Chapter 1
For love, I gave up my identity as a wealthy heiress and ran away with my poor boyfriend. I spent three tough years by his side.
On Christmas Eve, snow was falling from the sky. To help my boyfriend, Matthew Moore, raise money to start his business, I stood on the street, handing out flyers dressed as Santa Claus.
Matthew walked by with his first love, Emily Johnson. He pointed at me shivering in the cold night and said, "Look at that idiot in the Santa costume, shaking from the cold but still handing out flyers. How ridiculous!"
Emily laughed, "She looks so silly, standing by the wishing fountain, handing out flyers. Isn't she afraid of falling in?"
Matthew didn't know that the "Santa" he was mocking was actually me. To make Emily laugh, he walked up to me and kicked me into the freezing wishing fountain.
I struggled and called for help, but all I heard was his laughter from the shore.
Emily asked, "Matthew, she won't drown, will she?"
Matthew didn't care at all. "She won't drown. Forget about her. Tonight's Christmas dinner is what matters. I got that diamond necklace you liked."
Matthew had never given me a gift, but now he was using the money I worked so hard for to buy another woman a diamond necklace...
At that moment, my heart felt like it had been split in half by an axe.
Matthew walked away with Emily, laughing and chatting.
I climbed out of the wishing fountain in a mess, soaking wet all over.
I watched them leave, my heart breaking.
Matthew and I were college classmates who fell in love, but my father wouldn't let us be together. For love, I had a huge fight with my father and left home.
I told Matthew I grew up in an orphanage with no parents, that he was all I had.
He was so moved. He held me and promised he would start a business, make lots of money, and give me a good life...
Only now did I realize how stupid I was to believe Matthew's lies!
I finally decided to call my father.
"Dad, I regret running away with Matthew. I want to break up with him and come back to take over the company!"
My father's excited voice came through the phone. "Mia, you've finally come to your senses. I'll send someone to pick you up right now!"
Right after I hung up with my father, Matthew called. He angrily questioned me, "Mia Wilson, where did you run off to?"
His voice was full of impatience.
"Do you know how long Emily has been waiting for you at the restaurant? She's starving!"
I was so angry I laughed and shot back, "What does her being hungry have to do with me?"
"What's with that attitude! I'm warning you, stop throwing a tantrum!"
"Get over here right now and pay our bill. I'm at Lunar Dining." He ordered me as if it were the most natural thing.
"Why should I come?"
"Why? Because you're my girlfriend! Supporting my career and taking care of me - isn't that what you're supposed to do?" He said it so naturally, as if it were completely obvious.
"If you dare not come today, I'll break up with you!"
Matthew was threatening to break up with me again.
I stood there as the cold wind dried my tears and blew away the last bit of warmth in my heart.
'Fine, I'll go!'
I wanted to see just how shameless he could be.
Lunar Dining was one of the most expensive restaurants in the city, with an average cost of over a thousand dollars per person.
I walked into the fancy hall wearing my wet sweater and jeans.
Matthew and Emily were sitting together, candlelight flickering, the atmosphere perfect.
Emily wore a delicate diamond necklace around her neck - the exact one I'd seen in a magazine a few days ago.
When Matthew saw me soaking wet and looking like a mess, he immediately frowned with disgust on his face.
Emily covered her nose and said with disgust, "Matthew, she smells so bad. It's so dirty."
Matthew immediately comforted her. "Babe, don't be upset. I'll make her leave right away."
He turned to me and ordered, "Hurry up and pay the bill, then get out of here!"
"Matthew, you're really shameless. You made me look like this, and now you want me to pay your bill!" I looked at him coldly.
