Chapter 2

On New Year’s Eve, I humbled myself and called everyone I could think of, begging to get a loan. However, every call ended with them either rejecting the call outright or scolding me for bringing bad luck during the holiday. Amid the endless sound of the fireworks, my grandma closed her eyes, and just like that, I was the only one left.

At the thought of her pale face, my heart felt like it was being sliced apart. My eyes reddened instantly.

I didn’t take the box of caviar he had brought. Instead, I said, “Hudson, we–”

I wanted to call for a break-up, but before those words could leave my mouth, Hudson cut me off.

“Alright, enough. You spent the New Year with your grandma. You probably don’t have much money left, don’t you?”

With a flick of his finger, he transferred me two hundred dollars.

“Take this as the money I spent buying caviar for your grandma. No need to write an IOU.”

Thinking about it, I found it rather amusing. He was afraid I was a gold digger, so he made me hand over my salary to him. If I needed spending money, I had to wait for his approval, and every time he transferred money to me, he would make me write an IOU. After seven years of dating, I somehow ended up deeply in debt to Hudson.

Back then, I simply thought that his sensitivity to money was because his family ran a company. So, I indulged him and agreed to all his requests. However, his frugality was only ever directed at me. When it came to Lara, he could spend lavishly, buying her diamond necklaces worth a fortune or even purchasing villas for her. Every gesture made headlines. Well, as they said, where the money went was where the love was.

Snapping back to reality, I immediately transferred the two hundred dollars back to him and said, “No need. I don’t want it.”

Only then did Hudson finally look at me seriously. As if realizing something, he sighed helplessly.

“Is that too little? Fine. I’ll agree to have a wedding with you, alright? That’ll make your vain grandma proud, too, wouldn’t it? Honestly, you’re all the same…”

His words pierced my ears. Yet, I had endured it for seven years. All I had ever wanted was a normal relationship—exchanging gifts and going shopping together like any other couple. However, he always accused me of being vain and comparing myself to others. He claimed I was after his family’s money.

“There’s no need for a wedding. We’re not real husband and wife anyway.”

Hudson’s handsome face darkened, revealing the familiar expression of irritation I knew all too well. Just then, someone knocked on the door. He shot me an annoyed glance before turning to open it.

The next second, his voice suddenly rose in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

I turned my head. Standing at the doorway was Lara, wearing a matching couple’s down jacket, the same style as Hudson’s.

She lightly punched his chest and laughed brightly. “My prince, my girlfriends are visiting today. They’d like to see what my husband looks like. Come spend another day with me.”

Then, she looked past Hudson at me, blinking her large innocent eyes in open provocation.

“Sophie, you won’t be angry about it, will you? You weren’t angry the other day either. Hudson and I are just best friends. You know that.”

As she spoke, she deliberately shivered, as if to complain it was cold, and intertwined her fingers with Hudson’s. The pair of matching wedding rings on their hands was impossible to miss.

Hudson looked at her with affection and, with practiced ease, slipped her hand into his pocket to warm it.

“What would she be angry about? Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you look good in front of your girlfriends.”

As he spoke, Hudson grabbed his car keys and turned to leave. After taking two steps, he seemed to remember me. He released Lara’s hand, walked over, cupped my face, and kissed the corner of my lips.

“Don’t worry. This will be the last time. After this, I’ll spend every day with you.”

Unfortunately, for Hudson, there would be no “after this” for us anymore.

I wiped my lips hard, watching as the two of them laughed and walked away together. Then, I turned around and picked up the resignation letter that had been prepared on the table.

…

As it was a week since the New Year, my coworkers had returned to work. When I arrived late, they all covered their mouths and laughed knowingly.

“How dare Sophie show herself at the company? She must be crazy for money. She caused a scene on the day Mr. Hudson got married. She even begged him for money. She has no shame at all!”