Chapter 2

That night, while Ryan was showering, I specifically sent messages from all nine accounts, spaced about two to three minutes apart.

When Ryan came out, I deliberately pointed to his phone on the coffee table, "Your phone was buzzing like crazy just now, someone kept messaging you. You should check if it's urgent."

Ryan looked panicked, grabbed his phone, turned away to read the messages, and said, "It's nothing, just some friends sending travel tips."

I gave a meaningful, "Oh, really?"

Ryan sat next to me, putting his arm around my shoulder, "Hey, I was actually planning a surprise for you. I felt really bad about not spending Valentine's Day with you. But my friends had to go and mess it up. Almost made you misunderstand me."

Ryan had to hastily fabricate a whole 'surprise' plan.

Well, lying just got him into trouble.

He took me to the aquarium to see the jellyfish, then to the most expensive rooftop restaurant in the city for dinner, and even set up a romantic scene to propose.

Propose?

I was shocked.

I seriously thought he was out of his mind.

I excused myself to the restroom and called Ryan's mom, "Mrs. Carter, Ryan just proposed to me. What should I do?"

Ryan's mom was completely unfazed, replying lightly, "Just say yes."

After hanging up, I looked at my reflection in the mirror and gave myself a pep talk.

I told myself I could handle it easily.

While I was traveling in another country, Ryan's mom had sought me out.

She laid out most of the scheme with my alternate accounts. I thought she was going to demand the money back or have me arrested, but instead, she asked me to teach her son, who loved online dating, a lesson.

Her offer was a house upon success.

"Why should I believe you? What if you take it back later? There's nothing I could do," I said.

Mrs. Carter smiled gently, "It'll be fully paid for and under your name. No need to worry."

And just like that, Mrs. Carter and I became partners in crime.

I learned from her that Ryan was a serial online dater, obsessed with meeting his virtual flames in person.

I was his tenth 'real-life' girlfriend, and the one who'd lasted the longest.

Probably because I didn't nag him and was perfectly happy as long as he kept me paid and pleased.

That's precisely why his mom enlisted my help to break his online dating habit.

With her blessing, I confidently accepted Ryan's proposal.

The flowers were beautiful, and the ring was sparkling.

I immediately posted it online. Chloe's frantic calls started pouring in just as I was leaning against Ryan, sniffing that distinct scent of money.

It smelled like victory.

Meeting Chloe the next day, she screeched like a boiling kettle, "He's a player! Dating him and taking his money? I'm all for it! But marriage? You're tying yourself to that trash for life!"

"Since when does any marriage actually last a lifetime these days?" I shot back.

Chloe stammered, "Well... you still don't have to marry him. You shouldn't chain yourself to a loser."

"Think bigger, Chloe. For a gold digger like me, Ryan is my precious sweetheart."

Chloe still didn't fully get it, but that was fine.

A couple of days later, I took her to a shop that was under renovation.

"So, what should I do with this place?" I asked.

Chloe, the genius, mouthed 'make love'. I felt like smacking my forehead!

Seeing my eye-roll, she changed her tune, "You talk as if it's your shop and we can just wish for anything."

I pulled the contract out of my bag and showed her. Chloe's scream was nearly deafening.

Chloe gaped at me. "Ryan bought you a shop?"

I corrected her, "Not just bought. He's covering all the initial setup costs too."

"Wow! How did you sweet-talk him into that?"

Well, it all started two nights ago...

I used the D-list actress account to message Ryan, complaining about how hot it was on set, how everyone had their own trailer, and I had to bum space in others' just to rest.

My goal was simple: get a car from Ryan for my cousin, who's an extra in Hollywood.

But of all the luck, Ryan was right next to me when he replied to that message.

In that moment, I felt my soul leave my body.

But I thought fast, snatched his phone, pointed at the actress's profile pic, and demanded, "Who is this woman? When did you add her? Why is she sending you messages like this?"

Caught red-handed, Ryan stammered, unable to form a coherent excuse.

I kept pushing, laying on the anger, and just as he was getting visibly annoyed, I softened my tone, "If you want me to forgive you this time, it's simple. Open a shop for me."

Ryan refused, saying running a shop was too much hassle and work.

I knew he wouldn't give in that fast, so I laid it all out for him nice and slow.

I knew it wouldn't be that easy, so I patiently explained, "If I don't make you pay a hefty price this time, what's to stop you from doing it again? How can I trust marrying you after this? Besides, we're engaged now. If the shop makes money, doesn't that make you look good too?"

Thankfully, Ryan wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. He thought about it and agreed.

Once he agreed, I struck while the iron was hot. The next day, I secured the 1,000 sq ft location I'd had my eye on.

When I took Ryan to see it, he just waved his hand and bought the place outright.

I swear, I only meant for him to rent it.

But what's bought is bought. I had to... tearfully accept.

After buying the place, he went to the restroom. The actress's phone buzzed with a new message from Ryan: "Okay, baby. Wait for me to visit you on set, you better keep me company."

Holding the phone, I excitedly texted my cousin: [You're getting a car!]

Chloe's eyes were full of worship, "Girl, at this rate, you'll be a rich lady yourself. You won't need a man!"

I knew very well this was all within the limits Mrs. Carter had set.

The goal was to drain Ryan's allowance. I figured his cards would get frozen soon.

Chloe paced around the shop three times. "How about we open a combination flower shop and café?"

She outlined her basic idea.

Floral arrangements and coffee tended to attract the artsy, spend-happy crowd. We could invite influencers for photos, push some social media marketing—it could totally take off.

I thought the idea was workable. Besides, the initial investment wasn't coming out of our pockets anyway.

Renovations kicked off in full swing. Chloe and I went to the shop daily to check progress.

Ryan, while lazy, had a background in design and actually offered quite a few useful suggestions.

Besides supervising the reno, Chloe and I also sorted out suppliers and registered the business.

Now we were real bosses.

Chloe looked at our names listed as partners on the website, grinning from ear to ear. "Bestie, I want to chase sunsets from the passenger seat of your Lamborghini."

I smirked back, "And more."