Chapter 1

When I was twenty-five, I kept an intern, Samuel Lambert, as my lover.

I told him that as long as he stayed with me, I'd make sure he got through his internship smoothly and help him pay off his parents' gambling debts.

So, this handsome boy had no choice but to be with me for three years.

Later, after the Jennings Group collapsed, someone shattered my legs.

From afar, I watched Samuel gazing at Kathryn Moore, his true love, his eyes brimming with tears.

Then I disappeared without a word, and he never tried to find me.

Many years later, while I was working at a street food stall in the middle of the city, Samuel had already become the CEO of a public company, showing off his romance with the one he always loved.

He looked at me with cold indifference.

I laughed at myself, "Do you think I'm just a joke?"

Suddenly, tears streamed down his face. "You've always been a joke to me."

*****

After the Jennings Group collapsed, my enemies shattered my legs. With nowhere left to go, I had to bend my once proud back.

I hunched over on a bustling street, selling hot dogs to make ends meet.

That day, I was setting up my stall like I always did, but amidst the bustling, lively street, I spotted Samuel.

He was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, and the expensive watch on his wrist caught the light.

Standing next to him was the one he always loved, Kathryn.

I drank in every detail of his face, knowing all too well this might be the last time I ever saw him in person. Soon, he and Kathryn would be leaving the country together to chase their dreams.

If I ever wanted to lay eyes on him again, it'd only be through a TV screen, but I didn't even own a TV.

"Hey, what are you daydreaming about? Where's my hot dog?" A customer's irritated voice jerked me back to reality.

Seeing the impatient look on their face, I hurriedly wrapped up the hot dog in a plastic container and passed it to them.

The customer asked, "Can I just tap to pay?"

I pressed my lips together, feeling awkward, and managed a sheepish smile. "Sorry, I don't have a phone. Is cash okay?"

The customer dug through their bag, finally pulled out two wrinkled bills, and tossed them into the plastic bucket next to me.

Then he grumbled as he walked away, "Come on, who doesn't have a phone these days? What a hillbilly."

I gingerly picked up the two crumpled bills. After paying for supplies, I had about thirty left over today.

At least I could afford some medicine for the next few days. But I couldn't buy too much, or I'd have nothing left for meals.

Just as I was lost in thought, Samuel suddenly appeared right in front of me. He stared at me, eyes searching.

I quickly lowered my head, my palms slick with sweat, holding my breath as anxiety tightened in my chest.

Did Samuel recognize me? The thought made me feel like I was standing on a razor's edge, my nerves stretched taut.

Samuel's intense stare made me want to bolt right then and there. Honestly, of all the people in the world, Samuel was the one I least wanted to run into. I didn't want him to recognize me, not when I was such a mess.

Just then, Kathryn walked over to Samuel, breaking the awkward silence. "Hey, what's wrong, Samuel?"

Samuel's icy look melted as soon as he saw Kathryn. "Smells so good, doesn't it? Back in school, we were obsessed with hot dogs. You'd always claim you were full, and then dump your unfinished hot dog on me." His eyes sparkled with warmth.

Kathryn laughed, "We're not who we used to be. Things will only get better for us."

I kept quiet and simply handed the hot dog they ordered to Samuel.

Samuel took the hot dog and placed the cash in the bucket.

It wasn't until they turned and walked away that I finally dared to lift my head.

I looked at Samuel, the intern I once kept as my lover. Now he was so far above me, and we were living in completely different worlds.

I glanced down at my tattered clothes and gave a bitter chuckle.

I was such a fool. With a mask on, reeking of oil, and my hair a total mess, I was nothing like the pampered rich lady I used to be. There was no way Samuel could recognize me now.

Even though I really didn't want Samuel to notice me, I still couldn't stop myself from watching him walk away.

He got swallowed by the crowd and eventually disappeared from my view.

Suddenly, I remembered the first time I saw Samuel. He was wearing a cheap work uniform, sweat streaming down his face. He had his arms full of files and several cups of coffee, wobbling his way into the office.

My eyes were instantly drawn to him. So, for weeks, I'd hang out in the break room with my secretary, Connor, watching Samuel work like a pro, quick, efficient, never missing a beat.

From nine in the morning till ten at night, he was constantly being sent on errands by his coworkers, always on the move.

Sometimes he was so swamped that he barely had time to eat, just stuffing some bread in his mouth to keep himself going.

From his file, I found out he was a fresh intern at the branch. He had a mom who was really sick and a dad who couldn't stop gambling.

He'd been pinching pennies for his family since he was little, always getting picked on and excluded by classmates at school and coworkers at work.

But he always had a smile on his face. When he grinned, those two dimples popped up, and it was like the whole world got a little brighter.

I found myself getting more and more invested in him.