Four years after breaking up with my ex-girlfriend Vanessa Clarke, we ran into each other at a class reunion. Someone suggested we play Truth or Dare. Vanessa drew Truth. Someone asked her: “In your relationships, what’s the smartest thing you ever did?” She glanced at me, a smirk curling at the corner of her mouth: “Making my ex pay off my $700,000 in loans, then dumping him after I found a richer boyfriend.” Everyone expected me to storm out in anger, but I just smiled and gestured for the game to continue. When my turn came, the question became: “In your last relationship, was there anything you kept from your partner?” “Yes.” I answered. “What was it?” my classmate pressed. I smiled and said: “I’m actually the son of the richest man in the country.” After a moment of stunned silence, my classmates burst into laughter. “Liam Foster, have you been watching too many CEO short dramas while delivering food? Got yourself some delusions?” “Take my advice—stop trying to act rich. You haven’t even taken off your delivery uniform!” I glanced down at my Armani casual wear and the custom AGV helmet sitting beside me. I did kind of look like a delivery guy. Before I could respond, Vanessa’s mocking voice cut through first. “Liam Foster, we broke up four years ago. Why are you still so pretentious?” “This reunion is about reconnecting as friends. There’s no need to show off wealth. Just be honest.” I leaned back calmly in my chair, looking at her with cool indifference: “I’m telling the truth. I really am the richest man’s son.” “Without my connections, do you think you could’ve booked the VIP suite at this hotel?” Actually, I hadn’t planned to come to this reunion at all. I didn’t want to see Vanessa, and I wasn’t in the same social circle as these classmates anymore. No point forcing it. But a close friend called me twenty-eight times begging me to come, saying Vanessa wouldn’t be there. He also said everyone agreed not to talk about their situations, just to reconnect. But not only did Vanessa show up, she was flaunting herself shamelessly. A gold digger pretending to be high society. How ridiculous. Yet this fake socialite wouldn’t let me off, continuing to press: “Liam Foster, there’s a limit to bragging. My husband booked this suite with his VIP status. What does it have to do with you?” “With that delivery outfit, if you weren’t riding on our coattails, would you even qualify to eat at such a high-end place?” Vanessa’s words sparked laughter around the table, and everyone looked at me with scorn. But I just waved dismissively and sneered: “So you’re saying I should be grateful to you?” Vanessa pursed her lips and pointed at the food and wine on the table: “Isn’t that obvious?” “Without me, could you afford this expensive food? Could you drink this premium wine?” I slowly raised my head, a slight curve forming at my lips: “Vanessa Clarke, you really haven’t seen much of the world.” “This food? At my house, even the housekeeper wouldn’t eat it. I certainly wouldn’t.” My words immediately triggered another round of mockery. “Liam Foster, please stop showing off. You’re just a nobody—without Vanessa, you couldn’t even get through the front door!” “Exactly! If Vanessa hadn’t specifically requested you be invited, I wouldn’t have bothered calling you!” “Just apologize to Vanessa and you can at least drink some of this good wine.” The mocking voices rose and fell, but I didn’t take them to heart at all. Because everything I said was true. If I weren’t trying to save these old classmates some face, I would’ve already told them that Pine Mountain Banquet was my property. Seeing my silence, Vanessa walked up to me with a wine glass: “Want to know why I dumped you? Men without power should stop trying to show off.” “Drink this wine, and I’ll pretend what just happened never occurred!” Looking at Vanessa before me, I slowly stood and met her eyes: “Vanessa Clarke, I gave you some courtesy, but you actually think I’m still that lovesick poor kid from four years ago?” Then I shouted toward the door: “Waiter, bring the wine list.” “I’m paying for everyone’s meal tonight!”
The moment I finished speaking, a man in a suit walked into the suite and stood respectfully before me. It was Lucas Miller, the manager of Pine Mountain Banquet. I’d met him once when arranging the suite. I kept my eyes on Vanessa while speaking: “Bring me your hidden menu and make everything on it.” “And two bottles of your best wine.” Lucas nodded silently and left the suite. Everyone froze, including Vanessa, whose eyes went wide. The next second, she suddenly laughed: “And you say you’re not showing off.” “My husband and I have been to Pine Mountain Banquet at least ten times. There’s no hidden menu! Could you at least rehearse before lying?” After she spoke, everyone in the suite turned their eyes toward me. I could tell—they were all waiting to see me humiliated. After all, in their eyes, I was still the poor kid Vanessa had heartlessly dumped. Back then, to marry her, I’d fallen out with my father. Penniless, I had to deliver food. Who knew that after I paid off her $700,000 in online loans, she’d climbed into the bed of rich kid Sebastian Ashford. Heartbroken, I went home to inherit the family business, vowing never to see Vanessa Clarke again. Who would’ve thought that at this reunion, not only would I see this disgusting gold digger again— She’d publicly humiliate me, using the fact that I paid off her loans to grind my dignity under everyone’s feet. I couldn’t swallow this insult! “Just because you haven’t eaten it or seen it doesn’t mean you’re important enough.” “I suggest you say less and save yourself the embarrassment when the food arrives.” “Liam Foster, you…!” Before Vanessa could finish, the suite door opened again. Dozens of exquisite dishes were brought to the table under everyone’s shocked gazes. Lucas held up two bottles of limited edition Hennessy and announced to everyone: “Our boss says everyone here is an honored guest!” “Tonight’s meal is on the house!” I nodded to myself. The owner of Pine Mountain Banquet was indeed smart. Using one meal to curry favor with me—definitely a good deal. “Thank our boss for his kindness. Tell him…” I was about to be polite when Vanessa waved her hand and cut me off: “Liam Foster, is it your place to speak?” “The boss is obviously doing this out of respect for my Sebastian. What are you pretending for, thanking people on our behalf!” With that, she pushed me aside and walked up to Lucas. “I thank Mr. Chase on my husband’s behalf for his generosity. I’ll drink this toast first.” “When my husband finishes his work in a few days, we’ll definitely visit Mr. Chase together.” As Vanessa drained her glass, Lucas’s expression grew increasingly puzzled. He opened his mouth to say something, but I stopped him with a look. I grabbed my jacket from the back of my chair and turned to everyone: “I have things to do, so I’m leaving. Enjoy your meal.” “Oh, and next time you have a reunion at this level, please don’t invite me.” I really couldn’t stay any longer. Vanessa’s behavior was making me sick. But I was too lazy to expose her. I’d consider this meal my final gift to her. But as I walked past her, she suddenly grabbed me: “Liam Foster, aren’t you forgetting something?” “What?” “Pay for your own meal.”
I scratched my ear, wondering if I’d heard wrong. “Vanessa Clarke, is your brain broken?” “They just said tonight’s meal is free. What am I paying for?” Vanessa let out a cold laugh, her eyes full of disdain. “It’s free because my husband has connections. What does it have to do with you?” “Since I’m treating everyone, I decide who I’m treating.” She walked to the door and ripped down the itemized bill: “This meal costs $800,000 total. We have twenty classmates, so $40,000 each.” “I’m paying for everyone except you.” “Forty thousand dollars. Are you paying cash or card?” Lucas quickly stepped forward and said: “Miss, tonight’s bill…” I pulled Lucas behind me and leaned close to Vanessa: “So you’re determined to make things difficult for me today?” Vanessa nodded firmly: “That’s right!” “I was going to let you enjoy an upper-class meal for old times’ sake, but you just had to push it.” “In that case, I’ll teach you a lesson today and show you exactly what you are!” Hearing this, I didn’t get angry. Instead, I laughed: “Sorry, but unlike you, I know exactly what level I’m at. You’re the one who doesn’t know where you stand!” As soon as I finished speaking, everyone at the table couldn’t help commenting: “Liam Foster, I think you’re addicted to pretending. Looking down on Vanessa? If you were so rich, would she have dumped a loser like you?” “Exactly! Vanessa’s husband is worth hundreds of millions. Could all your assets combined even match the numbers after his decimal point?” “No kidding. This guy’s just a delusional clown. If he pays, nobody lend him money!” I licked my lips and scanned the room: “Everyone’s words are quite entertaining, but I don’t just look down on Vanessa Clarke—I look down on all of you.” “Because everyone here is trash.” Though I’m not usually social, I at least understand basic courtesy. From the moment I sat down until now, these so-called classmates hadn’t discussed friendship once. They’d just been flattering and sucking up to Vanessa. With such lowly classmates, why should I save them any face? My words instantly made me the target of everyone’s attacks. Even the classmate who had the best relationship with me stood up angrily, slamming the table: “Liam Foster, someone like you doesn’t deserve to eat with us. Pay your bill and get out!” Seeing the mockery growing louder, Vanessa’s smile became more pronounced. She picked up a bottle of limited edition Hennessy and poured ten full glasses. “Liam Foster, I know it’s hard for a food delivery guy to come up with forty thousand dollars at once.” “For the sake of you helping me before, I’ll help you this time.” She put her high heel on a chair and pointed at the ten glasses. “You have two choices.” “One, kneel and lick my foot while admitting you’re worthless.” “Two, chug all ten glasses in one go, then slap yourself ten times.” “Choose one and do it, and I’ll pay your forty thousand. Fair enough?” Whistles and applause filled the suite. Everyone wanted to see me humiliated, to see me submit to Vanessa like a dog, just like four years ago. I’d wanted to leave us both some dignity, but Vanessa and these classmates kept pushing. A gold digger living off men, pretending to be high society. How ridiculous. Yet this fake socialite wouldn’t let me go, continuing to press: “Ten minutes.” “What ten minutes?” I ignored Vanessa and looked at Lucas. Lucas checked his phone and bowed to me. “Mr. Foster, I’ve already notified the owner. He says he’ll arrive in ten minutes with Sebastian Ashford to apologize to you.” “Oh, and he said he’s willing to trade that hundred-acre plot in the suburbs for Vanessa Clarke’s life.”
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