Chapter 1
When Edward Sinclair and I fell in love, he was a "prince" of Bayport's glittering nightlife.
I was a college dropout, working as a hostess at a high-end lounge for fast cash to save my critically ill mother.
Edward never minded that I was there for money.
Whatever I asked for, he gave.
Everyone said he had finally met his true love.
Even I started to believe that God had dropped a piece of candy into my miserable life.
Finally, I had enough money to cure my mom. Overjoyed, I went to tell Edward I was leaving.
He looked surprised, a hint of warning in his eyes. "What's wrong with being here? I'm here with you, you're making good money, and everyone treats you like royalty."
My smile felt stiff, bitter. "But would you ever marry me?"
Edward, a man of his status, knew perfectly well he wouldn't.
My current golden life was entirely built on his whims.
Under the dim lights, the mockery in his eyes was crystal clear.
To get my mom out safely, I chose not to expose the sweet lie. "You're right. It's good here, with you spoiling me."
He nodded, satisfied, and disappeared down the hall.
I didn't hesitate for a second. That very night, I took my mom and fled Bayport, all the way back to Riverside.
That was where my future waited.
*****
I spent all the cash Edward Sinclair slipped me, greasing the wheels at the checkpoints and making sure my mom was taken care of.
The day I checked in at Riverside University, one of my old coworkers from the club messaged me.
[Mr. Sinclair is usually calm and collected, but he went ballistic after he found out you were gone.]
He searched all over Bayport for me, desperate and frantic.
I didn't reply, and honestly, I didn't feel a thing.
I silently tossed the phone card into the trash.
In real life, that whole billionaire chasing after his girl across cities trope only happened when both people came from the same kind of family, with matching backgrounds and status.
A hostess like me didn't get stories like that.
Without looking back, I stepped onto campus and dove straight into my studies.
It wasn't until three months later that I ran into Edward again.
Riverside's weather was a whole different beast from Bayport's. It was sticky, stifling, and totally suffocating.
That day, I was working a shift at a café.
Steam from the coffee machine billowed up around me.
I looked up and saw Edward's super-perfect face.
He looked at me, his voice husky. "Three months and you're not talking to me now?"
My hand holding the coffee cup paused, a flicker of panic rising in my chest.
It wasn't Edward who made me nervous; it was the fear that he'd shatter the peace I'd finally found.
I lowered my gaze and tapped the tablet, ready to take his order.
"What would you like to drink, sir?" I asked.
Edward took his time, slowly browsing through the menu.
The seconds dragged on, each one stretching longer than the last.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he broke the silence, his voice soft.
"Just like before. How much for you to spend the day with me?" Edward asked.
During those three years that I hustled at the club to cover my mom's medical bills, Edward was always the one who chose me most.
Every time he showed up, he spent money lavishly.
He'd always point at me and ask, "How much for you to stay with me all night?"
Since I was desperate to pay for my mom's treatment, I always named a sky-high price.
Edward never blinked. Whatever price I named, he just handed it over.
Because of him, I had it easy at the club. I never had to deal with creeps, and I was never just another girl waiting to get chewed up by the sharks.
For that, I was genuinely grateful.
But now, I was afraid of him.
Edward was dangerous; one wrong move and he could flip my world from heaven to hell in a heartbeat.
I looked up and tried to sound calm. "Sir, this is a café."
Edward nodded, his fingers, knuckles sharp, pressed against the gray marble tabletop.
"I know. What I can't figure out is why someone would walk away from 100 thousand a night, just to work here for less than 10 an hour," he said.
Before I could say a word, he let out a soft laugh.
"Not trying to look down on waitresses or anything, I just honestly don't get it," Edward said.
Edward was one of those rare businessmen in Bayport who actually knew how to carry himself.
Honestly, he just couldn't figure out why I'd leave the club, where he had my back and the cash was easy, and why I dropped it all and ran off to Riverside.
I took a deep breath and stared straight into his deep eyes.
"I'm a student at Riverside University. This café job is just a side gig. Here, I actually have a future," I said.
The rich aroma of coffee beans filled the air.
Edward tapped his fingers on the table.
He looked up at me, his expression serious.
"If you wanted to go to school, why didn't you tell me? I could've helped you," he said.
I smirked at myself, a little bitter.
"Didn't I mention that?" I said. "Mr. Sinclair, I thought I made that clear from the start."