The Best Kind of Lie

So, pretty much everyone around me knew I was dating a guy who was building his business."Wow, it's so pretty! It must have cost a fortune, right?"I shook my head, about to explain that it only cost 30 bucks online.But before I could get the words out, a sharp, condescending voice cut through."Of course, it's not expensive. After all, it's a fake watch!"I always felt like Margot Booth wasn't here to work—she was here for a runway show. The moment she walked in, the heavy scent of perfume followed her. She tossed her hair, and then proudly displayed her phone for us to see.On the screen was a picture of the exact same watch I had on my wrist. Below it was the price tag:428,999 dollars.That was an amount I would need a while to pronounce. "I doubt your broke boyfriend could make this much money in his whole life."She threw me a side glance. I looked down at the watch on my wrist and nodded."Yeah, this watch really only cost 30 bucks. The 'diamonds' inside are probab

Leaning on the table, Margot's boyfriend, an executive in our company, gave me a smile, brushing his bangs to the side. Margot's face was as dark as a thundercloud. Never mind whether he was her boyfriend—I could sum up my opinions of him in a simple sentence: He was the company's clueless, annoying rich heir. Judging his intelligence based on human standards would be pointless. You'd have to compare him to an ape. It was obvious that yesterday, in his Maserati, something in his brain snapped, and he became interested in me when he saw me sitting on the back of an electric scooter. Today became one of those frustrating days. It seemed like wherever I went, he followed. He kept saying things like, "Woman, you've successfully caught my attention." When I walked out of the women's restroom and saw him still standing there, arms crossed while staring at me, I couldn't take it anymore. "Mr. Jarvis, I'm sorry, but I have a boyfriend." "Oh? But you're not married yet, are you?"

I asked in the building's group chat if anyone had mistakenly taken my delivery, but no one responded.I reported it to the property management, requesting that they install cameras at the delivery pick-up spot, but they refused, claiming they couldn’t afford it and that I’d have to pay for the installation myself.After I asked in the group chat several times, one of the neighbors spoke up and confronted me. They accused me of obsessing over the small amount of money spent on the delivery. They said I kept bringing it up—just over a few-dollar meal.I swallowed my frustration and anger as I video-called Lance.He was still in that rundown hotel, standing in a dim hallway while a drunk man staggered by, holding onto a woman who was barely able to walk.He asked what was wrong and if I was feeling mistreated.For the first time, I felt like I couldn’t see a future.It was like the dark hallway behind him, endless and empty.He was already exhausted. How could I burden him with m

Outside the hospital room, no one expected Lance to follow through on his words.The parents were screaming and cursing loudly, threatening to sue us.Lance lazily leaned against the wall, completely ignoring the noise as if it were nothing more than background chatter.His clothes were a bit disheveled. I had called him yesterday, and he had rushed over first thing this morning.His tie was crooked, and I reached up to straighten it for him.This drew angry shouts from the parents nearby, accusing us of conspiring together.But honestly, Lance hadn't even gone that far. The doctor had even joked that if they'd been any later, the kid would've recovered and run around by now.But the parents were still wailing, and the child was screaming at the top of his lungs.Finally, it seemed like Lance had had enough of the noise. He lifted his gaze to the parents."You just want money, right? How much?"The woman seemed stunned by his demeanor, frozen for a second or two.Then, she p

This guy finally laid his cards on the table and stopped pretending. Not only did he switch between fancy cars to follow me every day, but he also started filling my rental with high-end furniture. Oh, it wasn't really a rental—he'd bought the place a while ago. So technically, he was my landlord.This was why I couldn't stand rich people. On my way home, someone in a quirky bunny costume blocked my path. When I moved left, he moved left. When I moved right, he moved right. In the end, he shoved a bouquet of flowers into my arms, and right in the center of the flowers was a gleaming diamond ring. "What are you doing, Lance?" I stood on tiptoe and yanked the headpiece off, revealing his familiar face.It was hot outside, and the costume must have been sweltering. Sweat dripped down his forehead, his short hair sticking to his skin."Proposing," he answered without hesitation. "You're proposing—" I didn't get to finish my sentence before he collapsed onto me.The