Chapter 1

I took 300 thousand dollars from the Carter family and broke up with Julian Carter.

Five years later, Julian had become a world-famous movie star, while I returned home only as an entertainment reporter.

We ran into each other during an interview, and sticking to my script, I asked, "Mr. Carter, could you tell us if you have any plans for settling down?"

Julian toyed with the ring on his finger and replied casually, "I once had a girlfriend, but she left me for money. Ms. Lawson, isn't that the lowest thing ever?"

The livestream blew up instantly. The audience online went crazy, gossiping about who'd dare cross Julian like that.

I stood frozen, unsure how to respond to Julian's question.

After a long pause, Julian stopped and said with a half-smile, "I'm kidding. No one will be that heartless and ditch everything for money."

I let out a sigh of relief and echoed quickly, "Mr. Carter, you're so funny."

Once the livestream wrapped up, the crew started cleaning up the set.

Julian grabbed his jacket from the back of a chair and stood up as he owned the place.

My eyes followed him, and he noticed. He turned around and pointed at my name tag.

"Ms. Lawson, is there something you need?" he asked.

Realizing I'd been staring, I quickly looked down and mumbled, "No, nothing."

Julian flicked his eyes down at me as if I were nothing but garbage.

He scoffed, "There are plenty of people in this business who'd do anything to get close to me. You'd better not get any funny ideas."

I stayed put, standing straight at the side, waiting quietly for Julian and his team to pass by.

I didn't have the guts for stuff like that.

It was the same now as it had been five years ago.

Back then, a big-shot talent agent showed up at my school.

That was when I found out my boyfriend of two years was the son of a business tycoon and the movie star Vivian Miller.

I watched him slip into a custom-made suit and get into a luxury car I'd never even seen before.

Trained bodyguards formed a wall, keeping the excited crowd at bay.

I never would have imagined it. Only a few days ago, he was right there with me on the sidewalk, hunched over a piece of bread.

Now, even trying to see him would get me labeled as an obsessive fangirl with no sense of boundaries.

That night, Julian slipped back quietly, making sure no one saw him.

He waited outside my dorm all night. When morning came and I finally saw him, he grabbed my hand so tightly that it felt like he was afraid to let go.

Julian said, "Natalie, trust me. I'll give you everything you deserve."

The very next day, his face was lighting up the giant screen at Tims Square.

[Julian Carter, New Generation Powerhouse, Bursts onto the Scene!]

Then Julian's agent, Grace Hughes, tracked me down.

She didn't waste a second and shoved a bank card in front of me.

Grace said bluntly, "Vivian sent me. She says your background isn't even worth her wasting a minute.

"Face it. You and Julian live in two separate worlds. You'll never have a future together. Not in this lifetime.

"If you have any self-respect, you'll take the money and walk away. It's the only decent option you've got."

I looked up at the café's television screen, where Julian's commercial was playing on repeat.

As the son of a business tycoon and a movie star, he was born into all the privileges that most people would never get, no matter how hard they tried.

He was flawless on camera, like the spotlight had always been his natural habitat.

And me? I was nothing more than a sewer rat, hiding out of sight.

I wished I could be one of those leads from dramas and smack that card straight in Grace's face.

I imagined myself telling her that I would never leave Julian and asking her to get lost.

But reality was no fairytale. I was not Cinderella, and luck had never been on my side.

I was nobody, a clown who was only good for hiding in the shadows.

But like it or not, this clown needed that money right now.

I took the card. Grace told me there was 300 thousand loaded on it.

If I didn't squander it, that money could get me through most of my life.

For the Carter family, that was more kindness than I could ever expect.

Just as I left the café, my phone lit up with Julian's name on the screen.

The moment I picked up, his voice burst through—excited, but with a shaky edge.

Julian said, "Natalie, my mom told me you're dumping me. I told her that's not happening."

Even while insisting it was impossible, he sounded urgent, almost desperate.

"Natalie, where are you right now? Should I come find you?" Julian pressed.

I clenched my phone so tightly I nearly crushed it. After all this time, I finally made up my mind.

"Julian, you don't have to come looking for me. We're done," I said.

On his end, I caught the roar of his car engine. It sounded as frantic as the storm rolling in.