Chapter 3

3.

Seven years ago, Sarah and I were the couple everyone envied. We started dating in college, and everyone assumed we would get married.

Her wealthy family didn't approve of me. They threatened to cut her off completely if she didn't leave me.

At the time, we didn't back down. We were ready to face the world together.

Sarah started her own business. Gary and I were her very first employees.

Gary was incredibly competitive. He was always trying to steal my clients and sabotage my work.

When Sarah found out, she tore into him. She threatened to fire him if he ever pulled another dirty trick on me.

From that day on, Gary hated both of us. He dug into Sarah's past and found out she was an illegitimate child. He used that to blackmail me.

He told me that if I didn't reject her proposal in front of everyone, he would ruin her life. He would leak the secret to the press and destroy her reputation.

I knew how much Sarah had suffered because of that identity. She had finally escaped the shadow of her childhood.

If the world found out, it would break her completely. I couldn't let that happen.

The day Sarah proposed was a grand event. She had even arranged for a live stream so her parents could see us together.

But standing there, looking at her tear-filled eyes, I remembered Gary's threat. I rejected her.

I said the cruelest thing I could think of. I told her she was too poor and that I didn't want to suffer through the struggle of a startup with her.

The proposal turned into a public breakup. Sarah looked at me with pure venom and told me I would regret it one day.

I sold my house and borrowed every cent I could to pay Gary seven hundred thousand dollars as hush money. I buried that secret deep inside me.

Later, Sarah fought her way back into her family and eventually took over the Sterling empire.

When she found me again, I was working at a bar to pay off my debts. She knew I still owed three hundred thousand dollars.

She threw a five-year contract at me. She offered to pay my debts if I stayed by her side for five years.

On the very first day, she made it clear. She told me never to expect any affection from her again.

She told me she was only keeping me around to torture me. She made me watch her be intimate with men I hated, eventually choosing Gary as her primary partner for revenge.

Gary loved to brag about it. He told me Sarah said he was much better than I ever was.

He told everyone that he was sleeping with my girl, and Sarah never stopped him.

She loved seeing me become a laughingstock. Whenever she saw me cry, she laughed and said I deserved it.

She thought I signed that contract because I was greedy for money.

She didn't know that I just wanted an excuse to be near her.

She didn't know that after she walked away from the proposal, I stayed at that venue all night. I cried until I couldn't breathe.

Thinking about those memories made me tear up again. But then I looked at the flight notification on my phone.

I had booked a ticket to London three days ago. A small smile appeared on my face. Finally, only one day left.

In the middle of the night, Sarah called again. Her voice was cold as she ordered me to a high-end club.

The club was almost closing when I arrived. I thought she wanted me to serve drinks again.

Gary stopped me, a wicked glint in his eyes as he looked at the stage.

"Who said you were here to serve? The performers are gone, and we're bored."

I knew exactly what he was implying, but I pretended not to understand.

"I'll call the agency and have a new crew sent over immediately," I said.

Sarah clicked her tongue in annoyance. She looked at me with icy, disdainful eyes.

"Didn't you hear him? You're the entertainment tonight!"

I stood there in silence, enduring the mockery of everyone in the room. Finally, I spoke softly.

"I don't know how to perform."

Gary sneered and stood up. He grabbed me by my tie and pulled me close.

"Don't worry! It's easy. We're going to put a collar on you, and you're going to crawl on the floor like a dog! You've been Sarah's dog for years, anyway!"

I was shaking from head to toe. I watched as Sarah pulled out a heavy metal chain and fastened it around my neck.

Gary yanked the chain. "What are you waiting for? Get on your knees!"

The people around us pulled out their phones to record. Sarah didn't do anything to stop them.

Instead, she threw a handful of cash at me. Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"Kneel! I'll pay you! Isn't that what you love most? Money?!"

She kept throwing bills at my face, laughing as they fluttered around me.

"Hurry up. If you do a good job, I'll give you more! Get down!"

I saw the deep hatred in her eyes. I realized then that we were too far apart. The misunderstanding between us could never be fixed.

Looking at the money on the floor, I let out a soft laugh. If this was what she wanted to see, I would give it to her.

"Fine. I'll kneel."

Gary led me to the stage on the chain. I crawled behind him, losing every bit of my dignity.

My knees and palms were scraped raw, but the crowd only cheered louder.

Sarah walked onto the stage, throwing more money over me.

"You really would do anything for cash, wouldn't you? If I paid you enough, would you even raise Gary's kids for us?!"

I froze for a second and looked up at her. She was looking down at me with a twisted smile.

My eyes filled with tears as I looked at her. She had no idea that after tonight, we would never see each other again.

I forced a smile and continued to crawl. I was like a machine, going through the motions.

Finally, Sarah called an end to it. "This video will be playing in your room every night! Take a good look at how greedy you are!"

The half-hour nightmare was over. Gary finally unhooked the chain.

My legs were shaking so hard I could barely walk. When I got home, I threw everything I owned into the trash.

The only thing I left was the five-year agreement on the table. It was a reminder that my time was up.

I didn't wait another minute. I changed my flight and headed straight to the airport for my flight to the UK.