On Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend gave me a rock he picked up off the street, while his one true love received a massive diamond.

The moment I found out, I broke up with him. He immediately confessed his love to her.

Three years later, we ran into each other at a luxury golf club.

When he saw me snacking on desserts in the VIP lounge, my ex-boyfriend couldn't stop mocking me.

“Millia, you dumped me because that rock wasn’t good enough. Do you ever regret it, especially now that you’re working as a waitress?”

Even the staff joined in, spreading rumors that I was just trying to land a rich husband at the club.

But the second my husband showed up, everyone was completely dumbfounded.

My ex-boyfriend begged for another chance, desperate to win me back, while his so-called one true love ended up behind bars.

On our fourth Valentine's Day together, my boyfriend, Ivan West, gave me a rock he had found on the side of the road while his true love, Kelly Gibson, got a ten-carat diamond.

I stared at the rock icily and left it right where it was.

Ivan called me materialistic. "Millia, I only gave Kelly a diamond because she needed it to make jewelry. It's not because we have some other kind of relationship. And besides, I've spent plenty on you before. Just because I didn't get you some fancy branded things this time, you refused it. You're way too materialistic."

I broke up with him right then and there, walking away without looking back. Not long after, he went off to chase after his true love, Kelly.

Three years later, we ran into each other in the lobby of a luxury golf club.

Right next to him stood his supposedly "pure and innocent" one true love, Kelly.

They were here today because Ivan's company was in financial trouble, and he was hoping to strike a deal with Ward Group to bail him out.

As soon as Ivan spotted me with my messy hair and somewhat casual outfit, munching on desserts in the VIP lounge, he immediately frowned and said in annoyance, "Millia, you thought my gift wasn't good enough back then. Look at you now. You're so broke you're sneaking into a golf club's lounge to steal food?

"How did things get so bad for you after you left me? Or is this your new trick to get my attention? Let me tell you something. Even if you got down on your knees and begged, I wouldn't give you another chance."

I didn't bother responding as I just rolled my eyes. Who knew I would run into my ex while waiting for my husband? I was supposed to be headed to Starly Isles with him. Now, my good mood was completely ruined.

Ivan wore a perfectly tailored tracksuit with Kelly holding his arm, both of them dressed to impress.

The moment they sat down in the VIP area, people started lining up to flatter them.

"Oh, you must be Mr. Ivan from West Group! You're so successful despite your youth, and so good-looking too."

"Absolutely! He's just as impressive as his father used to be. And I take it this is your wife?"

All eyes turned to Kelly, and she immediately straightened her back and put on a proud smile. "Oh, Michael, you're too kind. We're not married yet, so I'm not his wife. At least, not yet. Once Ivan's current project wraps up, we'll hold the wedding. I do hope you and all the others here will come celebrate with us."

Kelly lifted her glass in a toast.

Ivan's smile looked forced and a little embarrassed. "Kelly still wants to focus on her career, and we're both young. There's no rush. Marriage is just a piece of paper, after all. It doesn't really mean much."

Everyone around them smiled knowingly. On the surface, they agreed, but it was clear that Ivan had no intention of marrying Kelly anytime soon.

I sat in the corner with my cake, genuinely surprised they still weren't married.

Three years ago, when Ivan and I had split, he had started courting Kelly immediately, showing off their relationship all over social media. Who would have guessed that even after three years, they still hadn't gotten married?

Neither Ivan nor Kelly was the career-obsessed type, so what was holding up the wedding?

I was still lost in thought when an angry staff member suddenly stormed over and yelled at me, "Hey! Are you the new waitress? Why are you late? And who said you could eat the desserts?! These are for the guests! That's coming out of your paycheck. Go get changed now!"

She looked me up and down, her eyes full of disgust at my old, casual clothes. "Do they really hire just anyone now? I guess the standards have gotten pretty low."

I tried to explain, but the dessert was a little too sticky, and I couldn't quite open my mouth right away.

Her voice carried across the room, and suddenly, everyone was staring at me.

At that exact moment, Ivan turned around, following the commotion.

When the people around heard what was happening, Michael couldn't help asking, curiosity written all over his face, "Oh, do you know her, Mr. West?"

Ivan's expression shifted. There was some annoyance there, maybe even a hint of pity, but he quickly covered it with his usual cold indifference.

"Oh, she's just a waitress who used to work for me," he said, making no effort to hide the mockery in his voice or the disdain in his eyes.

Then, he wrapped his arm around Kelly as if putting on a show and walked away. That cold attitude of his hadn't changed a bit, and it was still as detestable.

I turned to the staff and tried to explain, "You're mistaken. I'm not here for work. I'm waiting for someone."

The staff just laughed, a mocking look on her face, like she had already figured me out. "Miss, this is a members-only club. Please show me your membership card."

Of course, I didn't have one. I was here with my husband, Alex Ward, and the membership card was with him.

When she saw me looking awkward, the mocking smile on her face only grew. "You should really check the mirror. People like you don't belong here. If you're going to make up a story, at least try to dress for it. And by the way, the macaron you just ate was made by a Michelin-starred chef from Fiora. Those aren't cheap."

She gave a fake smile, then added sharply, "Since you can't prove you're a member, you'll need to pay full price for what you ate. That comes up to five hundred and sixty dollars. How are you planning to pay?"

"I don't have my phone with me," I said.

Her attitude flipped in an instant, and she snapped, "Security, get this freeloader out of here!"

In no time, security guards started to gather around me.

"Stop." Ivan, who had nearly left, suddenly turned back.

He strode over, hands in his pockets, his face as serious and cold as ever, and stopped right in front of me. "I'll pay for her. Put it on my account."

He turned to me and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear, "Millia, I know you're still not over me, but we've already broken up. I'm with Kelly now. There's no way we're getting back together. So please, stop using tricks to bump into me. Let's just end things peacefully and keep a little dignity for each other."

I opened my mouth to explain, but Ivan didn't let me get a word in by raising his hand. "That's enough. Don't say anything. I know things aren't easy for you right now. Tell me, how much do you need? I can lend you some money, just don't bother me again."

He pulled out his phone, ready to wire me some money right there.

Kelly, who had been standing nearby, didn't look too happy about any of this. She made a point of moving even closer to Ivan, practically gluing herself to his side.

With a gentle smile, she spoke softly, "Millia, I know you still care about Ivan, but he's with me now, and we're about to get married. Don't you… Don't you think this is a little out of line?

"If someone who didn't know better saw this, they'd probably think you were some mistress. Ivan is just being nice. Even after breaking up, if he sees an ex having a particularly hard time, he would help out. Still, we're all adults here. We should at least keep things respectful, don't you think?"

I got her message loud and clear. She was trying to insult me in a veiled way. But I hadn't said a word from the beginning to the end, and it was Ivan making up this whole narrative that I was some desperate ex who couldn't move on.

I smiled politely and replied, "I never asked him to send me anything. Ivan is the one who insisted. Maybe you should have a word with him instead. Also, I wish you both all the happiness in the world and may you two grow old together."

I ignored them and sat back down on the couch to wait for my husband, Alex. I didn't have my phone, and if I left now, he would probably send the security team to hunt me down. "Don't worry, I'm not trying to get out of paying. As soon as my husband gets here, I'll have him pay."

I explained patiently to the staff.

Kelly wasn't about to let things go and turned to the staff again. "I remember Millia was pretty light-fingered back in high school. Maybe you should check if anything's missing?"

The staff immediately caught on and waved for security. "Search her. Make sure she doesn't take anything with her. Otherwise, it's coming out of our paycheck."

I instinctively took a step back when I saw a few muscular security guards closing in.

"Millia, don't tell me you have something to hide? After all these years, you still haven't changed your shifty ways?" Kelly sneered.

I glared at the security guards as they approached. "You have no right to search me."

"That's enough, Millia. How much longer do you want to embarrass yourself here?" Ivan West snapped. "Are you still hung up on that diamond I gave Kelly three years ago? Fine, I'll transfer you some money now. You can buy yourself something even bigger and better."

Back in high school, I had been the class representative handling the class funds. During a sports meet, Kelly had suggested we use the money to buy drinks for everyone, but when I went to get the funds, they were gone. Rumors had spread, and everyone had assumed I had stolen the money.

Just because I was poor, everyone pointed their fingers at me.

In the end, Ivan had secretly used his own money to make up the missing amount, but I had still lost my class representative position and gotten labeled as a thief for those three years.

That accusation was a thorn in my eye, and hearing it brought up again still made my chest ache.

Ivan lowered his head and started to transfer money. After a moment, he looked up in surprise.

"Your bank card's frozen?" He frowned at me.

"Oh, my God, Millia, are you a deadbeat now?" Kelly gasped in obvious fake shock, covering her mouth.

The moment I heard "bank card frozen", I realized Ivan was trying to send money to the card he had once given me. But ever since I had married Alex, I had only used his card. That old card had no doubt been frozen by now.

But… A deadbeat? Was that really how they saw me?

Maybe they had never truly respected me. In Ivan and Kelly's views, I had always been that girl who needed charity just to get through school.

"I don't need your money, and I don't want your transfer." My voice was calm and steady as I met Ivan's gaze, making myself perfectly clear. I really didn't want to explain anything else to them.

"Millia, why are you still so stubborn? What happened to you? You're just here trying to land a rich guy, aren't you? I'm going to give you some money. Take this money so you can find a proper job. Stop trying to take shortcuts."

That actually made me laugh. "So, in your eyes, I'm the kind of woman who would sleep her way to the top?"

I looked at him coldly. After all the years we had spent together, hearing him insult me like this was something I just couldn't swallow.

"Millia, don't blame Ivan for thinking that," Kelly chimed in, pretending to be reasonable but really just trying to smear my reputation even further. "You graduated from a top university, and you're young and healthy. Finding a decent job shouldn't be hard. But it's hard not to think the worst of you with the way you're acting today.

"And besides, Ivan, didn't Millia have a scholarship in high school? That should have covered her tuition. Yet she still took the extra financial help. Maybe she's just lazy."

"Kelly, it was Ivan's father, Grant, who wanted to support me financially no matter what. I turned him down at first, but he kept insisting, and right when my mom got sick, I had no choice but to accept. Besides…" I turned to Ivan, my voice serious.

"I paid back every cent a long time ago. Would you both please just stay away from me? I never want to see either of you again." As I spoke, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of my eye.

It looked like my husband, Alex. He was also the CEO of Ward Group.

Before I could react, Ivan suddenly grabbed my hand, clearly upset. "Millia, we never expected you to pay us back."

He wanted to keep going, but Kelly cut in quickly. "That's right, Millia. You've really nailed your whole strong independent woman act. Don't let her fool you, Ivan. And don't forget, she broke up with you just because your gift was too cheap. A woman as vain as her isn't worth your sympathy."