Chapter 3
“I’m sorry… I…” he stammered.
“It’s fine,” I cut him off, turning away immediately and opening the ride–sharing app on my phone.
Behind me, confused voices rose from the crowd: “She looks familiar. Mason, isn’t that the gold–digger who begged you for money on your knees at your engagement party?”
“She didn’t pickpocket you just now, did she? You’d better check your wallet!”
Throughout these slanderous accusations, Mason never once defended me.
After getting home, I took out my phone to pay for the ride when my ticket app sent a notification: “Your flight from Houston to Switzerland has been successfully booked. Departure tomorrow at 3:00 PM. Please plan accordingly.”
I took a screenshot and sent it to the HR representative at the international company I’d be joining.
Before I could say anything, the HR manager responded enthusiastically: “Ava, I’ve been eagerly waiting! Looking forward to welcoming you tomorrow!”
Seeing this, my expression softened. I might not have love, but I could still pursue my career.
I grabbed my already–packed luggage and headed for the door, not wanting to spend another second in this apartment, when I collided with Mason.
Noticing my luggage, he slammed the door shut behind him with a scowl. “Where do you think you’re going?” he demanded.
Ivy peeked around from behind him, feigning concern. “Ava, please don’t misunderstand! Mason and I are just good friends. He’s just helping me save face. Don’t fight with him over me or run away from home…”
Tired of the charade, I finally finished what I’d started to say earlier: “Mason, let’s break up.”
He’d been about to accuse me of jealousy, but my words stopped him cold. His eyes widened in disbelief. “Break up? Just because Ivy and I were playing along for show, you want to end things? Are you throwing away our wedding plans over this?”
In his mind, he probably still thought I was madly in love with him, using the wedding as leverage against me.
In the past, I would have submitted, begging him to grow old with me.
Now, I only offered a mocking smile. “Mason, we have nothing between us. What wedding are you talking about?”
“Nothing between us?” Mason’s face frosted over, his voice dropping dangerously low. “You didn’t say that when you accepted my proposal a month ago. You said your life’s dream was to marry me. And the ring-!”
He frantically began searching through drawers and cabinets, trying to find the ring to throw in my face.
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Just a Stand In?! My Billionaire Hubby’s OTHER Wife.
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Chapter 3
Watching him scramble, I said calmly, “Don’t bother. You took that ring back and returned it for $10,000, then bought Ivy a hair tie as a gift.”
The irony suddenly struck me hard.
In seven years together, I’d never received anything meaningful from him.
The gifts I’d scrimped and saved to buy him, he deemed cheap and resold as second–hand.
And the only diamond ring he ever gave me, he took back right after proposing, claiming we shouldn’t waste money
and should save it for the wedding instead.
Hearing this, Mason’s eyelashes trembled as his eyes darted around the apartment. “Even without the ring, there’s still… what you bought me… what I bought you…”
His voice trailed off, his expression darkening as he realized that in this house, he couldn’t find a single thing that proved we were in a romantic relationship.
Ivy seized the opportunity, stirring the pot with obvious glee. “Come on, Ava, stop being dramatic. Everything you eat, wear, and use comes from Mason. You should be more generous and supportive. Mason’s at a critical point taking over the company–don’t cause trouble now!”
Her words bolstered Mason’s confidence as he crossed his arms with a cold smile.
“Ivy’s right, Ava. Can’t you see beyond your nose? Once I inherit the company, I can buy you anything. Now put down that suitcase, or I’ll cut off your allowance!”
I released my grip on the luggage handle and went to the study, returning with a box full of IOUS.
“Mason, for seven years, you’ve given me $200 monthly for expenses, making me write 500 IOUS for any additional spending, totaling $20,000. My grandmother’s surgeries and treatments cost $300,000.”
“I’ve kept my salary card with you for seven years–at least a million dollars earned. Now, please return the remaining $680,000 to me.”
Seeing I wouldn’t back down, Mason angrily knocked the box from my hands, sending countless IOUS fluttering to
the floor.
“Ava, we’ve been together for seven years, and in your heart, I’m worth less than a few hundred thousand dollars?
How shallow can you be!“>
The disgust and contempt in his voice made my own voice crack. “Mason, this money is what I earned through my
own hard work. I-”
Before I could finish, his rage exploded as he kicked over the coffee table with a crash. “Always talking about money! Is that all you care about, Ava? Why can’t you be like Ivy–genuine, easygoing, not chasing fame and fortune? She’s never asked me for anything!”
“My father was right. Dating someone like you–a poor nobody–is a waste of time. We’re not even from the same social class.”
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Just a Stand In?! My Billionaire Hubby’s OTHER Wife.
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Chapter 3
“You want ‘your money‘? Are you kidding me? Without me, you’d have nothing. That was all salary I gave you!”
I smiled bitterly to myself.
Of course Ivy never fought or asked for anything–she already had everything.
She only needed to exist, and without any effort, Mason would offer her the best of everything, including his genuine heart.
Seeing my silence, Mason snarled, “Fine, Ava. Take your money back. I’ll never manage it for you again!”
In the next moment, he hurled the bank card at my face. The edge of the card sliced across my cheek.
I touched my face lightly, my fingers coming away bright red with blood.
Seeing this, Mason instantly panicked, reaching out to touch my cheek as he whispered, “Ava, are you okay?”
I just coldly pushed his hand away.
Meeting the alarm in his eyes, I spoke with hollow resignation: “Mason, aren’t you tired of playing prince and
Cinderella?”
“I’m done playing.”
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