With dreams of the future, I threw myself into work even harder.

I used to work two jobs a day. Slowly, I started picking up three, sometimes even four.

There were times when I felt so exhausted as if I could fall asleep just by closing my eyes.

But every time I thought about our future, I pushed through to the next shift.

Some days, I'd only get two or three hours of sleep, but I didn't mind.

Every day when I got home, Lewis would be waiting for me at the door, right on time.

He'd look at my tired face with concern, then quietly go about preparing a warm meal for me.

Whenever I sat down and felt the heat from those dishes, a wave of satisfaction and happiness would rush through me.

It felt so good to know that someone was thinking of me.

That day, I came home as usual.

But when I opened the door, I was stunned by what I saw.

The entire room was filled with flowers, and Lewis was walking toward me with a smile.

He knelt down on one knee, pulled a tab from a soda can out of his pocket, and grinned. "I graduated. I figured I'd use this for now to propose, just so you won't leave me."

I squealed in delight, throwing myself into his arms, and we both tumbled into the sea of flowers.

With my head buried in his neck, I whispered, "Are you really going to marry me?"

He hugged me tightly, his voice firm, "What do you think? You can try saying no and see what happens."

And with that, he leaned in and started kissing me gently.

The next morning, just as I was getting ready to head out for work, Lewis stopped me and suggested we go visit my parents.

I hesitated.

He teased me with a smile, "Lola, don't worry. Your parents are my parents now. I'll treat them well."

I forced a smile and nodded. "Alright, I'll take you home with me."

Lewis was thrilled and took me shopping to pick up some gifts.

Curious, I asked him where the money came from, and he chuckled, "I made it playing video games."

I pretended to be angry and scolded him, "You've been secretly earning money behind my back again, huh? Lucky for you, you graduated; otherwise, I wouldn't let you off the hook."

Lewis immediately nodded and agreed, "Of course, you're right, my dear wife."

I gave him a playful glare. "Stop calling me that."

But he put on a serious face. "I'm not joking."

Then he leaned in and kissed me again.

By the time we got to my parents' place, it was mid-afternoon.

I brought Lewis inside, and when my mom saw the gifts we brought, she finally greeted us with a smile.

She grabbed the bags from our hands, barely giving us a second look as she started rifling through them.

But as soon as she realized the gifts were all cheap stuff, her face darkened.

Once inside, she tossed everything aside without even inviting us to sit down.

Awkwardly, I told Lewis to take a seat, and just as he did, my mom blurted out, "So, you're planning to marry my daughter?"

Lewis nodded.

Without missing a beat, my mom held up one finger. "One million dollars. That's the wedding gift, and then she's yours."

I froze when I heard that number. I couldn't help but snap, "Mom, are you selling your daughter? All you ever talk about is money!"

Before she could say anything, I grabbed Lewis's hand and stormed out.

Once we got home, Lewis pulled me into a tight hug and said, "It's my fault. I don't have the money to marry you yet, but I'll work hard. Just wait for me."

"Even if it takes ten years, I'm going to make sure I marry you."

He looked at me playfully and teased, "By then, you won't think I'm too old and refuse to marry me, will you?"

I kissed him right then and there, smiling cheekily. "You're stuck with me! No take-backs!"

He hugged me tighter like he never wanted to let go.

That night, watching Lewis sleep peacefully, I knew that if I didn't come up with the money for my mom, we'd never be able to be together.

Suddenly, I remembered something I had seen on social media a few days ago.

I tiptoed out to the balcony, grabbed my phone, hesitated for a moment, then dialed the number.

The voice on the other end was soft and polite, "Hello, how can I help you?"

I took a deep breath and said, "Hi, are you still looking for kidney donors?"

The tone immediately shifted to something more serious. "Yes, miss. You can come in for a match test. Even if you're not a match, we'll compensate you with ten thousand dollars. But if you are, we'll pay one million for the donation."

I bit my lip, then said, "Okay. Send me the address, I'll come in tomorrow for the test."

A few days later, I got a message on my phone.

"Your match test was successful. Please come in for the kidney transplant surgery as soon as possible. Afterward, our medical staff will be there to assist with your recovery."

I replied, "Got it."

When I came home that afternoon, Lewis wasn't there. I assumed he was out job-hunting.

I packed a few things, sent him a quick message: "Got a last-minute work trip. I'll be back in about two weeks."

Lewis replied, "Alright, take care, Lola!" He even sent me a hundred dollars with a note that said, "Earned by your husband, just for you."

My heart swelled with emotion, and it felt like all of this was worth it.

The surgery went smoothly. I was so worried about Lewis being home alone that I rushed back even before the two weeks were up.

But as soon as I reached the front door, I heard a woman's playful laugh from inside.

"Lewis, how much longer are you planning to stick around here with that penniless woman?"

I froze, and a familiar voice followed.

"That depends—how long are you going to keep making me happy?"

The woman teased, "You're such a bad boy, Mr. Carr. You're the heir to the Carr family, yet you pretend to be a poor man just to fool that woman.

"She's been so good to you all these years, too. Too bad, as if someone like you could ever fall for someone like her."

Lewis let out a cold laugh. "She's just a plaything. I've had my fill of other women, so I wanted a change of pace."

At that moment, it felt like I was plunged into ice.

To him, I was just a game.

My hand tightened around the bank card in my pocket.

This place was supposed to be where Lewis and I would build our future. Now, that future was gone.

Five years. In those five years, I gave him everything I had.

And it turned out I'd just been lying to myself all along.

I pushed open the door, and Lewis's eyes naturally shifted toward me.

"Lewis, or should I call you Mr. Carr?"

I tried to keep my voice steady, but inside, I was an absolute wreck.

Holding back the urge to confront him, I threw the bank card onto the table in front of him.

"There's a million dollars on this card. I was going to use it to marry you. But now, I see that was just me being delusional."

My voice trembled, each word forced out from the deepest part of my heart.

With her perfectly applied makeup, the woman sitting beside Lewis couldn't hide the meanness in her expression.

She stood up, looking at me with disdain. "Don't kid yourself. Lewis was just having some fun with you because you amused him.

"You're the one who's stupid, running around giving men money like they actually care."

Her words cut deep, like a dagger, straight into my chest.

I glared at her, refusing to give in to her provocation, and walked right up to Lewis.

"Mr. Carr, am I not even worth a word from you anymore?"

There was a tremor in my voice, filled with hurt and anger.

Lewis didn't respond.

I pointed toward the door. "This is my rented apartment. I'm asking you both to leave."

The woman laughed mockingly. "Your place? You're just the tenant. Lewis is the landlord.

"Kicking out your own landlord? Now that's hilarious!" Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

I froze in place. All these years, I'd been paying rent without knowing...

Her laugh felt like nails on a chalkboard to me now.

I grabbed the glass they'd been drinking from and smashed it onto the table.

"I'm done renting this place. I'm taking everything I bought.

"Not that I want any of it anymore—it's filthy now after being touched by Mr. Carr."

I looked around at the place that once felt like a warm, loving home but now made me sick to my stomach.

Then I lost it. I started tearing the place apart, smashing anything I could get my hands on—flower vases, picture frames, ripping up the sheets…

Every item that used to hold memories of us became a target for my rage.

When it was over, I stood there, breathing hard, staring at Lewis.

"Mr. Carr, keep the deposit. Consider it my cleaning fee."

I turned to leave this place that had broken my heart, but the woman blocked my way.

"Who do you think you are, talking to Lewis like that? Apologize!" she demanded, her tone full of arrogance.

I refused to apologize, and she grabbed at me, trying to pull me back.

I lost my balance and fell hard onto the floor. A sharp pain shot through my hand, and when I looked down, I saw shards of glass embedded in my palm.

But strangely, I felt no pain.

Suddenly, a metallic taste filled my mouth, and I swallowed down the nausea that rose in my throat.

Barely able to stand, I forced myself to head toward the door. But just as I reached it, my legs gave out, and I collapsed…