Three years after graduation, I was waiting tables at a restaurant when I happened to run into some of my old classmates having a private dinner there.

The moment they saw me carrying trays, they burst out laughing. My old rival Elliot sneered that I was a useless nobody, then pulled out 50 bucks and tossed it in front of me, telling me to lick his shoes clean.

"Clean my shoe, and that fifty's yours!"

Even my ex-girlfriend joined in to humiliate me. "I can't believe this is what you've become three years after graduation, Chase. Good thing I dumped you when I did—I'd hate to be the girlfriend of some broke loser."

Elliot and a few others pinned me to the floor, forcing me to kneel and even bark like a dog.

My ex clapped her hands, laughing. "Chase, you really do look like a dog when you're on your knees."

Then, the restaurant manager rushed in. The moment he saw me, his face went pale with shock. "M–Mr. Levine… are you all right, sir?"

Blood dripping down my forehead, I pointed at everyone in that room. "No one leaves this room tonight."

The Server

"It's your father's birthday today, sir. As a surprise, how about you disguise yourself as a server and bring him the cake personally?"

"Sure. Let's make him happy."

Fresh off the plane, my assistant had driven me straight to one of the most popular restaurants under my company's name.

After several rounds of reinvention under my lead, the place had dominated the city's dining charts for three consecutive years. Countless influencers and celebrities had flocked there to post about it, and business was booming.

I had just changed into a server's uniform and was about to go rehearse the surprise when a commotion broke out at the entrance. I turned around and saw a group of young men and women walking in.

"No wonder this place is rated the best restaurant in the city—it really looks luxurious!"

"Yeah, we're lucky Mr. Reid's treating us tonight. Without him, we'd never get to dine somewhere this fancy!"

"Oh, please, he's not treating us. Everyone knows he's doing this for the campus belle, Ariana!"

The moment I heard that name—Ariana—I froze. That was my ex-girlfriend.

Instinctively, I turned toward the group, my voice slipping out before I could stop myself. "Ariana?"

Everyone stopped and looked in my direction. Sure enough, standing right in the center was my ex, Ariana Hale. And beside her—Elliot Reid, the very man who had always hated me back in college.

A rush of emotion hit me.

It had been three years since we last met, and I almost stepped forward to greet her. However, Elliot immediately moved in front of her, blocking my way.

"Well, well. If it isn't Chase Levine, our straight-A star from back in school?" He eyed my server's uniform with a mocking grin. "Top of the class then, carrying trays now. How the mighty have fallen."

I met his gaze calmly.

Back in school, Elliot had always been jealous—of my grades, my looks, my reputation. Apparently, three years later, nothing had changed.

"I'm not actually waiting tables. This restaurant is—"

"Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that," he interrupted loudly, cutting me off right in front of Ariana. "You embarrassed to admit it or something?"

His snide tone made the others burst into laughter.

I hadn't expected this bunch to still be so childish after all these years. Taking a deep breath, I said evenly, "You're mistaken, Elliot. I'm only wearing this uniform for the night."

I thought that would clear things up.

Instead, laughter rippled through the group again. Ariana's best friend, Cleo Indy, stepped forward, shoved me aside, and sneered, "Oh, please, Chase, drop the act. 'Just wearing it for a bit'? What's next—you're not a server but the janitor?

"Clearly, you're only saying this because you don't want Ariana to see how pathetic you've become. We all remember how you begged her for three days straight after she dumped you!"

Her words hit me like a slap.

I turned instinctively toward Ariana, only to find her glaring back at me with pure disdain. Then, she slipped her arm through Elliot's and said coldly, "Chase, don't tell me you're still hung up on me. Save yourself the trouble. Elliot's my boyfriend now."

The Fall From Grace

Her words stopped me cold.

Back in college, Ariana had told me more than once how much she despised Elliot. She used to say he was arrogant, entitled, and utterly shameless—always throwing his family's wealth around and playing with women as if they were toys. He'd cheated on every girlfriend he'd ever had and even forced more than one girl into an abortion.

And now, that same scumbag had somehow become her boyfriend. I could hardly believe that the sweet, innocent girl who once stood by my side had turned into someone like this.

I didn't want to say anything more. I turned to leave, but Elliot stepped in front of me with a grin. "Don't go, Chase. You're a server, right? Perfect. You can personally serve our table tonight."

Before I could reply, he grabbed my arm and pulled me into their private room, dropping himself into a chair and throwing one leg up onto the table. "Come on, Chase. Start by cleaning my shoes. Let's see how good you are at your job."

The others burst into muffled laughter.

Even Ariana was leaning toward Cleo, whispering and snickering as they watched me.

I swallowed my anger and let out a cold laugh. "Elliot, if you're here to eat, you're more than welcome. But if you're here to cause trouble, I'm asking you to leave—now."

Elliot barked out a laugh. "Hahahaha! Ptui! Don't make me laugh, Chase. Who the hell do you think you are? The restaurant owner?" His smug grin turned malicious.

Cleo immediately chimed in, eager to please. "Exactly! You should feel honored that Elliot's giving you the chance to clean his shoes. Honestly, you should be licking them clean with your tongue. Do you even know how expensive those shoes are? You couldn't afford them if you carried trays for the rest of your life!"

"Yeah! Lick them!"

"Make sure they shine!"

The others immediately joined in, chanting and laughing. A few of Elliot's lackeys even rushed forward, grabbing me and shoving me to the ground. One of them forced my head toward Elliot's shoe.

That was the last straw. "Let go of me! I'm the owner of this restaurant! Are you out of your minds?"

Elliot burst into laughter, doubling over in his chair. "Owner? Hah! Give it a rest, Chase. Look at you—you're dirt poor! A guy in a waiter's uniform claiming he's the boss? What a joke!"

He motioned to his men, and their grip tightened. One even dropped to his knees and pushed my head down against Elliot's shoe.

I was surrounded, humiliated, faces all around me twisted with mockery and glee. Cleo sneered and glanced at Ariana. "Seriously, what were you thinking? How could you ever fall for a loser like Chase? Good thing you dumped him after graduation, or you'd have missed out on someone like Mr. Reid—rich, handsome, and way out of his league."

At that, she tossed Elliot a flirtatious wink.

Ariana's expression darkened at that. She swayed her hips and sank onto Elliot's lap, her voice dripping with possessiveness. "What are you talking about? How could Chase ever compare to my darling babe?"

Then she looked down at me, disdain curling her lips. "I can't believe how pathetic you've become in just three years. Thank God I broke up with you when I did. I'd hate to be the girlfriend of a penniless loser."

Her words hit me like a brick to the chest. So that was it. The breakup three years ago hadn't been because she had to take care of a sick family member back home—she'd been cheating on me with Elliot all along.

Humiliation

I stared at Ariana in disbelief, my face drained of color. "Is that true? What she said—was it true?"

She scoffed, clearly irritated by my question. "What's there to deny? You're broke and pathetic. Of course, I don't want someone like you."

She grabbed a glass of water from the table and threw it straight at my face, her tone filled with contempt. "Look at you—such a disgrace. You're not even worth the dirt under my boyfriend's shoes."

Then, she turned and planted a sweet kiss on Elliot's lips, smiling as if the whole scene was nothing more than a show for her amusement.

Elliot grinned even wider, shoving Ariana aside as he crouched down in front of me. He lowered his voice, taunting, "You see that? Money can move mountains. Even your precious dream girl is just another dog licking my shoes. Hahaha!"

"I'll kill you for this!" I snapped, fury exploding inside me as I struggled to get up.

But the others pressed down harder, forcing me back to the floor. Elliot lifted his foot and stomped down on my face, grinding his heel cruelly. "Go on, lick my shoes clean. Do that, and the 50 bucks are yours. Otherwise, you're not walking out of this room."

"I'm the CEO of Sandhurst Group—you think you're worthy of having your shoes cleaned by me?" Rage surged through me as I glared up at him, my voice trembling with fury.

For a second, I thought my words might shock them into backing off. Instead, they looked at each other—and burst out laughing.

"First, he said he owns the restaurant, now he's claiming to be the CEO of Sandhurst Group! Chase, do you have some kind of delusion? You're unbelievable!"

"Yeah, right! The CEO of Sandhurst is worth billions. You think someone like that would be carrying plates around?"

"Guess that glass of water didn't wake him up. Let's give him something stronger!"

One of them smirked with a nasty glint in his eyes. He disappeared into the restroom and came back holding a basin filled with toilet water, then dumped it all over me. The freezing filth soaked through my clothes.

They all burst into laughter again, pointing at me as if I were a circus act, mocking and jeering without restraint.

That did it.

I couldn't take another second.

I broke free with every ounce of strength I had and yanked out my phone. "Get reinforcement in here—"

Before I could finish, Elliot snatched it from my hand and smashed it under his heel. "Calling for backup? What, you gonna summon the rest of the waitstaff to save you?" he sneered, laughing hysterically.

Dripping wet and shaking with rage, I lunged forward, ready to hit him—but the others pinned me down again, forcing me to my knees.

Elliot's grin twisted into something vile. His pudgy face was gleaming with malice as he crouched down once more. "You want me to let you go? Fine. Bark for me. Say it loud—'I, Chase Levine, am Elliot Reid's dog.' Do that, and maybe I'll let you walk out of here."

"Dream on." I spat at him, pure hatred burning in my eyes. Every nerve in my body screamed to tear him apart.

Elliot wiped his face, laughing coldly. "You really don't know what's good for you. Fine then. I'll make sure you understand you're not even as good as my dog. Boys—do it!"

Instantly, his lackeys grabbed me again. They forced my head toward the toilet bowl, some of them holding me down while one reached for his belt, clearly intending to do something far more disgusting.