I let out a cold laugh, my gaze sweeping across the crowd. "Thank goodness I came back," I said icily, "otherwise I wouldn't have known that the esteemed Ms. Thompson would stoop so low as to play me for three years!"

Mia's face turned an ugly shade of pale as her deception was exposed.

Before, I had been meek and submissive, filled with guilt for having fallen in love with both "sisters", and I had always obeyed her without a word of protest.

But now, in front of everyone, I put her in a spot she couldn't talk her way out of.

With the lie out in the open, I no longer cared about maintaining any pretense of civility. It was more satisfying to simply tear off the mask and let the truth be known.

Mia's pride took a hit from my rebuttal, and with a cold voice, she said, "Good that you know. After all, a loser like you wouldn't even get a glance from me normally. Dating me was probably the highlight of your life!"

Her disdainful arrogance made me lose my temper.

Before meeting Mia, I led a comfortable life, but for her, I had nearly given up everything, now struggling even to make ends meet.

And to think, she accused me of being out of her league?

Given that, I won't hold back!

I strode forward, grabbed Mia by the arm, and dragged her out the door.

"Get out of my house! I don't want to see you again!"

Mia, powerless to resist, was pushed to the doorway, clinging desperately to the door, threatening me.

"Troy, how dare you!"

Her friends couldn't sit idly by.

"What right do you have to touch Ms. Thompson?"

"Troy, have you lost your mind?"

A few people in the room came to Mia's defense, pinning me to the ground and punching me.

But Mia stopped them.

"Enough, everyone, stop!"

Seeing Mia's command, they hesitantly backed off.

Only the leader, eyes red with fury as if he hadn't heard her, grabbed my hair and slammed my head against the ground.

The impact brought tears to my eyes.

Seeing me cry, Mia loudly intervened.

The lackey wouldn't let it go.

"Ms. Thompson, I'm just standing up for you! This guy's a jerk; a few beatings will sort him out."

Mia stood up furiously and kicked him to the ground with a loud yell, "I told you to fucking stop. Are you deaf?!"

He clutched his stomach, silenced, and quietly let go of me, retreating to the side.

Of course, I wasn't grateful for Mia's restraint.

Watching her face feign compassion, I laughed.

I laughed until I cried.

I laughed at my stupidity, laughing at how easily I was played, yet I was still unable to let go of this evil woman.

Mia's face softened. "Why do you have to be like this?"

She crouched down, trying to help me up, but I suddenly shoved her hard to the ground, glaring at her fiercely.

"Mia, you truly disgust me!

"It's one thing to play me, but to be so greedy, trying to steal my money and leave me penniless? You enjoy messing with me, don't you?"

Her outstretched hand froze in place, her face turning ugly. She turned her head and snorted coldly, "Of course, I'm happy. You're just a rat in the gutter now. I could squash you with a stomp.

"You have two choices! Either apologize and beg for my forgiveness, or go back to your cheap rental and be a lowly worker forever.

"You have three days to decide, let me know what you choose."

After she finished speaking, she grabbed her bag and turned to leave.

The crowd dispersed, leaving a mess behind.

I dragged my injured body into the bathroom, the blood mixing with the cold water, instantly soaking me through.

But my heart was even colder.

Stepping out, I saw the cake by the door, smashed and broken from being kicked. I didn't care. I picked it up and started eating.

I ate and cried until I threw up, squatting on the ground, stomach acid flowing freely.

After this frenzy of self-abuse, I felt a little better.

Today was indeed an accident.

Usually, I was busy delivering food at night to make money, and I never came home.

The delivery fees were highest at night, and I owed a lot of money and was desperate to pay it off, so I often didn't come home.

If I get exhausted, I just find a place to rest for a bit, then get up and continue taking orders.

If it hadn't been for trying to make Meryl's birthday memorable, rushing to complete my deliveries, and spending a week's food budget on a cake to surprise her at home early,

I might never have discovered that Mia and Meryl were the same person.

I had suspected that Mia and Meryl looked too similar.

It wasn't until I accidentally saw a small mole on Meryl's neck that I dismissed my doubts, not realizing Mia had deliberately tattooed it.

It was all just a game for the wealthy young lady.

I went to the hospital with a swollen, bruised face for treatment.

When settling the bill, I ran into that doctor again.

The doctor sighed and kindly advised, "You still have a chance to get treated, but if you delay further, no one can say for sure."

I gave a bitter smile.

What chance did I have?

Those two million were my lifeline!

Yet Mia carelessly threw it away to someone else.

Now needy, I don't even know how I'll manage tomorrow's meal, let alone how to survive into the future.

"No more chances."

The doctor shook his head in sympathy, no longer trying to persuade me.

I bid farewell to the doctor and headed to the base of my company's building.

Looking up at the glittering skyscraper, the words "Thompson Group" emblazoned across it.

Back then, I was foolish not to question why a Fortune 500 company would extend an offer to a mere ordinary graduate like me.

It seems the moment I stepped into the group, I had fallen into Mia's trap.

I entered my supervisor, Nolan Dawson's office, with my resignation letter, slammed it on his desk, and said coldly, "I'm resigning!"

Nolan put on his glasses, not at all surprised, and smiled at me. "That's not up to me, you need to see Ms. Thompson."

His eyes held a mocking glint as he appraised me. "You've come a long way, huh? Found a rich patron and don't want to be a worker anymore?"

My face turned red with anger.

So, this old fox knew the whole story!

It turned out I was the only one in the dark.

"Where is Mia!" I demanded, face flushed with rage.

Sensing something amiss, Nolan hesitated and said, "Ms. Thompson is in a meeting right now. I suggest you wait..."

I grabbed the resignation letter, didn't even let him finish, and stormed to the conference room, kicked the door open, and yelled, "Mia, have you no shame!"

I marched to the desk and slammed my resignation letter down on Mia's table.

The office management looked on in shock.

Sensing the eerie mood, everyone silently bowed their heads.

Mia glanced at me coldly, closed her project plan, and said, "That's enough. If you have any issues, see me privately."

Everyone sighed in relief and hurriedly left.

She took off her glasses and toyed with them, her gaze mocking. "What have you decided about what I said the other day?"

"I will never apologize to you! Get that idea out of your head!"

Her smile faded to an icy demeanor. "Resigning? Sure can.

"But remember, you're broke, and the company provides the place where you live.

"Oh, and you signed an agreement. The company trained you for so long that you can't just walk away without compensating."

Mia's determined look was crushing.

I was on the verge of tears.

Her intentions were too malicious, calculating every step to trap me.

Now, I was entirely at her mercy, subject to her whims.

But I couldn't refuse.

"Mia, good job!"

I gritted my teeth and spat out the words, tearing up the resignation letter and throwing it in her face.

Mia's expression changed as she stared at me intently, and with a cold laugh, she said, "So you agree then."

Furious, I stormed out, slamming the door behind me.

Mia's voice came from behind. "Join me at the party tonight. Of course, if you don't go, it'll come out of your next month's salary!"

This woman was crazy!

She knew I was desperately in need of money, and she gave me no choice!

Later, she and her stylist barged in, card in hand, forcibly dressing me up and styling me.

That evening, I attended the event as Mia's companion. She greeted business partners cheerily, arm in arm with me.

Whispers filled my ears.

"Isn't that Ms. Thompson?"

"Is this her new boy toy?"