Chapter 2

I deliberately hid who I really was, pretending to be a potential client whenever I showed up in front of Samuel.

I watched him stay up late, work hard to impress me, and explain everything about the products with such focus and sincerity.

I even had Connor keep his troublesome coworkers off his back.

Samuel smiled and said, "Ms. Jennings, I really feel lucky to have met you. Ever since then, things have been so much smoother for me."

Seeing his bright, genuine smile, I couldn't help but smile back.

My heart had turned cold from all the manipulation and deceit in the Jennings family, but his bright, genuine smile made me feel alive again.

I never told him I was the CEO of the Jennings Group. I was afraid he'd start treating me like royalty, giving me that same insincere, flattering smile everyone else did.

As the days went by and we spent more time together, I found myself caring about him more and more.

Then one day, I realized I was grinning from ear to ear every time I got a message from him. That's when I knew that I was falling for this guy.

So, on a sunny weekend, I invited him out, hoping to finally tell him how I felt.

But when I arrived at his apartment, I saw him wrapped in an embrace with a girl, her simple cotton dress as plain as those clothes he used to wear.

They were splitting an ice cream cone, their faces lit up with pure happiness and contentment.

By that time, I'd already gone through every bit of information about him.

That girl was his first love, his dream girl, Kathryn.

He was working himself to the bone, not just to pay off his family's gambling debts and his mom's medical bills, but also so his dream girl could go to grad school without a hitch.

I let out a bitter laugh, quietly slipped away, and forced myself to move on from Samuel, even though it tore me up inside.

One night, as I was passing by a small alley, I heard Samuel's voice, so desperate that it sent chills down my spine.

Drawn by his voice, I followed the path and stepped into the alley. What I saw hit me like a punch to the gut.

A group of thugs was dragging Samuel around, beating him up and shoving him without mercy.

Samuel looked completely wrecked, his clothes rumpled and his legs limp, barely able to hold himself up. He was fighting back, but it was hopeless, and his eyes were drowning in pure despair.

My mind went blank when I saw this. I snatched up a brick and rushed right at them.

The moment those thugs realized I was just a woman, they gave me these wicked grins. They started rubbing their hands together, eyes gleaming with sleazy intent as they closed in on me.

Samuel was choked up, tears in his eyes as he begged, "Ms. Jennings, this has nothing to do with you. Please, just go."

I stared at Samuel. He hadn't cried at all when those thugs were beating him, but the second he saw me surrounded, he lost it, tears spilling down his face in panic.

He looked a mess, but deep down, I knew that I'd fallen for this pure, kind-hearted guy.

He knew exactly what would happen if I left him there. He could get seriously hurt, or worse. Still, he wanted me to leave.

By the time Connor arrived with reinforcements, Samuel had been beaten within an inch of his life, but he still clung to me, shielding me with everything he had.

When he finally woke up, I was there by his bedside, eyes swollen and red from crying.

When he saw me, his eyes filled with pure joy, and he let out a long sigh of relief. "I'm glad you're okay."

He looked at me with a serious face and started lecturing, "You're a girl. You shouldn't rush in like that. What if you got hurt? I'm not made of glass, and I can handle it."

I stared at him, my voice trembling as I suddenly said, "Samuel. I'm not just some client. The truth is, I'm the CEO of the Jennings Group.

"If you be my boyfriend, I'll make sure you get through your internship, help you clear your parents' gambling debts, and make sure your mom gets the best treatment she needs."

The Jennings family had always been part of high society, and I grew up wanting for nothing. Nobody ever taught me how to tell someone I loved them.

So, I had no clue how Samuel would react to what I blurted out. All I saw was Samuel's face drained of all color, the light in his eyes going out completely.

After what felt like forever, he bit down hard and gave a stiff nod.

Overwhelmed with excitement, I pressed several bank cards into Samuel's hands and told Connor to find him a new place to get him out of that shabby rental apartment.

I never realized that Samuel was looking at me with so much disappointment in his eyes at that time.

After we got together, he started acting more obedient and grown-up. But he started spending money like it was nothing, transferring millions out of my account every single day.

Connor would glance at the bills, always wanting to say something but holding back.

I knew exactly what he was thinking, but honestly, I couldn't care less. Money was never a problem for the Jennings family, and it sure wasn't for me either.

Money could buy almost anything, but having Samuel with me was the only thing I really cared about. So, I didn't care how much it cost.

Maybe the universe couldn't stand to see me too happy. The Jennings Group's secrets got leaked, and the shares tanked overnight.

My dad was running around trying to save the Jennings family when he got into a car accident and died on the spot.

My mom couldn't bear the grief. One night, she took her own life.

After the company collapsed and the Jennings family went bankrupt, my nemesis locked me up in a rundown factory and crushed my legs.

Luck was on my side. I somehow survived, barely hanging on by a thread.

With what little strength I had left, I crawled my way to Samuel's apartment, only to see Kathryn clutching his hand tightly, her face glowing with excitement as she spoke to him.

I watched as he looked at her, their eyes brimming with tears. I glanced down at my crippled legs and gave a silent, bitter laugh.