Chapter 3

Actually, before coming to the detective agency,

I had already imagined countless reasons:

He’s tired of me and wants to break up?

He’s fallen in love with someone else and his heart has changed?

Or maybe he’s had enough of being poor and wants to climb the social ladder?

For each possibility, I had prepared myself mentally to end things with him with dignity.

But this–this was the one thing I never considered.

Three years–three years of hardship and poverty together, all so real.

How could I have imagined he was the ultimate rich heir, a playboy indulging in the high society of the capital?

So, after leaving the detective agency, I allowed myself a rare luxury: I took a cab.

I headed straight for the most exclusive club for the wealthy in the capital.

This was the place–the very place that sugar mama from last night had specified Julian Montgomery must come to.

I didn’t really come to do anything.

I just wanted… to ask why.

I just wanted a clean, decisive ending.

“Julian, come here, while Mrs. Montgomery hasn’t arrived yet, let’s all apologize to you together.”

“Back then, it really wasn’t that we didn’t want to help you.”

“It’s just that Mr. Montgomery gave strict orders to toughen you up, and we were powerless!”

“But, to be honest, you really do know how to play the game.”

“Mr. Montgomery cut off all your finances, but just happened to forget about your face.”

“Who could have thought you’d use your good looks to latch onto such a hardworking Cinderella?”

“Forget about experiencing the hardships of the poor–I’d say you’ve been living in luxury these three years!”

My hand froze on the door handle the moment I heard the conversation inside.

I stood there dumbfounded, right at the private room’s entrance.

A chill like falling into an ice cellar crept up from my ankles, climbing relentlessly.

“But anyway, the three-year ban Mr. Montgomery gave you has been over for a month now.”

“So why are you still sulking and refusing to go home?”

“Exactly! Mrs. Montgomery even called all of us here today just to make you go back.”

“Don’t tell me you really plan to leave the Montgomery Family’s mansions empty and keep hiding out in that shabby little rental?”

“What’s up? Did you really fall for that Cinderella? Planning to settle down for real? Looks like Mr. Montgomery’s move actually worked on you, you’re already–”

“Bullshit.”

Julian Montgomery’s voice broke out through clenched teeth, edged with resentment.

“Chloe Miller is the most humiliating stain of my past three years.”

“I can’t wait to get rid of her and return to my old life.”

“But people like her, poor people–if they found out my true identity, I bet she’d cling to me, greedy and insatiable.”

“So it’s better to break up slowly, like this.”

“I’ll give her a sum of money when we break up. Consider it payment for the three years she took care of me.”