Chapter 1

"I want a million-dollar car. Are you going to buy one for me?"

When Stacie Garcia heard my trembling voice, she snapped her head toward me and shoved the man beside her away. The man looked vaguely familiar.

"What are you doing here, Callum? Let me explain—"

I looked at her, dressed in a custom designer outfit and adorned with jewelry worth millions of dollars on her hands. Then, I looked down at myself—draped in a filthy cleaning uniform, clutching a mop and rag.

I let out a bitter laugh. "Explain what? Explain how you can walk without a wheelchair, or why you're suddenly so rich?"

When she frowned nervously, I immediately dialed the orthopedic hospital.

The doctor answered with his usual impatient drawl. "Mr. Callum Brook, how many times do I have to tell you that Ms. Garcia's leg condition is neurological? It can't be cured anytime soon.

"Oh, and this month's treatment fee is due. Make sure you come by and pay soon."

I used to hang on every word the doctor said, but now, I just wanted to laugh coldly in this fraud's face.

So that was why Stacie refused when I suggested visiting specialists at a public hospital. They'd been working together to scam me the whole time.

I swallowed the boiling rage in my chest and flung the rag at her.

"Was it fun to see me deliver food, clean houses, and pick through trash every day? Everything you're wearing is worth over ten million dollars, so why are you lying to me?"

The thought of the past five years and everything I'd done just to pay for her treatment made my blood boil.

In a burst of anger, I grabbed the mop and swung it at Stacie, but the man beside her quickly reacted by snatching it away.

She took the chance to pull me aside. "Don't make a scene here, Callum. Let's go home and talk—"

"Go home?"

I wrenched my arm away and shoved her back. "Get as far away from me as possible, Stacie. I never want to see your face again!"

Stacie stared at me in a daze, and a flicker of guilt flashed in her eyes. But she gave up explaining and instead said in a low, placating tone, "I'll pay you back for everything and compensate you on top of that."

Just like that, she dismissed everything I'd suffered over the past five years. There wasn't even a simple apology.

Anger exploded in my head.

Without a second thought, I grabbed the bucket of dirty water at my feet and heaved it at the despicable pair.

With a splash, they were both drenched from head to toe in gray, soapy sludge.

The man finally snapped. He grabbed the mop and cursed as he charged at me, "You've got some nerve!"

He was halfway to me when Stacie blocked his path. Instead of saying anything, she just shook her head, and his expression turned purple with rage.

"Stacie! How could you let this poor loser pick on you this way?"

He tried to rush at me again, but she held him back. "It's okay, babe. I'll handle this, so don't worry."

Still, he refused to let it go. "I won't let him yell at you like that!"

She pulled him into her arms, kissing and soothing him until he finally calmed down.