My boyfriend's stepsister posted a wedding ring on Instagram.

Caption: "Thank you, my dear brother, for giving me the first ring he designed."

I commented, "I wish you and your brother a long-lasting romance."

After I commented, Desmond immediately called me and scolded me, "Elle, when did you become so petty? It's just a ring. I can design another one for you. Ciara is my sister. Is it meaningful for you to be jealous of her?"

Was I being petty?

If it weren't for me secretly helping him with financial support and resources, he might still be herding sheep in some mountains.

Could he become the first in the jewelry competition?

I dialed my father's number.

"Dad, our company is too small to accommodate Desmond. Before we sign the employment contract with him, it's better to let him go elsewhere."

——

"Are you serious?"

Dad was very excited when he heard my resolute decision.

As for Desmond, my parents' prospective son-in-law, my parents had long been resentful of his repeated demands for financial support.

However, out of consideration for my self-esteem, they had been holding back their complaints.

As for me...

I was caught in the whirlpool of love.

I was blinded by love.

In the face of Desmond's repeated hurts, I chose to block them and deceive myself by making excuses for him.

His demands were purely out of fear of poverty. He hoped to take this opportunity to study and seek a bright future.

He was overly obedient and caring towards his non-blood-related stepsister simply because he was a gentle and kind person who treated everyone well.

He was gradually neglecting me because he was busy with his career and wanted to provide me with a better life.

But in fact...

The phone prompt sounded.

He used my bank card for my family to spend 32,000 dollars in a store to buy a bag for Ciara.

Ciara showed off her diamond ring before showing off her bag.

She said that this bag was bought by Desmond to please her.

Many of my friends cheered and envied her for having a good and rich brother in the comment section.

She wasn't using Desmond's money but mine. I was the real fool there.

I immediately cancelled the family card that I specially opened for him for five years.

Right after I canceled it, Desmond called and questioned me.

"Elle, why can't I use the family card? Please check it out. I'm waiting to pay."

In the noisy background, there was Ciara's sweet and inquiring voice.

"Desmond, this one looks good, and this one also looks good."

Desmond instantly became gentle. "They all look good, I'll buy all of them for you!"

In the next second, he continued to scold me angrily, "Elle, I'm talking to you, can't you hear me?"

I couldn't be bothered to talk to him, and I said coldly, "I don't have money, if you have money, buy them yourself."

This seemed to hit Desmond's sore spot, and he instantly exploded on the phone, roaring at me.

"Elle, that's enough, I've already told you that I'd design a ring for you, why do you keep nitpicking?"

"I just want to use your money. Look how petty you are. Let me tell you, you're too narrow-minded. I'm about to join the Summit Group and earn an annual salary of one million!"

"By then, you'll be begging me to use your money, and I won't even care!"

"Is that so?" Hearing his arrogant voice, I almost burst out laughing.

I wondered what kind of expression he'd have when he received the call from HR canceling his employment.

"Since that's the case, please return all the money you've spent over the years to me."

I hung up the phone and sent him the settled bill.

I didn't realize how much money he'd spent until I calculated it.

We'd been in a relationship for five years with expenses totaling over two million.

And that was not counting the financial support I secretly provided for his education from my parents.

Fortunately, to protect his fragile self-esteem, I hid my identity as a wealthy heiress from the beginning of our relationship.

Only then did I have the opportunity to witness his ugly side.

Otherwise, with his despicable composure, it would be possible for him to drain my money.

The more I thought about it, the more scared I became, and a cold sweat broke out on my back.

The things weren't bought, and Desmond came back in a rage.

He slammed the table as soon as he entered.

"Elle, what do you mean?"

I packed my things without even looking up.

"Now that you're about to make a million a year, I don't think you would be interested in the little money of mine. Hurry up and pay it back."

Desmond was furious. "All you talk about is money. When did you become so vain?"

"Ciara is my sister, and you are her sister-in-law. Didn't your parents teach you to respect the elderly and love the young?"

"You're being jealous of your sister-in-law. Aren't you afraid that others will laugh at you?"

"Hurry up and restore the family card, and I will forgive your petty behavior. Otherwise..."

I slowly raised my head, met his angry black eyes, and asked with a cold smile, "What are you gonna do?"

"Otherwise, you can never enter my home!"

How arrogant!

His parents were farmers in a poor mountain valley, and he described them as relatives of the head of the country. Did I need to go through layers of selection to enter their house?

Even if they were related to the head of the country, based on what he had done now, I didn't care anymore.

At first, I fell in love with him because of his personality.

Now, he had become a jerk. What else was worth cherishing?

Before I could respond, Desmond arrogantly shouted.

The door was knocked.

Ciara walked in, crying.

She bowed and apologized as soon as she entered the door.

"Elle, I'm sorry, it's all my fault. Here is the ring. I will never be willful again. As long as you and Desmond are fine, I am willing to do anything."

Desmond was heartbroken.

While comforting Ciara in his arms, he didn't forget to blame me.

"I don't expect you to treat Ciara like your sister, but at least, don't be so aggressive like now."

"We are family now. Do you think it's appropriate to make it so embarrassing?"

"Apologize to Ciara now."

Ciara cried hard. "Desmond, don't blame Elle, it's all my fault. Please don't let me affect your relationship."

Listening to her hypocritical talk, I couldn't help but smirk.

Did she have little influence over the years?

She fell ill on my birthday.

She had a car accident on the weekend.

Even on our anniversary trip, she insisted on tagging along.

She said that the trip would be more lively.

However, we just wanted to spend time together without anyone else.

Ciara left with a wish for our happiness with tears in her eyes.

Desmond was so anxious that he was about to chase after her immediately.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to warn me.

"Elle, if you don't apologize to Ciara, our relationship will come to an end."

I couldn't ask for more.

I casually threw his belongings that were cluttering up the suitcase at him.

"Please take your trash with you."

Desmond was stunned, and after coming back to his senses, he angrily pointed at me and cursed, "Elle, you are going too far!"

I raised my eyebrows at him and said, "Am I? I paid the rent and the utilities. If anyone should leave, it's you, not me."

Desmond was angered, and a surge of rage swept over me. "Elle, you will regret it!"

I smiled and slammed the door shut.

Regret it?

How could I not regret?

How could I not regret wasting five years of my youth and spending so much money on that scumbag?

Even if I gave the money to a dog, it'd wag its tail to thank me.

And what about him?

Suppressing my anger and resentment, I clenched my fists tightly.

This matter couldn't be left like this.

I didn't have time to settle the score with Desmond.

His illiterate mother, accompanied by half of the village's peasant women, came to my door.

They blocked me outside the door and cursed at me.

They said I was fickle and messed with Desmond's feelings.

They accused me of being vain and cheating Desmond out of his money.

They slammed the door and threatened to call the police if I didn't repay the money.

It was ridiculous.

After five years of dating, due to his family's financial situation and his continuous studying, I had never spent a penny of his money.

Even if he wanted to buy me a small gift, I would find a way to repay him double the amount.

To protect his fragile self-esteem, only God knew how careful I had been with money for these five years.

I was afraid that I might make him feel inferior.

I was willing to do anything for him.

I was also generous to his parents.

I never had prejudices against them just because they were from a village.

Every time I went to his house, I'd bring packages and prepare various gifts.

Before, I thought his parents were simple and easy to get along with.

Now, it seemed that knowing their faces didn't mean knowing their hearts. It was all a facade!

I was planning to have our parents meet and finalize our marriage during the National Day holiday.

Fortunately, I woke up in time and saw the true nature of Desmond and his family.

It could be considered a blessing in disguise!

There was no need to talk about self-esteem when things had come to this point.

I called the property management company without thinking and asked them to send security guards to drive those people away.

The company knew that I was a resident and sent a group of security guards without saying a word.

The peasant women from thought they were police officers and left in fear when they saw the security guards' uniforms.

But I knew they wouldn't give up so easily.

As expected...

That night, a video of Desmond's mother pretending to be pitiful was spreading on the Internet.

In the video, she described the "deception" her beloved son suffered from and cried so heartbroken and sincere.

But I knew that those words were not something an illiterate peasant woman could say.

It was obvious that there was someone behind the scenes.

Who else could have helped the Brooks family plan this, besides the Brooks family themselves?

Soon, the impulsive "expert" Ciara started commenting the video using an alternative account.

She claimed to be my colleague and kept smearing me.

Soon, my name, phone number, address, and workplace were all exposed.

Uninformed netizens started following suit and accusing and insulting me.

What was worse, some people even called me to curse me, threw paint and rotten eggs at my and Desmond's former residence, and put wreaths there.

It affected my normal work and life.

Fortunately, I was prepared. After Desmond's mother was driven away when she came to cause trouble, I quickly contacted my father and asked him to bring me back home.

Even if uninformed netizens smashed the door of my previous residence, it wouldn't affect me at all.

Even so, my parents couldn't put up with the anger.

Especially my father. When he saw the slander from the Brooks family online, he was so angry that he blacked out and he almost had a heart attack. He said that he would sue them.

I smiled and poured a cup of tea for my dad, persuading him not to be angry.

My dad glanced at me, his nose almost crooked with anger, "How could you still laugh?"

I blinked and said, "Dad, hasn't the HR Department informed Desmond yet?"

My clever dad immediately understood, picked up the phone to inform the HR Department, and pointed at me. "If only you were this smart earlier, you wouldn't have been deceived so much!"

When Desmond received the notification from the HR Department, he was holding a job induction banquet at the Grand Hotel.

He even invited everyone in the village to save face for his family.

Everyone present envied his family for having such a capable son.

Compliments and flattery filled the banquet hall.

Someone urged Desmond to come to the stage and say something. He pretended to be polite and walked up to the stage.

"Thank you all for taking the time to attend my job induction banquet."

"From tomorrow on, I will be the chief designer of the Summit Group. If anyone needs my help, just come find me as long as it's within my power."

The ringing phone in his pocket interrupted him halfway through his sentence.

It was a call from the Human Resources Department of the Summit Group.

Desmond's heart leaped with joy.

It was such a great opportunity to show off, so he couldn't let it go to waste.

Immediately, he shushed everyone. "Everyone, speak softly. It's from the company I work for. It might be about work."

To show off in front of everyone, he even turned on the speaker.

A gentle female voice came through, informing him...

"Desmond, you don't need to come tomorrow. Our company has found a better candidate."