Chapter 1

The floating comments were still scrolling madly above my head.

"Just thinking that even a drama king second male lead like Allen can end up marrying Cora makes me feel indignant on the male lead's behalf."

"Once Cora gets together with the male lead, she'll know what true love is."

"The more Allen acts up now, the harder he's going to fall later. I feel so satisfied just imagining it."

True love?

Where was the male lead when I was living in the basement with Cora, splitting a single bread roll into two meals?

When I sold the house my mother, Lauren Webster, left me to help Cora get through her crisis, where was the male lead then?

Now that Cora had become a billionaire CEO, what gave the male lead the right to swoop in and reap the rewards?

"Darling, why are your hands so cold?" Cora asked cautiously.

She looked down, her brow furrowing as she gently rubbed my hands.

But as I looked at her beautiful face, only one thought filled my mind—she was going to force me into becoming a cheap thirst-trap live streamer for someone else's sake.

I pulled my hand back.

"I'm not going home. Take me to the office."

Cora paused for a moment. "What made you want to go to the office today?"

"I'll wait for you to get off work so we can go home together."

She smiled, her eyes crinkling. "Okay."

Once we arrived at the office, her secretary, Shannon Shaffer, came over to hurry Cora along to a meeting.

"Darling, go wait for me in my office first. I'll be back soon," Cora said, then hurried off.

I went to the top floor alone.

The moment I pushed open the office door, I spotted a bag of oranges sitting on the desk. They were golden-orange and flawless in appearance, each one individually wrapped.

One glance was enough to tell that they were expensive.

Just as I reached out to take one, the floating comments instantly exploded through the air.

"Back off, Allen! The male lead bought these for Cora—they're ten dollars each!"

"The male lead normally only ever eats cheap food himself, yet he bought such expensive oranges for Cora. He really does love her."

"The male lead's love is the real thing, while Allen only knows how to take."

Ten dollars for a single orange? The male lead sure was generous with his spending.

I turned and went to the work area, holding up one of the oranges.

"Who bought these oranges?"

A young man with a perm timidly stood up. He had delicate, handsome features, and his eyes were nervous and hesitant, making him look like a startled fawn.

"I-I did," he answered in a small voice. "Mr. Brandt, if you don't like them, I'll take them back to my grandmother. She never lets herself indulge in stuff like this."

Everyone's expressions shifted immediately, turning reproachful as their gazes fell on me. It was as if they were saying, "He means well, so why are you throwing your weight around?"

Instead of getting angry, I held up the orange and smiled.

"You misunderstood. These oranges are delicious. They're ten dollars each, after all."

All eyes in the room shifted again. This time, they glanced toward the young man with a hint of knowing speculation.

The young man's face flushed bright red. He was just about to explain himself, but I didn't give him the chance.

"You've all been working hard lately. I had someone order these oranges—each of you can pick up a box from the front desk after work."

The work area instantly erupted with excitement.

"Thank you, Mr. Brandt!"

"Mr. Brandt, you're too generous!"

The young man's smile froze, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the hem of his shirt.