Chapter 3

That night, Andy knocked on my door.

He got straight to the point. “There’s an arranged marriage between me and Sophia. When you come from families like ours, a lot of things are beyond your control.”

Instead, I asked, “When did I sign that nondisclosure agreement?”

Andy’s eyes flickered a little. “Three years ago.”

I was startled for a moment. I had worked the hardest for that year and had saved money like there was no tomorrow.

I stayed up working for an entire week and nearly passed out at the bus stop.

When Andy heard something was wrong with my voice over the phone, he rushed over that same night with a stack of documents with him.

“It’s a nondisclosure agreement for a new company project. A direct family member has to sign as a guarantor.”

I was a little puzzled. “But we’re not even married yet.”

He sounded so certain when he replied to me, “Isn’t that just a matter of time?”

I happily signed my name.

Just when I thought Andy had finally made a place for me in his future, he had already planned to marry another woman.

There was a trace of reluctance in his gaze.

“As long as you behave yourself, you can still remain by my side.

“I won’t treat you badly. Pick any house you want. I’ll give you one hundred thousand dollars every month.”

I stared at him in shock. “Do you want me to be your mistress?”

Andy did not seem to think there was anything wrong with that.

“You’re always saying how exhausting your job is. Staying by my side would definitely be easier than working—”

Before he finished his sentence, I slapped him across the face.

He knew perfectly well that my mother had developed depression after being forced to become a mistress.

He knew that was the one thing I hated the most. Yet, he still said it matter-of-factly.

Andy’s expression darkened. When he saw my teary eyes, his tone softened.

“Quennie, think about what your mother went through all those years. Do you really want to follow in her footsteps? At least I won’t abandon you the way your father abandoned your mother.”

I kicked and shoved him until I forced him out of the room.

Little did I know the next day, my mother, Mary, called me in a furious tone.

“How could you do something like this? I’m so ashamed to have even given birth to a disgrace like you!”

It was only then that I knew someone had secretly photographed Andy coming to my hotel and turned the pictures into a post on a social media account.

The headline read: Freshly Married Tycoon Secretly Keeps a Mistress on the Side.

The comments were filled with insults. Someone even dug up my phone number and ID. A flood of vicious harassment came pouring in.

Mary cried on the other end of the phone.

“Quennie, why did you become someone like that? You know a mistress is the one thing I’ve hated the most my entire life.”

I could only explain, “Mom, I’m not a mistress—”

Mary’s voice abruptly turned shrill.

“You’re still lying! If you’re not his mistress, why did Andy go to your hotel to see you?!”

I had no way to explain that. All I could do was post evidence online proving that I was not a mistress.

For a moment, the internet descended into chaos.

They quickly reported and took down my post.

Just then, Sophia came for me. “Quennie, we need to talk.”