Chapter 1
During a thunderstorm, I received a 20–thousand–dollar fine dining delivery order, with an extra 20–dollar tip. While I was feeling pleased with myself, I accidentally overheard laughter from inside the villa.
“She actually believes you’re paralyzed from a car accident? And she still delivers takeout every day to support you? She even sold her dead mom’s belongings?
“If she knew you’re a billionaire heir from the elite circles, playing the- ‘poor guy‘ act, she’d probably cry her eyes out.”
My boyfriend, James Morrison, swirled his wine glass.
“That cheap woman was born to serve others.”
“She’s the one to blame. How dare she outshine Sarah in school? This game is a punishment for her.”
I stood in the rain, tears streaming down my face.
So, he had been faking his illness for two years. Everything was just a scheme to help his childhood sweetheart, Sarah Garrett, get revenge on
- me.
His broken legs, deceased parents, and helpless tears were all part of his carefully orchestrated lies.
Finally, I called my father, someone I hadn’t contacted in years because of a petty fight.
“Dad, I lost. I agree with the arranged marriage.”
*本*
As soon as I hung up the call with my father, Sarah’s voice drifted out from the villa again.
“My dear James spoils and loves me, so he punished that little witch for me. I’m so happy.”
Her slender fingers hooked around James’s chin. I saw my mother’s ring on her ring finger.
James chuckled softly, gently biting her fingertip with his teeth. “You’re such a bad girl!”
I saw his legs–the ones that were supposedly paralyzed. Now, they were casually crossed and resting on the coffee table in front of him.
Unlike how they looked in front of me, his legs showed no signs of disability at all at the moment.
The thick white cast on his legs had deceived me for over two years. They looked particularly glaring under the lights.
I carried my delivery bag and knocked on the door. Everyone turned to look at me in unison.
The noisy living room suddenly fell dead silent.
I walked toward James step by step, my soaked shoes leaving clear wet prints on the floor.
James’s voice was dry and tight, his eyes darting around in panic.
“What brings you here? I just came to hang out with some classmates. today…”
I ignored him, my eyes fixated on the ring on Sarah’s finger.
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“Give me back the ring.”
His smile froze, as if he hadn’t expected my attitude to be so cold.
He instinctively wheeled his chair closer to me, trying to soothe me with his usual gentle tone, “Linda, let me explain-”
“Explain what?” I cut him off, my lips curving into a smile uglier than
tears.
“Explain how you kindly helped me sell this ring to Ms. Garrett at a high price?
“Or explain how your paralyzed legs happened to work today?”
James’s face immediately turned pale. He opened his mouth but said nothing.
The atmosphere grew even more tense, with only Sarah letting out a disdainful snort.
She stood up, swaying gracefully in her high heels as she walked in front of me.
“This ring is a gift from James. You like it now, and you want it?” She deliberately extended her ring–adorned hand to my face.
The words “a gift from James” were emphasized. Her eyes were full of provocation and satisfaction.
James’s face changed. “Sarah, stop talking! Linda’s…”
“She’s what?” Sarah impatiently interrupted him. She continued scanning me with contempt at my soaked, cheap delivery uniform.
“You want it? Fine. For James’s sake, I will consider letting you have it back. But not at the original price. I’ve worn it, and I’m in a good mood, so
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Chapter 1
I’ll give you a discounted price–80 thousand dollars. Cash. Bring the money now, and the ring’s yours.”
80 thousand dollars? After falling out with my father, I had spent everything trying to “treat” James’s illness. I’d already mortgaged all of my dead mother’s belongings. There was no way I could scrape together even 80 dollars.
I looked at her smug face, then at James. He avoided my gaze, silently allowing Sarah to keep on picking on me.
