Chapter 3

My heart sank. I was the one they made a fool of, but they were twisting things around and making it look like it was all my fault.

Andrea added, "That woman was just after my husband's money.

"There was another guy going after her at the same time, but she dumped him because he was poorer than my husband.

"She straight up said she loved money and only wanted to marry someone rich.

"So now she's living in a mansion in Elysian City, getting pampered as a rich man's wife. She got exactly what she was after."

My head was spinning.

After I got together with Jerry, that upperclassman who'd been after me wouldn't give up—he kept hanging around my dorm, bugging me every day, asking why I chose Jerry over him.

I got so annoyed by his constant pestering that I snapped back with the one thing he couldn't refute: Jerry was rich.

I explained to Jerry at the time that it was an excuse.

At that time, Jerry pulled me into his arms, holding me close, his eyes full of trust. "Of course I believe you, my girl."

After graduation, Jerry refused to take over the family business because he wanted to focus on his research. His grandfather ended up disowning him.

His parents gave up on him, but I stayed by his side without a second thought, living with him in a basement and surviving on instant noodles.

But in the end, after everything, I became the gold-digger in their eyes.

Andrea kept going, "That woman really knows how to play the game. She figured my husband might've overheard, so she explained herself right away and said it was a cover story.

"Honestly, if she'd been straight about it, maybe people would've respected her more. It's not scary to love money. What's annoying is pretending to be pure while chasing cash.

"When I first got with my husband, I spelled it out: if he wanted me, he had to marry me and give me one million dollars a month as spending money.

"But it's not about loving money for me. That's just what a woman deserves. I spend it on keeping myself looking good, and in the end, he's the one who gets to enjoy it, right?"

Andrea suddenly leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper for me. "Miss, I can set you up with a specialist.

"Sure, it costs a bit, but trust me. Once your husband comes home, he'll be dying to get his hands on you every single night."

She kept smiling, didn't even care that I'd gone pale. "My husband says that compared to that woman's cheapness and how dumb and nasty she is, it's my honesty and how I never fake it that makes him can't get enough of me.

"Every girl's first time is valuable. Too bad she never got that memo.

"What a shame. That woman will never even know why she lost in the end."

A bitter smile tugged at my lips. Love was never about winning or losing.

The one who was loved could do no wrong, while the one who wasn't could never do anything right.

"Maybe she really was making up an excuse," I said.

Andrea smiled, unfazed. "Even if that's true, whether he loves her or not, it all depends on my husband, right?

"Even if the marriage is fake, she still gets 10 thousand dollars a month, no strings attached.

"No nanny in the world gets paid 10 thousand dollars a month, right?

"As the real wife, I'm the one putting up with her and giving her money every month. If anyone's getting the short end of the stick, it's me."

I couldn't help but laugh at how she twisted everything around. Just as I was about to argue back, her phone lit up.

She answered, and a sweet, childlike voice came through. "Mommy, hug me."

Andrea soothed him gently, then turned to me with a smile. "My son's like his dad. He can't stay away from me.

I forced a bitter smile. "You have a kid?"

She nodded. "Yeah, he's almost three."

I gave a bitter laugh. "Most girls wouldn't want to be a mom so early."

She nodded in agreement. "It's not like I wanted to either, but with my husband's family being so huge, they needed an heir.

"Back then, that woman in Elysian City was pregnant too. I wanted to take the easy route to motherhood, but my husband insisted his child could only be born by me.

"So that night, I got pregnant."

My heart skipped a beat, and a terrifying thought flashed through my mind. "What about her baby?" I asked.

Andrea kept smiling, still looking all innocent. "She miscarried. It was with the drug my husband invented. Nobody even knew it happened.

"Honestly, sometimes I kind of envy her. Having a baby hurts like hell."