Chapter 1

I lived with Jaxon Gable for three years, and he never once popped the question.

I didn't rush him because we were both as broke as a joke.

One day, I found a receipt in his jacket pocket.

He bought a fancy-schmancy bag that cost more than I made in years.

Later, I overheard his friend ask him. "You really gonna keep hiding it from her? You're getting hitched to your fiancée."

Jaxon lit a smoke and snickered, "No prob. I'm a pro at acting. Three years, and she didn't catch on."

I quietly turned around, tossed the ring I was planning to propose with, and quit my job.

On the day Jaxon got married, I hopped on a plane to go abroad.

I vanished from his world for good.

***

Sunlight filtered through the gauzy curtains, casting a gentle glow on the floor. I hummed a tune as I tossed Jaxon's discarded clothes into the washing machine.

I fished out his wallet, keys, and a neatly folded receipt from the pocket of his shirt.

My heart skipped a beat.

It was a habit of mine to check all his pockets, just to make sure nothing was left behind.

I unfolded the receipt. The glaring LV logo and the staggering numbers hit me like a punch in the gut.

"LV?" I murmured in astonishment.

I'd only ever seen and heard of this brand on TV. I unconsciously clenched my fingers, crumpling the receipt.

"4-42 thousand dollars?" I exclaimed.

That was several years' worth of my salary.

I racked my brain. Was there any special occasion coming up? There was none.

It was neither my birthday nor his.

Could it be a surprise for me?

The thought had barely emerged before I immediately dismissed it.

There was no way. He had never given me anything so expensive.

Besides, with his financial situation, he couldn't afford it.

A wave of intense unease washed over me like a tidal wave as I clutched the receipt so tightly I nearly tore it to pieces.

I double-checked the signature. That bold, flourishing Gable, even though it wasn't his full name, was unmistakably his.

I had to get to the bottom of this.

I grabbed my bag, rushed out the door, and headed straight to the luxury store.

The store was opulent, its crystal chandeliers casting a dazzling, blinding light that made me feel a bit out of place.

"Hello? How can I help you?" a salesgirl approached with a polished, professional smile.

I took a deep breath and tried to sound calm. "I'd like to ask about this receipt."

I handed over the crumpled receipt.

The salesgirl took the receipt, glanced at it, and her expression shifted subtly. "Oh, so it's this bag..."

Before she could finish speaking, a familiar voice cut her off. "Hey, Elowen? What brings you here?"

I looked up to see my cousin, Yvonne Lincoln.

She worked here and was the store manager.

Yvonne stood beside me in her perfectly tailored uniform, with heavy makeup, a striking contrast to my plain attire.

"Yvonne, do you know this lady?" The salesgirl was taken aback.

Yvonne scanned me from head to toe, a knowing smirk curling at the corners of her lips.

"Yep, this is my cousin," she said, walking up to me and affectionately linking her arm with mine.

But then her tone shifted, lowering a few decibels. "Elowen, what are you doing here? This place isn't exactly within your budget."

I ignored her sarcasm and pointed to the receipt. "Do you remember this?"

Yvonne glanced at the receipt, her eyes flickering. "Sure, how could I forget? It was just last week."

She paused, her voice taking on a gloating edge. "That day, a super handsome young man came in with a tall, beautiful woman. He didn't even blink when he charged hundreds of thousands of dollars."

"The woman had an amazing figure and an air of elegance about her—clearly a noble young lady. They were all over each other, hugging and cuddling. The guy even carried the woman's bag." She spoke while observing my reaction.

I felt my heart sinking bit by bit, as if pressed down by a massive boulder, making it hard to breathe.

"Elowen, this is the customer's privacy. I shouldn't be telling you this," Yvonne sighed, feigning concern. "But, seeing as we're family, I have to warn you.

"That guy's clearly wealthy. Why are you even looking into him? Don't you have a boyfriend you've been dating for years?"

"What? Now you think he's poor, and you want to date someone else? Don't even dream about it," she mocked.

Her words were like sharp knives, stabbing painfully into my heart.

Yvonne always liked to compare herself to me. She had always looked down on me, thinking I went to a prestigious university for nothing, ending up with a meager salary and a boyfriend who was poor.

Ignoring her, I pulled up a photo of Jaxon on my phone and showed it to her. "Take a look. Is this the guy?"

Yvonne curled her lip. "I don't know what you're thinking." She took the phone, glancing at the photo.

Her eyes widened the longer she looked. "It does look like him. Elowen, is this your boyfriend?

"Your boyfriend looks so shabby compared to him. They can't be compared. But they do look alike. Honestly, your boyfriend is quite good-looking."

The salesgirl next to us leaned over and pointed at Jaxon's photo, exclaiming in surprise. "Isn't this the guy who came with his date to buy a bag? I heard they're a couple and about to get married."

I clenched my palm tightly to keep myself from losing composure, grabbed my phone and the receipt, and turned to leave. "Thank you."

My mind was in turmoil as I walked back home. By the time I got there, it was already dark.

Jaxon, wearing an apron, was busy in the kitchen.

Seeing me come in, he immediately broke into a gentle smile. "You're back? Dinner will be ready in a moment."

He brought the steaming dishes to the table, the aroma wafting through the air.

There was roasted lamb chop, tuna salad, and my favorite corn stew.

He sat across from me, his eyes soft and his tone caring. "What's wrong? You look pale. Is work too tiring?"

He was so considerate. Looking at his familiar face, I felt a mix of emotions.

I had been with Jaxon for three years, and I knew him well.

The man in front of me, who cooked for me, was the Jaxon I knew. I shouldn't doubt him.

Silently, I stuffed the crumpled receipt into my pocket and forced a smile. "It's nothing. I'm just a bit tired."