Chapter 2

I first met Madelyn at a charity event for low-income college students.

She was wearing a simple white dress. Her innocent, fresh face stood out instantly in the crowded room.

When I approached her, she looked up and smiled softly. "Are you here to help me, sir?"

That single smile completely captured my heart.

I nodded like an idiot. She let out a sweet laugh. "You're funny."

After that, I sponsored her through her remaining college years.

She told me she was an orphan. She said she had been bullied constantly at the orphanage.

I was the very first person who had ever reached out to help her.

I thought I was saving her life.

After graduation, Madelyn struggled to find a job.

Knowing how hard it was for a young girl to survive in the city, I offered to take care of her. She agreed.

And just like that, we became a couple.

Even on the nights I worked late, no matter how exhausted I was, I would always bring home small surprises for her.

Anything to make her smile.

Seeing her happy was enough for me.

During our five years together, she told me she wanted to focus on her fashion design. So, I told her to stay home and focus on her art.

I took care of all the bills.

I started working double shifts and doing DoorDash deliveries after my regular job. It was exhausting, but the thought of Madelyn waiting for me at home made all the pain melt away.

She used to curl up in my arms, her voice incredibly sweet. "Ethan, once my designs get noticed, we’ll finally live the good life."

The good life. I gave everything I had for that promise.

But now, the stranger standing before me had clearly been living the good life all along.

Just as Madelyn was about to bring the champagne glass to her lips, Julian gently stopped her.

"Your stomach has been acting up lately. Don't drink so much."

Madelyn looked at him, her eyes filled with tenderness.

"Since when do you control me?"

Julian snatched the glass from her hand and drank it in one gulp. He teased, "How can I not? Your stomach issues only started because you used to skip breakfast every single day."

So... that was the real reason?

I stared blankly at the empty glass in his hand.

I first found out about her stomach problems when she had a severe case of acute gastroenteritis.

She told me it was because she had to drink too much during client dinners at her previous jobs, and her stomach was practically ruined.

Back then, my heart ached for her so much. I spent hours learning how to cook gentle, stomach-soothing meals for her every day.

But the more it had hurt back then, the more ridiculous I felt now.

Someone in the crowd started teasing, "So, Miss Sterling, when are you and Julian finally getting engaged? We're all waiting for the big news."

Madelyn didn't answer. Instead, her gaze fell onto the diamond ring on her finger.

The diamond wasn't huge, but its brilliant cut showed it wasn't cheap either.

I had saved up for months, working endless overtime and delivery gigs, just to buy her that ring.

When I placed it on her finger, she had looked so incredibly happy.

Another friend noticed her gaze and sneered, "Don't tell me our billionaire heiress actually fell for that poor loser? That ring looks so cheap."

Julian also looked at the ring, waiting for her reaction.

Madelyn casually slid the ring off her finger and tossed it to the person who had spoken. "You like it? Keep it. It's not worth anything anyway."

A wave of laughter erupted in the room. "Of course! What high-end jewelry hasn't Miss Sterling seen? Why would she care about this piece of garbage?"

The ring was kicked onto the floor. Someone stepped on it maliciously, and the once-shiny band was quickly covered in dirt and dust.

Julian smiled, pinching Madelyn’s cheek gently. "Who called you earlier, by the way?"

Madelyn replied lazily, "Ethan. He hired some cheap actors to stage a kidnapping. He actually tried to extort fifty grand from me."

"He's completely lost his mind."

A sharp pain flared in my chest—a pain far worse than the blade that had pierced my heart.

Julian’s eyes darkened. "Aren't you afraid it might be real?"

Madelyn let out a dismissive laugh. "Ethan is dirt poor. Who in their right mind would kidnap him?"

So, in her eyes, the life I had worked myself to the bone to provide for her was just a "dirt poor" existence she looked down on.

As she spoke, Madelyn pulled a luxurious velvet box from her bag and handed it to Julian.

Julian opened it. Inside was a ridiculously expensive luxury watch.

"What's this for?"

Madelyn shrugged. "I bought it with Ethan's money. He saved up fifty thousand over the years. This watch was basically all he could afford."

"That's what he gets for fighting with me. Consider this his punishment!"

My soul felt entirely cold, even though I was already dead.

Madelyn had taken the savings we had pinched and scraped for years to buy Julian a luxury watch, yet she refused to use that exact same amount to save my life.

Before my kidnapping, Madelyn and I had the biggest fight of our lives.

She had demanded our savings, claiming Julian’s family business was in trouble and she needed to help him.

Naturally, I refused.

Ever since Julian had reappeared in her life, Madelyn had changed.

Her warmth and sweetness were gone, replaced by endless cold shoulders and insults the moment I walked through the door.

When I refused, she had screamed at me, "Ethan, how can you be so heartless! This is a person's life we're talking about!"

We had parted on terrible terms. I had driven to a quiet park to clear my head, and that was when I was snatched.

And now, the money she claimed was to "save a life" was used to buy a toy to make Julian smile.

Julian frowned, tossing the watch casually into the trash can. "His money? Gross. I don't want it."

I felt a rush of cold despair wash over my soul.

The watch bought with my life was thrown into the trash like garbage.

Just like how Madelyn had thrown me away.