Chapter 2

Ethan's parents caught the first flight back that night.

The moment Monica saw me, she slid a check for five million dollars across the table and said, "Leave my son."

I stared at the check for three seconds, then pushed it back scornfully. "Five million? You really don't think very highly of your own, do you, Mrs. Fuller?"

That shut her right up.

Arnold's expression turned even darker. "Then how much do you want?"

I did the math in my head. "Ethan promised me that if we got married, he'd give me 20 million as a wedding gift and a house in my name. Once the company went public, I'd get 10% of the shares."

Jessica almost burst out laughing. "Mr. and Mrs. Fuller, you see it now, right? She's finally showing her true colors!"

Ethan had come in a hurry. To everyone's surprise, his eyes lit up.

"Lori, you're finally willing to marry me?" He grabbed my hand, his voice shaking with excitement. "10% isn't enough. I'll give you 30%!"

I quickly pulled my hand back. "No way. If you give me that much, it'll mess with your controlling stake."

He looked even more moved. "You even thought that far ahead for me."

I didn't know what to say. He was really good at talking himself into things.

Monica was so furious she slammed a hand on the table and stormed off. As she left, she tossed a warning over her shoulder. "You ingrate! You're wrong if you think you're marrying this gold digger. You won't make it past your grandmother!"

…

The next day was the 80th birthday of Victoria Green, Ethan's grandmother.

Ethan brought me to the house, planning to officially talk through wedding gifts and other details.

Jessica had prepared a set of diamond jewelry worth over a million. It had Victoria grinning from ear to ear.

I was up next, but I hadn't brought a thing.

Jessica immediately got snide. "You're a pro at burning through money, Ms. Shore, yet you show up to meet the family empty-handed?"

I nodded. "Because I've got my eye on the old textile factory the Fuller family owns on the south side of the city."

Everyone fell silent. That factory had been bleeding money for ten consecutive years. The equipment was ancient, and it still owed the bank more than 20 million dollars.

Victoria couldn't bear to part with the place where the Fuller family had first made their fortune, so she'd always refused to sell.

Jessica laughed out loud. "You really will grab anything that isn't nailed down, huh?"

I held my head high. "It's run-down, but the lot is huge. As for my 20 million in wedding gifts, don't bother giving it in cash. Just transfer the factory to me."

Arnold was terrified I'd changed my mind and agreed on the spot. "Deal. Any profit or loss is on you."

Ethan's eyes reddened again. "Lori, you knew Grandma couldn't bear to part with that place, so you offered to take it off her hands on purpose?"

I shook my head. "I just think cash is easy to blow through. Land doesn't get up and walk away."

After hearing that, Victoria laughed and slapped her knee. "She's a practical one. I like her!"

Jessica sneered. "Lori, you don't actually think you scored a bargain, do you? The factory's loan comes due next month. If you can't cough up another 20 million, the bank's gonna seize it."

My heart lurched. I hadn't even gotten my wedding gift yet, and I was already about to be 20 million in the hole?

That night, I stayed up studying the deed, trying to figure out which sucker I could unload it on.

Then, the very next day, breaking news hit—the entire south side of the city had officially been zoned as a high-tech industrial park. The new subway hub would be right outside the factory gates.

Three different developers showed up that same day, fighting to buy the land. The highest offer was 200 million.

Arnold's hands shook as he held the offer sheet. Victoria threw her arms around me. "My dear, you're the best granddaughter-in-law ever! We almost let someone steal property that's been passed down in the family for generations!"

Jessica looked ashen. "H-How did she just stumble into that?"

Ethan, however, gazed at me tenderly. "It wasn't luck. Lori must've checked the city plans long ago. She just didn't wanna brag and take credit for it."

I silently opened my browser and deleted my search history on how to quickly unload a crappy old factory on the south side.

From that day on, Monica stopped trying to get rid of me. In fact, she gave me a black card and said, "Buy whatever you like."

I accepted it solemnly. "Don't worry, Mrs. Fuller. I won't hold back."

Jessica couldn't sit still anymore. She clenched her jaw and dialed a number. "Since the Fullers have all fallen for her act, I'll go after her through the company. This time, I'm gonna make Ethan see exactly who she really is."