Chapter 2

"I can afford the compensation costs," I said calmly.

The waitress still refused to believe me and insulted me furiously, her eyes filled with contempt.

"Stop talking big, you filthy beggar! Every item in our castle is worth more than you! Even ten of your lives won't be enough to pay for them!" She grabbed my arm, preparing to drag me away.

I struggled in her grasp, unwilling to leave.

"Stop dragging me! Hurry up and let go! I'll leave once I find the item, and I won't pay a penny less in compensation!" I retorted.

Jayden, who had already reached the entrance of the banquet hall, suddenly turned around and walked expressionlessly toward me. He dragged me away from the waitress.

Stunned, the waitress stepped aside.

"Enough already. Stop making a scene," Jayden said irritably. "How much money do you want?

"I'll give it to you, but stop trying to attract my attention using such methods. Following me all the way here to harass me is only going to make me feel disgusted toward you."

Lina approached as well and stared at me warningly. "Jayden and I are already going to be bonded, Emily. I hope you can understand your place."

I glanced coldly at them both. They were far too arrogant in assuming that I was here to cause trouble for them.

I really didn't want to pay attention to them, so I withdrew my arm and simply poured out all the contents of the trash can. I then crouched down to search intently through the pile.

Upon seeing this, Jayden glared at me. "Stop embarrassing yourself, Emily. I'll transfer $100,000 to your account. Take it and get out!

"After you take the money, don't ever appear in front of me again. I only loved Lina, and the relationship we had for a few years was nothing more than a casual fling. It's also a stain on my life.

"This sum should be enough to feed and clothe you, so don't ever bother me again."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he took out his phone to transfer the money to my account. After just a few seconds, he looked disbelievingly at me.

"You even closed your bank account! You don't have a penny to your name after becoming a beggar!"

I frowned lightly. It was only then that I recalled the payroll card we had applied for together, which Jayden would use to transfer money to me.

After getting married, I always used my mate's Centurion Card and never my own. Over time, the bank automatically closed that account. However, in Jayden's eyes, I had become a penniless beggar.

It seemed like he looked down on me from the bottom of his heart. Forget it. I couldn't be bothered to explain things to him.

Seeing that I was completely ignoring him, Jayden's expression darkened further, and his tone turned cold. "You've already come to the point of digging through trash, Emily. Why are you still pretending to be all high-and-mighty?"

I rolled my eyes in exasperation before finally looking directly at him. "You sure talk a lot. Also, I'm not short of money, so you don't have to give me any either."

If my mate—Caspian Holstrom—knew that Jayden wanted to give me money and that I had once been in a relationship with him, he would be jealous. I had no intention of trying to appease his anger.

Lina smiled mockingly. "Who would believe that you're not short of money, considering your appearance?"

I looked at her in displeasure. "That's my business. It has nothing to do with you."

"You came all the way here to seek me out, yet you still insist you're not short of money?" Jayden asked questioningly.

He stared at me with a complicated look in his eyes and added, "I'm somewhat responsible for you ending up in this state. After all, our breakup caused you to experience an emotional breakdown. They told me that you cried for several days and nights back when we first broke up.

"I'm giving you money out of pity for you. Once you take the money, please don't show up to bother me again.

"I have no feelings for you. Although if it's not money you want, could it be that you want me to feel guilty toward you?"

Lina's expression darkened. As she comforted Jayden, she didn't forget to throw in a jab at me.

"Don't blame yourself, Jayden. She's a lowly Omega who doesn't know a thing. Even though she's able-bodied, she's of such low status that nobody would want to hire her.

"She's also very lazy. Back then, she could've worked hard to earn the money to buy a house herself, yet she decided to ask you to pay for it instead. This proves that she's both poor and lazy."