Chapter 3

5

“Ian Rhodes! What the hell is wrong with you!”

Scarlett screamed at me while tenderly wiping the blood from Caleb’s lip.

Caleb’s eyes were red, making him look like a frightened rabbit.

“It’s my fault. I called him a gold-digger and it upset him... I was just worried you were being scammed, Scarlett.”

His tears fell one by one, each one seemingly stabbing into her heart.

Scarlett’s face darkened as she took a deep breath and turned to me with a cold gaze.

“Was he wrong? What are you if not a gold-digger?!”

“You spend my money, yet you act like you’re so noble?”

I let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh.

“Scarlett, did you forget? You were the one who offered me money to marry you.”

My words probably reminded her of the past.

She had once given up everything for me, only for me to abandon her for money.

She looked at me with cold eyes, not like a husband, but like an enemy.

“So what? You’re a sellout. You sold yourself to a rich woman then, and now you’ve sold yourself to me.”

The harsh words were like a blade piercing my chest.

I thought of Nina’s final words of comfort to me.

The pain in my heart flared again and again.

Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore and collapsed onto the floor.

Scarlett gave me a disgusted look.

“Ian, you really are a pathetic loser. Look at Caleb, then look at your half-dead self.”

“It’s honestly nauseating.”

Her voice held no hidden hatred; it was pure, open disgust.

She didn't want to look at me for another second.

She grabbed Caleb’s arm and turned to leave.

I could still hear their happy laughter even after they were far away.

The sound cut through the walls and straight into my soul.

At that moment, I realized I had been a joke all along.

For five years, I had loved her too hard and too painfully.

I had sacrificed my dignity, my pride, and even lost my last family member.

The debt had been paid in full.

Fortunately, in just one day, I would finally be gone.