smile stiffened. He reached for my wrist, his tone softening into that familiar, poisonous sweetness. “Amelia, let me explain.” I snatched my arm back. “Explain the lies? Or how you stole my grandmother’s bracelet for her?” Chloe rose, cradling the jade bracelet protectively. “You want it? One million dollars. Pay up, and it’s yours.” One million dollars! Since cutting ties with my family and pouring every cent into Brandon’s ventures, I was broke. I couldn’t even scrounge up a thousand bucks. Brandon avoided my eyes, silently endorsing Chloe’s cruelty. My heart sank. “Give me three days,” I gritted out. “I’ll get the money.” Chloe laughed. “Three days? You’ll never earn a million delivering takeout!” She snatched the food from my hands and flung the gourmet meal at me. Sauce dripped down my clothes as she ground the expensive steak under her heel. “This is all you’re worth.” Though stained and humiliated, I stood my ground, fists clenched. She suddenly ripped the bracelet from her wrist and threw open the window. “Look at you. So pathetic. So cheap. Since you care this so much-” Before I could move, she hurled it out. I lunged forward. “No!” The bracelet flashed in the light before vanishing into a storm drain. My grandmother had put it on me herself before she passed. It was the last tangible link to her, to my family.
I shoved Brandon away when he tried to grab me. “Get lost.” Under everyone’s astonished gazes, I didn’t hesitate to jump into the storm drain. Instantly, the sewage reached my waist, and a wave of sickening stench hit me. Around me, gasps and jeers erupted, but I heard nothing, cared for nothing. Chloe’s piercing laughter echoed from upstairs. “Hahaha, look at that crazy woman! Jumping into a sewer for a useless old bracelet, it’s hilarious!” Brandon frowned and yelled at me, “It’s just a useless old bracelet, do you have to be so dramatic?” Useless old bracelet? It was the only thing my grandmother had left me! And his beloved Chloe had thrown it away like garbage! I frantically fumbled in the murky water, enduring the scorching sun overhead. I searched for nearly half an hour in that sewage. Finally, I felt the outline of the bracelet, only to find it broken into three pieces. Clutching the fractured bracelet in my hand, I slowly climbed out of the storm drain. The onlookers, covering their noses, parted to make way. Brandon’s voice drifted from the villa steps, sharp with contempt and anger. That face, which once made my heart race, was now twisted into a mask of cruel unfamiliarity. “Amelia! If you dare to walk away now, we’re over.” I looked down at the broken jade, my voice eerily calm. “We were over a long time ago.” Chloe walked over in her high heels, intimately hooked her arm through Brandon’s, and jingled another gold bracelet on her wrist. “Brandon, why waste words on trash like her? She doesn’t even deserve to be mentioned by you. Should I throw this one down too, so she can perform another sewer dive?” Brandon suddenly let out a cold laugh. “Amelia, watching you work your butt off like an idiot to support me these past two years? It was the greatest joy of my life. Don’t think for a second I’d ever like a cheap-looking woman like you. Can’t even do your makeup, you’re an embarrassment to be seen with.” My body trembled, my vision blurred by tears, yet my voice emerged as cold as ice. “It’s over!” I watched Brandon’s expression shift from panic to something darker. “Who do you think you are?” he demanded. “For two years you lived under my roof. You’re nothing without me. Do you really think you can just leave?” I let out a cold, hard laugh. “Your roof? Your food?” I stared directly into his eyes. “Brandon, tell me the truth. Who paid for everything these past two years? Who worked three jobs to fund your startups?” Chloe kept her distance, wrinkling her nose and covering it with her hand. “Oh, those gifts Brandon bought you, those fancy restaurants he took you to-that all costs money! And now you just want to walk away!” Those so-called “gifts” were all bought with my hard-earned money. And those “fancy restaurants” Brandon wanted to go to? I always paid the bill. I turned towards the door, emphasizing again. “It’s over!” Without another glance at them, I turned and walked away decisively. How could I have been so blind as to fall for such an animal? Half an hour later, a black Maybach pulled up by the curb.
Three months ago, Brandon claimed another startup failure, needing to repay a hefty sum. He suggested I take up food delivery, proudly calling it “helping me share the burden.” Looking back, it was all a carefully orchestrated scam. A way to make me suffer, to avenge his Chloe. Anyway, it’s all in the past now. Life can finally get back on track. I quit my delivery job and packed all my belongings in my apartment. The next day, I arrived at The Grand Astoria. It was the city’s top hotel, and one of my grandfather’s properties. Dragging my oversized suitcases through the opulent lobby, my rough clothes and worn canvas sneakers clashed sharply with the luxury. Suddenly, that irritating voice sounded behind me. Chloe, in a designer dress and high heels, approached like a proud peacock. “Well, well, isn’t this Amelia, the woman who jumped into the sewer the other day?” I kept walking, but she grabbed my suitcase. “What’s wrong? Dumped by Brandon, so now you’re desperate to come to a place like this to hunt for a sugar daddy?” Her little posse burst into derisive laughter. Someone even kicked my suitcase, scattering my clothes across the floor. I looked at the mess, my voice calm. “Pick them up.” Chloe dramatically rubbed her ear, then stomped her foot onto my white shirt, leaving a clear high heel mark. “What? You want me to pick them up? How about this: you get on your knees and beg me. Maybe I’ll be in a good mood and help you then.” More and more people gathered, some starting to egg her on. “Kneel! Kneel!” I remained motionless. Chloe suddenly reached out and shoved me. “Stop acting! I couldn’t stand that pretentious look on your face back in college, it just annoyed me.” But I was ready. I sidestepped, avoiding her push. She, however, stumbled forward from the momentum, crashing into the designer bag display rack behind her. Limited edition designer bags tumbled down, some even scratched by the metal edges of the display. Crash! The lobby instantly fell silent. Chloe’s face turned ashen. She pointed at me and shrieked. “You… you deliberately pushed me!” “Oh my God! Those are limited editions!” “I saw it! She definitely pushed her!” “Hahaha, how many designer bags did that hick ruin?” “A Chanel classic, three Hermès Birkins, and a few limited collaboration pieces…” Chloe walked up to me, raising her voice. “These are worth at least five million dollars! That’s ten years in prison, easily!” I remained silent. Chloe walked closer, triumphantly. “I do have a good idea, though. You can get down and bow down and beg to each of these bags. For each one you beg to, I’ll pay for one of them. How about that? A good deal, right?” A few of Chloe’s cronies snickered and crowded around. “Yeah, get down and beg! Let’s see how the errand girl begs! Hurry up and do it, or we’ll call the police and have you arrested right now!” Just then, Brandon stepped out of the elevator. He saw the scene, frowning. “What’s going on?” Chloe’s expression shifted instantly. She melted into Brandon’s arms, tears welling in her eyes. “Brandon, she tried to hurt me! She pushed me toward the display case!” Brandon’s eyes flickered to me before returning to Chloe. “Amelia,” he said, his voice tight, “apologize to her. I can still help you through this..” A cold laugh escaped me. “We’re done. I don’t need your help anymore.”
Brandon’s eyes turned sinister. He took a step forward and grabbed my wrist, squeezing so hard it felt like my bones would shatter. “Amelia, don’t play dumb with me. I hated that attitude of yours back in college, and you still ended up being played by me for two years. Fine, if you don’t want my help…” I trembled with fury, yanking my hand free. “Let go!” Chloe smugly wiggled her high-heeled foot. “I have an idea. You can start by licking my shoes clean. Maybe I’ll be in a better mood and let you off.” A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd. Brandon, in front of everyone, loudly declared: “Don’t be shy. Every time you groveled and begged people for money to support me, I’d record a video and send it to Chloe. It was hilarious.” I felt my whole body shake, my vision blurring. All the humiliations, all the times I had to grovel over the past two years… It was all just their personal entertainment! Brandon grew more excited. “Oh, and especially when you knelt on the ground begging customers. We even posted the video in the alumni group. The title was ‘Our former campus queen begging for ten bucks’.” SMACK! I raised my hand and slapped Brandon across the face. “Stop talking!” The loud slap cut him off. Brandon’s face was turned to the side, a bright red handprint instantly appearing on his cheek. He stared at me in disbelief. “You fing dare to hit me?” Before he could react, I turned and slapped Chloe, who was trying to grab me. I declared loudly, “That’s for both of you, you two disgusting people!” Chloe’s meticulously made-up face instantly swelled. Her perfectly sculpted nose, likely full of filler, was clearly crooked. “Ouch! My nose!” Brandon shielded Chloe and yelled, “Guards! Grab this crazy woman!” Five or six cronies immediately rushed forward. Overpowered by numbers, I was forced to the ground. My cheek slammed hard against the marble floor, and the metallic tang of blood filled my mouth. Chloe shrieked hysterically, “Hold her head down! Make her bow down!” Rough hands grabbed my hair, slamming my head against the floor again and again. Brandon sneered, pulling out his phone to record. “This time I’m posting it online. Let’s see if you dare bully Chloe again.” Blood soon seeped from my forehead, as I lay prostrate on the marble floor. Chloe’s shrill voice dripped with pure venom. “You were so high and mighty in college, weren’t you? Now look at you, sprawled on the ground like a dog!” An endless surge of humiliation and fury rushed through me. I never wanted to use my power, but now that they were using theirs, I gathered all my strength, lifted my head, and shouted: “I am Amelia Vance, the sole heiress of Evergreen Holdings! My grandfather is Arthur Vance!” A brief silence fell over the lobby. Then, even more frantic laughter erupted! “She says she’s Amelia Vance? Then I’m the crown prince of England!” “Is she out of her mind? She’s delusional.” Chloe laughed so hard she doubled over, tears streaming down her face. “Amelia Vance? The heiress to Evergreen Holdings is the fiancée of the Magnus Group’s heir! I don’t expect you to call your grandpa, but if you’re so powerful, why don’t you call your fiancé to back you up?” “That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day. Making up stories without even trying to sound convincing.” I couldn’t help but feel ridiculous, my voice hoarse. “Brandon, for the past two years, I was naive and foolish to believe your lies. But since you’re so intent on pushing me, I won’t let you off easy either.” Brandon stared at me for a long moment before a harsh laugh tore from his throat. “Still acting? Let me tell you something. I’ve hated that superior attitude of yours since college, when you turned me down. If Chloe hadn’t wanted to see you humbled, I wouldn’t have wasted a second glance on you.” Chloe stepped forward, her heel hovering just above my fingers on the floor. “Brandon’s right. Trash like you exists for our amusement. I hear you play the piano. I wonder if you’ll still be able to after this-” Several hands grabbed my wrists, pinning my hands down. The cold tip of Chloe’s heel pressed into my fingers. A searing pain shooting up my arm. Just then, a voice cut through the noise, cold and low. It wasn’t loud, but it sliced through the chaos like a blade. “Stop.”
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