He Called Me Broke. I Call Him Irrelevant.

On our fifth dating anniversary, my boyfriend, Luke Bolton, gives me a cheap bracelet worth less than a hundred dollars. On the same night, he splurges ten million dollars on a yacht for his first love, Cindy Gale. I refuse to accept this, and he accuses me of making a scene. "I gave Cindy that gift to boost the company's stock price, not because I still have feelings for her," he says. "You're poor, and I still promised to marry you. Isn't that enough? This was actually your last test, Elisa Gray, but you failed it." I break up with him, and he immediately proposes to Cindy. Five years after that, we meet again at a luxury hotel during a business summit. His company is about to become an industry giant, and Cindy is holding onto his arm. When he sees me, I'm standing in a fountain, all drenched and disheveled. "Elisa," Luke sneers. "When you turned me down back then, did it ever cross your mind that you might end up worse than a homeless person? "Don't think acting pitiful here will make me feel sorry and take you back." I ignore him. My son's cherished blue diamond was a birthday gift from his father, and he accidentally dropped it into the fountain. He's so upset that he's about to cry, and I have to find it right away. Chapter 1 "What a shameless, poor loser." After five years apart, Luke Bolton humiliated me in public just like that. But the idiot had no idea he was mocking the wife of Gideon York, the richest man everyone wanted to win over today. Luke walked into the hotel lobby with Cindy Gale on his arm. The business elites around us quickly recognized him, and their faces lit up as they swarmed Luke. "Mr. Bolton, I never thought I'd see you here at the Alliance Summit. You got your company listed in just five years. That's very impressive for someone so young!" one man said. Another asked, "Are you here to win Mr. York's support, too?" Luke gave a small nod, and a murmur of understanding rippled through the crowd. More than half of the guests here had been waiting all day to win the favor of the richest man. Someone's attention turned to Cindy, and they asked, "This must be Mrs. Bolton, right? The two of you are perfect together!" Cindy leaned in even closer to Luke. Her smile was gentle. She said, "It's not official yet. We plan to sign the papers and hold the wedding after the company becomes an industry leader. We'll send you invitations then. Do come and celebrate with us." Luke's expression turned awkward for a moment, then he forced a half-hearted smile. "We've both been busy with the company. But we've been dating for years, so the papers and wedding are just formalities." Another round of congratulations followed. I listened from the side, feeling a little surprised. They hadn't gotten married yet? Luke had proposed to Cindy just days after we broke up. If he had been so eager to gain the Gale family's support, he would have sealed the deal a long time ago. So why was it delayed? After all, strategic marriages were a crucial way to solidify power in the world of the rich. Just then, a hotel security guard walked over to me with a stern expression. A quick glance at his name tag told me his name was Bruce Wall. Bruce said, "Ma'am, this is an eight-star resort. It's not a place outsiders can just wander in." He swept a disdainful gaze over me, and his lips curled up in a contemptuous smile. I had just been playing on the beach with my son, Anderson, so my clothes were covered in sand. Now, I stood drenched and disheveled in the fountain. The stamp on the back of my hand that marked me as a guest had faded, so it was no surprise that they misunderstood me. I quickly explained, "Sorry, my son's precious gift fell into the fountain. I'll go back to our room once I find it. I'll pay for any damages caused. My room number is—" Before I could finish, Bruce cut me off impatiently. "You're just some penniless lowlife who clearly sneaked in. Stop pretending to be a guest and get out!" His sharp voice quickly drew the attention of everyone around. "How could someone as lowly as her even be here?" one of the guests murmured. "She's got some nerve to sneak into a hotel that's hosting a top business summit. Isn't she afraid of getting arrested?" another guest said. Just then, Luke glanced over, and our eyes met. He froze on the spot. "Elisa?" Bruce looked at him in surprise and asked, "Mr. Bolton, do you know her?" Luke's expression hardened, and his tone turned scornful. "She's just a poor student my father once sponsored. I don't really know her." With that, he looked away. It was as if one more glance at me would dirty his eyes. That was the same look he had given me when he drove me out of his life. Hearing that, Bruce grew bolder and reached out to shove me. He said, "So that's how it is. I've seen plenty like you. You received help once and think you can live off men forever." I dodged his hand. Growing impatient, I said, "I told you I'll leave once I find it, and I'll pay for any damages." Bruce sneered. His expression was full of scorn. "Pay? You?" He pointed at the fountain's sculpture. "Do you even know what this is? It was hand-carved by a renowned artisan from Panole, and it's worth 37 million dollars. "Does someone as poor as you even know how many zeros are in that amount? You couldn't afford it even if you sold yourself." He reached out to grab me again. Perhaps 37 million dollars was a huge sum to him and enough to surprise most people. But to me, that kind of small change was nothing. "That's enough." Luke, who had been heading to the elevator, suddenly turned back. As he walked over, he was expressionless. His gaze was cold. It was as if he were looking at a stranger. "What are you looking for? How much is it? I'll give you the money," Luke said to me. "Stop trying to get my attention like this," he added in disgust. "These cheap tricks won't work on me. I'm not interested in people like you." Cindy tightened her grip on Luke's arm. She kept a sweet smile on her face, but her eyes gleamed with triumph and malice. She said, "Elisa, Luke and I are getting married soon. I know you're bitter about being dumped, but someone poor like you could never be part of upper-class society. There's no way you and Luke could ever work out. "So instead of making a fool of yourself here, why don't you leave quietly and keep what little dignity you have left?" I merely smiled slightly and kept my tone sincere. "I hope the two of you have a wonderful life together." With that, I ignored them and crouched down to keep feeling around the fountain. It was the first birthday gift Anderson's father had gotten for him, and it meant the world to my son. "What will it take for you to leave?" Luke asked sharply. "Or are you asking for more?" He pulled out his phone impatiently and said, "Fine, I'll arrange a position for you at Bolton Group's Effron branch. Start next week, and never show up in front of me again. "Only Cindy will ever become my wife. Those two years with you were just a show of pity to someone weaker. "This job should be enough for you to start over. Find an ordinary man who suits your status and stop wasting your time on me." Suddenly, his finger stopped mid-swipe. The information on his phone drained the color from his face. "What happened to your old records under Bolton Group? What crime did you commit to get your personal records wiped out?" Chapter 2 I shot Luke a brief, indifferent glance and continued feeling around in the fountain. As my current identity was special, it had to be kept a secret. So, it was no surprise that he found nothing on me. But I couldn't be bothered to explain. "I don't need your charity," I said instead. Luke stared at his phone, and his expression grew darker. "Elisa, do you know what it means to have no records? Without a background or connections, anyone in this world can crush you!" Cindy stepped forward. She seemed to be pitying me, but she couldn't hide the disdain and mockery in her expression. "Elisa, I know it's hard for you to handle this fall from grace. You once dated Luke, but you ended up a poor loser. "You have no status, and that's a fact you need to wrap your head around. Take my advice. Accept Luke's kindness and the job he's offering. Stop trying to put up a front here." The business elites who were watching began whispering. I could hear their laughter and felt their scornful stares on me. "A woman from the slums thinks she can win the love of a CEO of a publicly listed company?" "Look at how pitiful she is. In a few years, she'll probably be begging for small change on the streets." "A lowlife will forever stay a lowlife. People like her are only good enough to work for us." Right then, I touched a smooth, cold stone. It was Anderson's blue diamond! I carefully picked it up from the water and wiped it dry. "Found it." I breathed a sigh of relief, then started to stand. Suddenly, someone grabbed my wrist roughly. Luke's grip was tight, and he forced me to my feet. "Elisa," he said quietly, "you turned down being my mistress back then. Now, you can't find another man like me, no matter where you look, right? "This is the price of rejecting me!" He tightened his fingers on my wrist, sending a sharp pain through my arm. But I worried more that he might crush the blue diamond in my hand. "Let go of me!" I snarled. "Let go?" Luke sneered. "Do you know how many ordinary people with no backing end up ruined after crossing the rich and powerful? "I'm giving you one last chance. Grovel and beg me. I might consider giving you a cleaning job at one of my branches in the country." I looked at Luke. Arrogance and contempt were written all over his face. There was not a single trace of the man who once treated me gently. I said, "I told you. I don't need your charity." "Why?" he suddenly roared, his anger flaring. "You must have committed a crime to have your personal records erased. Other than me, who else would want you? Who would dare to take you in?" His presence was so strong that everyone around us instinctively lowered their heads out of fear. But to me, his behavior was nothing but a joke. "Luke," I said, raising my head to meet his eyes. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't need your charity. That's because I'm here as Gideon York's wife." Luke released his grip on me. His expression shifted from shock to rage, then to complete disbelief. "You? How could you possibly be the richest man's wife?" Chapter 3 At Luke's words, the chatter in the lobby grew louder. Voices were filled with doubt and ridicule. "How could a woman from the slums marry into a wealthy family?" someone said. "How typical of a poor person. She's dishonest, deceitful, and absolutely vain!" one of the guests sneered. "She's clearly just trying to provoke Mr. Bolton," another added. Luke stared at me. "Elisa, did you think making up a lie would upset me? Do you think I don't know what your family is like? "What high-society family would let a woman like you marry in? Unless it's someone like Mr. York, who doesn't need a strategic marriage to strengthen his standing." He stepped forward, trying to detect if there was any hint of a lie in my eyes. "Or did you get cozy with some staff member to sneak in here? And now, you're lying and claiming to be Mrs. York?" I didn't answer and just gripped the blue diamond tightly. Anderson was waiting upstairs. I didn't want to waste any more time here. Seeing this, Cindy's lips suddenly curved into a sly smile. She said, "Since Elisa wants to marry a rich man so badly, why not let her stay and do something useful?" Her eyes scanned the crowd. Her voice was sweet, but every word she spoke dripped with malice. "Everyone here is a CEO, and you need someone to serve you. Elisa, this is a perfect opportunity. Maybe you'll end up seducing one of them and become their wife. "That's much more dignified than begging for handouts, isn't it?" Laughter erupted from those around us. The thought of having the ex-girlfriend of a publicly listed company's CEO serve them was quite entertaining. "Good idea! Someone should put her in a maid's outfit. She can serve me drinks," one of the men sneered. Another added, "It's already generous of us to let someone like her serve us." "It's too kind of Ms. Gale to give this woman a chance. If it were me, I would have kicked her out long ago!" one guest exclaimed. I was so angry that I laughed. "Are you deaf? I told you to let go of me!" Cindy's expression darkened at my refusal. She snarled, "Elisa, you're really ungrateful. We're already giving you the privilege of serving us, and you have the nerve to refuse?" Luke's expression turned even more sour. "Elisa, what do you really want? Money? Status? Or is it my love? "Listen here. That's absolutely impossible! My wife can only be someone like Cindy, who's from a wealthy, reputable family. You'd better get this straight!" At that moment, several hotel security guards in uniform strode over. The man leading them had a name tag that read "Clarence Brown". Bruce immediately pointed at me and said, "Mr. Brown, some poor loser is causing trouble and dirtying the fountain. She also refuses to leave." Clarence, the head of security, frowned. His face darkened as he said, "Today's business summit will be attended by Mr. York, his wife, and his son. This is the first public appearance of his family. "So, that's why nothing is allowed to go wrong!" Clarence's gaze landed on me. "Someone like you will bring down the prestige of this summit. Men, get her out of here!" Two guards stepped forward, ready to drag me away. At that moment, Luke spoke. "Wait!" He fixed his gaze on the blue diamond in my hand. Luke trembled slightly, and his voice was hoarse. "Elisa, why don't you get it? I don't need your cheap gifts anymore." Chapter 4 As I saw Luke's expression, some memories came flooding back. It was a rainy night five years ago. Luke had just taken over the company, and the board questioned him about his competence. He was sitting alone in his office, looking utterly exhausted. When I found him, he was staring blankly at a small diamond ring in his hand. It was the first gift I had given him, bought with money I had carefully saved. "What's wrong?" I asked softly. Luke looked at me, and his gaze was gentle yet bitter. "I was wondering if I deserve such an expensive gift from you. Elisa, maybe I'm not cut out to run this company." I stood behind him and gently massaged his shoulders. I said, "Success doesn't happen overnight. You're already working very hard." "Elisa." He turned to me, and there was a vulnerability in his eyes. Luke said, "If I become more successful one day, I might face even greater challenges. When that day comes, will you still stand by me?" "I will," I replied without hesitation. "No matter where you go, I'll be right there with you." Back then, he had held my hand so tightly, as if I were the most precious thing in the world to him. But now, faced with a blue diamond worth countless times more, he called it a "cheap gift". "Elisa?" Cindy snapped, annoyed by my abstraction. "What are you thinking about? Hand over that blue diamond, now!" I snapped back to reality and saw that everyone was staring at the jewel in my hand. "Hand it over? Why?" I asked. Clarence stepped forward. His tone was sharp. "Blue diamonds are worth a fortune. It might mean little to these rich people, but someone like you could never afford it. Where did you steal it from?" "I didn't steal it," I said with a frown. "It was my son's first birthday gift." "A gift?" Cindy scoffed. "Elisa, if you're going to lie, at least make it believable. Someone like you could only marry another poor loser and raise more penniless nobodies. "Who would give your son a blue diamond of such rare quality as a gift?" Bruce immediately agreed, "Yes, she must have stolen it. How could someone as poor as you possibly have a blue diamond?" Clarence's face grew stern. "Stealing valuables is a serious crime. Under the law, you could face severe punishment." "I told you. I didn't steal it!" My patience was running out. "Then, prove it," Luke finally said. "Otherwise, as the vice chairman of this summit, I have the right to hand you over to the police." At that tense moment, the elevator suddenly dinged, and the doors opened. A small figure ran out, crying. "Mommy. Mommy! Where's my diamond? Daddy said you'd find it for me!" It was my three-year-old son, Anderson. I felt a rush of warmth in my chest the moment I saw him. "Andy!" I knelt and opened my arms. "I found it! It's right here." The lobby fell into a dead silence. Anderson was only three years old, yet he was wearing a custom-made suit by the renowned designer, Summer, who was well-known in high society. Earlier this year, a mysterious billionaire bought this suit at an auction for tens of millions. Everyone present recognized it instantly. "This… This child…" Clarence stammered. Cindy suddenly rushed forward and snatched Anderson from my arms. "He's clearly the heir of some elite family. How could he be Elisa's son?" she yelled. Anderson struggled and screamed in her arms, "Mommy! I want my mommy!" "This boy must have been kidnapped!" Cindy declared loudly. "Elisa isn't just a thief. She's also a human trafficker who targets the children of the rich!" The lobby erupted in chaos. "She kidnapped someone's heir?" "Oh my god, people from the slums really can't change who they are. She actually thinks she can climb the social ladder by kidnapping a child from a wealthy family!" "No wonder she has a blue diamond. She must have stolen it along with the kid!" Clarence immediately barked orders to his men. "Restrain her. This is a serious criminal offense!" Several security guards rushed over and pulled my arms behind my back. I tried to fight back, but there were too many of them, and they were too strong. "Let go of me!" I roared angrily. "Anderson is my son!" "Your son?" Cindy sneered while holding the crying Anderson. "Which rich family wouldn't find your poor bloodline disgusting? Who would let you give birth to their child? Elisa, your lies are getting ridiculous." Anderson sobbed in her arms. "Mommy! I want my mommy! You're a bad, evil woman!" Seeing my son in such pain tore at my heart. I struggled with all my strength, but the security guards only held me tighter. "Elisa," Luke said as he walked over. He looked down at me with great disappointment. "I knew you were greedy, but I never thought you'd stoop this low. "Stealing, kidnapping, and lying? Is there anything you wouldn't do? "I was right not to choose you back then. You don't deserve to be my wife." Then, he turned to Clarence and said, "Turn her over to the police. As for the boy, start contacting the summit's guests and see which family lost their child." "No!" I shook my head wildly as I screamed. "Anderson is my son. You can't take him!" Right then, the doors to the elevator opened, and a man with a crushing presence stepped out. He was six-foot-two, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, and he carried himself like royalty. Every CEO present, including Luke, instinctively nodded their heads in respect. The earlier commotions turned into quiet whispers, and I heard someone murmur, "Mr. York is here, so behave. We still need his investment." Gideon's dark eyes swept across the room and finally landed on me. The moment our eyes met, tears welled up in mine.