On Christmas, I called for two handsome guys to play cards with me at a club on a whim. But things took a turn when the police showed up and arrested us. They told me to call someone to come pick me up.

I was stumped. I'm an orphan. My father had saved Sebastian Hemsworth's father's life ten years ago, and on his deathbed, he entrusted me to him. That was how I ended up married to Sebastian.

Our relationship was purely transactional. Sebastian gave me a monthly allowance, and I stayed out of trouble. But, desperate to leave the police station, I mustered the courage to call him.

"Hello." His voice was deep, hoarse, and tinged with weariness.

I took a deep breath and whispered, "I got into trouble. Can you come pick me up?"

"Address." His tone was indifferent, almost dismissive.

I pressed my lips. "Maple Grove Street Police Station."

"Hm?" Sebastian hesitated briefly before asking, "Do you need a lawyer?"

"No." I didn't dare to admit over the phone that I was detained on suspicion of soliciting.

Half an hour later, Sebastian arrived. As the police explained the situation, his expression remained calm, but I could feel the coldness radiating from him.

After the officers had lectured me for half an hour, Sebastian dragged me to the car. Once we were alone, his gaze bore into me like a wolf on the prowl. He said nothing, just staring.

His silence weighed on me, so I finally blurted out, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

"Didn't mean to? So, you just wandered in by accident?" Sebastian's words were laced with sarcasm, his smile more menacing than friendly.

I knew there was no point in making excuses, as no one would believe I hired those gigolos just for a card game. So, I decided to throw in the towel.

"Do you want a divorce then?" I looked up at him, my eyes wide and pleading. After all, I've been getting 500,000 dollars a month as an allowance. In the three years we've married, I've saved over five million. I could even set up a street stall and do a few designs to make money. It would easily support me until I finish my graduate studies. After that, I could open my own small shop.

Sebastian's eyes narrowed, the coldness in them cutting like a knife. "What do you mean by that?"

"We don't like each other, so why not just end it?" I lowered my head, thinking about the best spot to set up a street stall.

Sebastian was exasperated. He nodded, and his tone was cold. "Next month, your allowance will be cut in half. If I hear this nonsense again, I'll cut it off completely!"

"Then so be it," I snapped, turning on my heel and stepping out of the car. I hailed a taxi and left without looking back.

After my bold declaration, I quickly put my plan to sell on the street into action. When I got back, I rented a frog costume, bought a bunch of stuffed toys, inflated them all, and set up a stall outside the university gates, selling my "kids."

The toys might seem childish to elementary kids, but they were just quirky enough for college students. My "kids" were nearly sold out within an hour, and I had made around 300 dollars. Just as I fantasized about which mansion to buy with my earnings, a voice suddenly called out from behind me.

"Hey, you there in the frog suit! You can't sell here without a permit!" A security guard came running toward me.

Hearing this, I instinctively dropped my toys and bolted. "Take my toys! If you took them, you can't catch me!"

"What am I supposed to do with your toys? Stop right now, or if I catch you, there's gonna be a fine!" The guard shouted as he chased after me.

I was absolutely convinced he couldn't catch up to me. After all, I was the 800-meter champion back in the day. There was no way he'd keep up. Unfortunately, this street was 801 meters long, and he got me.

The guard bent over, panting heavily, and finally straightened up. "Take off that headpiece."

I clung to my costume's headpiece like my life depended on it. "No way! This frog's keeping its head on."

"If you don't take it off, I'll confiscate all your toys. Don't think I won't."

"I don't believe you."

The next second, the red light flashed, and I ran again. But in my haste, I didn't notice a car heading straight for me. The driver slammed the brakes, but it was too late. I blacked out from the impact.

I was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. Thankfully, it was just a mild concussion. The driver was quite responsible, covering my medical expenses and compensating me with an additional 10,000 dollars.

Back home, I pulled out my notebook and jotted down the day's earnings: [Day 1 of street vending: Sold 43 toys, net profit of 300 dollars. Due to the accident, I received 10,000 dollars in compensation. Total earnings for the day: 10,300 dollars. Taking tomorrow off. Injured, need a month to recover.]

"See? Making money isn't that hard," I thought.

Running a street stall turned out to be too risky, so after some thought, I decided to try food delivery. I figured, "Hey, just deliver a few meals, and it should be easy to make a hundred bucks a day, right?"

Once I made up my mind, I bought myself a deluxe electric scooter and submitted my application to a delivery company. They accepted me right away.

Each delivery paid two dollars, so I decided to cap myself at 20 orders a day, leaving the rest of the time for some well-deserved relaxation. But I didn't expect the system to go nuts and keep sending me orders non-stop. After helping an elderly lady cross the street, I was now dangerously close to missing the time limit.

My customers depended on me to deliver their meals, each clinging to their last bit of hope. At that moment, I wasn't just a delivery person. I was practically a doctor, saving lives with every meal I delivered.

With this newfound sense of responsibility, I sped up. But if nothing unexpected happened... Well, something did. I ended up in a ditch and had to be rushed to the hospital.

Lying in my hospital bed, I pulled out my notebook again: [Day 2 of street vending: Delivery fees earned: 47 dollars. Scooter wrecked in a ditch: loss of 3,000 dollars. Medical expenses: 1,200 dollars, reimbursed 750. Got fired by my boss, and the penalty fee was 20,000 dollars. Total earnings for the day: 16,597 dollars.]

"See? Making money isn't that difficult after all," I thought.

I stayed in the hospital for two weeks. Out of the blue, Sebastian texted me: [Come home for dinner tonight.]

I looked at this message with great disdain and rejected it immediately: [Not coming.]

I figured, "I'm now making over 10,000 dollars a month. Why would I need his support to get by? Besides, I'm still recovering and can barely walk."

A week passed since I turned down Sebastian's dinner invitation, and my body finally improved. But I realized I needed to take better care of myself. Though trendy and lucrative, this money-making strategy might just get me killed before I hit retirement. And young people shouldn't be too complacent. We needed to strive for more. So, I decided to get ahead in life and become a security guard. No more wasted years.

"Sorry, you're too young for this job."

That was the first rejection I received. Naturally, I reported the company for having substandard fire safety equipment. The fire department rewarded me with 200 dollars.

"Sorry, we don't hire women!"

That was the second rejection. I exposed their blatant sexism online, and the company paid me 10,000 dollars to take down the trending post.

"We can hire you, but the pay is 2,000 dollars a month, no insurance, no benefits, and no contract. Can you accept that?"

"Sure." And just like that, I happily joined the company. After finishing the onboarding process, I called the labor bureau, and they compensated me with 1,000 dollars.

After a full day of work, I was exhausted. I sat on the sofa, watching the crowds outside hustling about their jobs, and sighed, "Making money is easy. Why go to such lengths for a measly few coins?

"You see, I'm already close to earning 20,000 dollars after just one day as a security guard. Sure, I am not making big money, but these small amounts are coming in effortlessly."

My phone buzzed unexpectedly. I checked the message and, lo and behold, another security company invited me to an interview. Although I was tired, I was a career-oriented woman after all. What choice did I have? Of course, I had to attend the interview.

I arrived at Harborview Villa as scheduled. The job I was applying for was opening the gate at a private villa. It might sound like the job required little skill, and upon closer inspection, you'd find that your first impression was absolutely correct.

The butler led me toward the opulent villa, a place dripping with gold and grandeur. Thankfully, I'd seen my fair share of luxury while with Sebastian, or I might've been completely awestruck by the sheer extravagance of it all.

But the moment I pushed open the door and saw the man sitting on the sofa, his face as cold as ice, I knew I was in trouble.

"Miss, this is our boss. He'll be personally conducting your interview," the butler said before closing the door behind me.

With my exit blocked, I had no choice but to plaster on a smile and walk over as nonchalantly as possible. "What a coincidence! I didn't expect to see you here."

"Not a coincidence. I've been waiting for you." Sebastian's eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made me a little nervous.

Forcing a smile, I replied slowly, "So, um, are you seriously looking to hire? If you're sincere, I can lower my rate. How about 10,000 a month? That's already a bargain compared to what I've been making lately."

"Nina Darlington, have you had enough of this nonsense?" His tone was so sharp it made me shiver.

Feeling wronged, I looked down, pouting slightly, "Why are you being so harsh? We can negotiate if the price doesn't suit you. We're friends, after all. There is no need to ruin the mood."

"Who said we're friends?" Sebastian's cold gaze swept over me. "I'm giving you two choices. Either you come back and be Mrs. Hemsworth properly, do nothing, get 500,000 a month, and have an entire staff at your service, or you can stand at the gate as a security guard for 10,000 a month."

I pondered for a moment before saying, "Only kids make choices. As an adult, of course, I want everything. So let's call it 510,000 a month, okay? No shortchanging me!"

"Nina." He practically growled my name through gritted teeth.

His tone startled me, and I muttered, "Is there something wrong with earning money with my own hands?"

"With your hands? I'd say you've been relying more on your sheer luck to stay alive!" Sebastian snapped as he suddenly threw a stack of photos onto the table. There were pictures of me selling frog toys at my street stall and the infamous ones of me crashing into a ditch while delivering food.

Panicking, I quickly tried to cover them up. These photos had no filters, and there was no way I could let anyone see them like this!

Sebastian smirked, turning to look at me with those deep, unreadable eyes. "Now you're embarrassed? If you don't start behaving, I'll make sure everyone in Skyview City gets a good look at these."

"Wait, hold on," I pleaded, grabbing his hand with a look of utter despair. "We've known each other since we were kids. Round it up, and we're practically childhood sweethearts! How about you do me a favor and at least add some filters before you spread them around?"

Sebastian was stunned, and then his tone turned icy cold. "Nina, get up. Change your clothes, and come with me to the party."

"Yes, boss," I quickly agreed, bowing and scraping. I thought, "Being at someone's mercy is really the worst. You've got to be ready to kiss up at any moment. Maybe I should just start my own business.

"But what could I sell? Pasta is too much work, inflatable dolls might land me in jail, and I'm no good with cold dishes... Oh, I've got it! I'll get the chef at home to make some food and take it to the streets. After all, we've got a five-star chef, so the taste should be unbeatable."

"Why aren't you changing? You don't like it?" Sebastian's voice cut through my thoughts as he eyed me, waiting for a response.

I glanced at the outfit. It was a strapless mini dress with rhinestones embedded all over it. It must've cost a fortune. I briefly considered taking the rhinestones off and selling them.

Of course, that was just a thought. In the end, I put the dress on.

Not that I had much choice. I'd be scolded if I didn't. I could always sell it after I wear it.

Sebastian and I attended a party together. To be honest, the hors d'oeuvres and snacks were pretty good. Almost tempting enough to sneak them out and sell them.

But, of course, I didn't dare. The security guards would have caught me in no time.

I leaned back on the sofa with all the grace I could muster, sipping my wine. The taste wasn't bad. It was tempting enough to swipe it, but I decided against it. It would be too embarrassing.

A crowd gathered around Sebastian to toast him, and I used the opportunity to slip away and enjoy a rare moment of peace.

Just as I was about to stretch out and get comfortable, a pleasant voice suddenly spoke beside me. "Miss, which prestigious family are you from?"

"The Hemsworth family," I replied truthfully.

His eyes flickered at my words as if he were pondering something. Then, with an even softer tone, he asked, "May I have the honor to invite you for a dance?"

I steeled myself and turned him down. "How about another time? My husband's here today."

The man frowned slightly, thinking, "Sebastian's sister isn't married, is she? She must be playing hard to get."

"But I only want to dance with you tonight," he said with a charming smile and sat beside me.

Before I could respond, a cold yet melodious voice spoke from behind. "With whom exactly do you plan on dancing? I'm still here, you know. Are you trying to steal my wife right in front of me?"

I sprang up and walked over to Sebastian, wrapping my arm around his and sweetly calling out, "Honey!"

The man's face went pale with shock as he stammered, "Aren't you... aren't you Mr. Hemsworth's sister? Why are you calling him... honey?"

"My sister's in France," Sebastian replied, his tone calm enough to make anyone's heart skip a beat. "What, are you planning to marry my sister and take our last name?"

The man's face flushed bright red. He quickly bowed to me in apology. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Hemsworth, I didn't recognize you and offended you. Please forgive me."

"It's alright." I maintained the perfect smile of a lady.

Sebastian scoffed, "Whether it's Elena or my wife, neither is someone you should be fantasizing about. As for punishment, the deal for that plot of land in Westfield is off. If it happens again, the Michelson Group will be in trouble."

"Mr. Hemsworth, we've been negotiating for that land in Westfield for a long time. Please reconsider..." Sebastian's cold glance silenced the man.

The man swallowed nervously, decided to give up, and left.

Sebastian looked down at me, his arm wrapped around my waist, his rough fingers tracing my skin. His voice was deep and magnetic. "Can't you behave?"

"I am behaving!" I blinked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. "Just don't dock my salary, okay?"

He glanced at me, smiling, "Can you think about something other than money for once?"

"I do think about other things, like... you," I said sweetly, clinging to his arm.

His expression softened a bit. "Oh? And what do you think about me?"

"I think about your money," I answered with utmost honesty.

He looked down at me, his gaze cold as ice, suppressing his anger. "Then keep thinking!"

With that, he let go of me and walked away.

"Hey, wait!" I hurried after him. "I'm wearing heels. Slow down!"

Sebastian didn't respond, but his pace slowed, and he opened the car door for me.

I thought, "Hmph, man. Saying one thing but meaning another.

I got into the car with him.

"School starts in a few days. Focus on your studies and experiments, and don't waste your time on meaningless things," Sebastian said as he sat beside me, his tone anything but gentle.

I raised an eyebrow, leaned closer to him, and smiled mischievously. Lowering my voice intentionally, I teased, "What do you mean by 'meaningless things'? Does sleeping with you count?"

I moved closer to his ear, my tone seductive and deliberate. "I've been thinking about that for a long time."

"I've been holding back for a long time, too," he murmured before swiftly pulling me into his arms, his warm breath grazing my ear. "If you want, I wouldn't mind making it real."

"The driver's watching!" I blushed deeply. I only planned to get a raise, but I'd bitten off more than I could chew.

Sebastian glanced at the driver out of the corner of his eye and calmly said, "He's visually impaired. He can't see a thing."

"Let's talk this out like civilized people. There is no need to get physical, okay?" I was completely immobilized in his grip.

A low chuckle sounded above me, and then he released me, his voice tinged with an almost playful amusement. "Are you really that scared?"

I coughed a couple of times, trying to salvage a bit of my dignity, but then I realized it was a lost cause. Might as well give up on that.

Back at the villa, surrounded by gourmet dishes, I asked the chef to prepare some pasta and jelly.

When the dishes were served, I eagerly dug in. "Ah, a master chef is truly worth every penny. The pasta is phenomenal! If I set up a stand on Sunset Boulevard, I'd make a killing."

I wolfed down three big bites, finishing the plate in no time. Just as I was about to savor some jelly, Sebastian chimed in, "Don't eat too much cold food."

"Uh, okay." I obediently put down my fork, already scheming in my head. "How could I convince the chef to help me sell pasta and jelly on Sunset Boulevard?"

After a moment of thought, I glanced at Sebastian, who was cutting steak beside me. "Honey, I think as wealthy people, we should have hearts of gold."

Sebastian took a sip of his wine, not even bothering to look up, and simply responded with, "Hmm, and then?"

"I think we should share some food with those who can't afford to eat," I declared with a face full of righteous conviction, my expression so earnest I almost believed it myself.

Finally, he lifted his gaze slightly, his voice low, and his words were straightforward. "Skyview City is a financial hub where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold. There's no way anyone here could be starving."

"That's because you haven't seen it." I launched into a passionate speech. "In many dark, hidden corners, plenty of people can't afford a meal. So I've decided that I will deliver food to them starting today."

"Do whatever you want. As long as you're happy, have the chef prepare meals every day and take them out to deliver," Sebastian replied in an even tone, not seeming to question the truth of my words.

I was thrilled to see my plan succeed. I quickly turned to the butler and ordered, "Tomorrow, buy ten pounds of pasta and jelly for the chef to prepare."

The butler was stunned. He asked, "Mrs. Hemsworth, are there really that many people in Skyview City who can't afford to eat?"

"Just go along with her." Sebastian put down his knife and fork. "And make sure to give the chef a raise."

"Alright, Mr. Hemsworth," the butler replied respectfully.

I was over the moon as I headed back to my room. Starting today, I was going to be the coolest lady on Sunset Boulevard.

The butler watched me leave, and he was confused. "Mr. Hemsworth, can Mrs. Hemsworth really deliver all that food?"

"As long as she doesn't start taking up a second job, let her do whatever she wants," he said before heading back to his study.