I opened my phone and scrolled through the chat history with my mom.

"Grace, what time do you get off work today? Are you working overtime?"

"I will make you your favorite cola chicken wings, okay?"

"Oh, silly me. I bought chicken wings but forgot to buy Coke. Mom is going to buy Coke."

I've replayed these voice clips countless times.

My mom had a car accident on the way to buy Coke and ended up in a coma.

I sold my house and emptied my savings, but it still wasn't enough to cover the massive medical bills.

When I was at my lowest, I met Jack Turner.

I agreed to his deal and became his woman.

At first, I was very cautious, afraid of upsetting him.

But as time went by, I started to act more spoiled and show my temper.

Jack would pinch my nose and call me cute.

John Smith said I was the woman who had been with Jack the longest.

I got too confident and believed Jack truly loved me.

I even dreamed of marrying Jack, having kids, and growing old together.

Thinking of this, I lay on my mother's bed and cried my heart out.

Jack thought he could use my mom to control me, but he didn't know her condition was getting worse, and she couldn't hold on much longer.

Jack asked John to bring me an evening dress.

He wanted me to go with him to Emily Collins's engagement party.

Because my mom's condition was really bad, I didn't want to leave her side.

But Jack threatened me, saying if I didn't go, he'd have the hospital stop her medication immediately.

When I showed up in front of Jack wearing that black fishtail dress, he stared at me for a long time.

I pretended to cough, and he finally looked away.

He offered his arm for me to take.

He smirked and his eyes full of mischief.

"You look stunning tonight."

Those charming eyes, looking at everyone with such warmth.

That's the look that fooled me into thinking he loved me.

There was a time Jack came back from a business trip with a very expensive dress for me.

I had never seen such a gorgeous dress.

The diamonds on the hem sparkled brightly, like wearing a piece of the night sky.

Under the bright crystal chandelier, I put on the dress and twirled around happily.

The skirt swirled, and the lights danced.

Jack held his wine glass elegantly and watched me with half-closed, affectionate eyes.

Everything felt like a dream, so beautiful it was almost unreal.

His large hand landed on my lower back, gently rubbing it.

He leaned in for a deep, passionate kiss.

The slightly bitter taste of red wine passed into my mouth.

I was enchanted by his charm and gave myself completely to him.

Tonight's dinner was a stark reminder of why you shouldn't force your way into circles where you don't belong.

I couldn't talk to anyone, but at least I didn't leave empty-handed.

There were more celebrities at the banquet than at an award ceremony.

The hidden camera in my handbag snapped away like crazy.

Just thinking about how much these exclusive shots would sell for made me smile.

I'm usually in jeans and sneakers, so this tight dress and high heels were a nightmare.

I stepped out of the banquet hall and into the back garden.

I took off my heels, rolled up my skirt, and sat on a stone bench. Sleepiness hit me fast.

I looked around, saw no one, and dozed off.

When I woke up, I had a black suit jacket draped over me.

A man was sitting on the stone bench across from me, smiling warmly.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I asked, "What are you looking at?"

He smiled and replied, "Just admiring a beauty asleep on a bed of peonies."

My cheeks burned, and I lowered my head, feeling guilty. "Is this your jacket?"

The man nodded, "It's chilly at night. You should keep it on."

Thanks.

As we talked, I heard Emily's voice in the bamboo grove.

"Jack, do you know why I insisted Grace come today?"

"Why?" Jack responded.

"I want to see your family's reaction. They don't accept female celebrities in the limelight, so how will they handle a paparazzi who only takes secret photos?"

Jack replied, "She and I are just having fun. We're not getting married, and my family knows that. They don't care."

My heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces.

To Jack Turner, I must seem like a pathetic joke.

Just a clown, performing for his amusement.

Even though I knew the truth, hearing it from his own lips was a knife to the gut.

The guy next to me saw my face and guessed they were talking about me.

He gave me this pitying look.

I hated that look. I didn’t want anyone to see how humiliated I was.

Panicking, I stood up and tried to leave, but I tripped over a stone and fell right into the guy’s arms.

My handbag hit the ground with a loud thud, catching the attention of everyone in the bamboo grove.

Jack took a few steps forward, looked at the guy, then at my coat, his eyes dark and stormy.

“Who is he?”

Emily showed up a moment later, calling out, “Editor-in-Chief Blake!”

The man was Lucas Blake, the new editor-in-chief of MG, the world’s top fashion magazine.

Emily, always the star, quickly spotted the camera.

She pointed at the pinhole camera that had fallen out of my handbag and exclaimed, “Parker, this is a private party! Respect my privacy!”

“Can’t you paparazzi act like decent human beings? Always sneaking around. I invited you as a friend, and you betray me like this?!”

I knew I was in the wrong and felt utterly mortified.

“I’m sorry, I’ll delete all the photos.”

Emily shot me a disdainful look and said, “You’re not just embarrassing yourself, but also the Turner family. You’re Jack’s woman, yet you act so disgracefully. Do you think Jack doesn’t give you enough money?”

My face paled and burned.

Shame started suffocating me.

But what could I do? My mom’s life was still in Jack’s hands.

I couldn’t risk angering Jack or the person he cared about most.

Jack’s warning echoed in my ears.

I said meekly, “Miss Collins, what do you want me to do to make it right?”

Emily glanced at Jack.

Jack said calmly, “Remember what I told you last time?”

I remembered his threat, “If I do it again, you’ll break my hands.”

Suddenly, it felt like I was plunged into an icy abyss.

All I heard was, “John, break her hands.”

He was really going to break my hand just to please Emily.

John stepped out of the shadows with a grin, “Mr. Turner, you must be joking.”

But Jack’s expression was cold and indifferent. “Do you want to lose your hands too?”

John sighed and called two of his men to hold me down.

“Grace, I’m sorry.”

He raised a rock, ready to smash my hand.

I struggled, terrified, and looked at Jack in near despair.

I asked quietly, “Jack, don’t you feel any pity for me?”

He stood there, hands in his pockets, watching coldly.

“Wait a minute!”

I didn’t expect Lucas Blake to stand up for me.