Chapter 3

Seeing me grip my phone in silence, the manager raised his voice:

"Miss! Please settle your bill!"

Whispered laughter came from customers around me.

"Coming here to eat when she has no money."

Countless mocking gazes fell on me like a resounding slap in the face.

My phone kept buzzing with messages:

"Marta, apologize to Mila and admit you were wrong! Promise you'll never bring this up again. Otherwise, you'll be detained in the restaurant or sent to jail."

I read his messages expressionlessly.

Then I looked up and said in fluent English:

"Go call your store manager. Tell them Miss Marta is here."

The manager didn't understand what this meant, but his instincts told him he needed to do as I said.

After the manager left, I took out that bank card from my wallet, snapped it in half, and tossed it in the trash.

Steve really seemed to think I was just some appendage who could only depend on him.

But he didn't know that I had long ago inherited my parents' estate, with business holdings spanning the globe.

I never told him any of this because when my parents died, they left a will stating that if I wanted to marry, I had to conceal my identity from my partner.

If my partner ever learned my true identity, all my assets would be taken by the family foundation, and I could only receive annual dividends.

I knew they did this to prevent me from being taken advantage of.

I once thought Steve was different.

He was ambitious and hardworking, stayed on at the university as a teacher based on his excellent academic record, and even got an opportunity to study abroad on a government scholarship.

But when the list came out, that slot went to someone with connections.

Steve was devastated and locked himself in his study in despair.

I couldn't bear it, so I secretly had my assistant donate a building to a prestigious American university in exchange for a joint training opportunity and a visiting professor position.

When Steve learned the news, he wept with joy, holding me and choking out:

"Marta, I'll work hard out there. Once I make something of myself, I'll bring you here to live permanently."

Actually, I didn't care about permanent residency status.

What I cared about was not wanting to only be reunited with him for three short months each year.

At this thought, a self-mocking smile appeared on my lips.

Turns out Steve never planned on letting me stay here with him long-term.

He had already given his legal status to Mila.

No wonder every time I came back, I'd see things in our American home that didn't belong to me.

No wonder every time, even before the three months were up, Steve would pack my luggage and tell me to go back early.

Turns out during the nine months I wasn't there, the house I had carefully decorated had another lady of the house.

Soon the store manager came in. As soon as he saw me, he bowed in greeting.

Then he said to the restaurant manager:

"Miss Marta is our BOSS. Her bill doesn't need to be—"

I raised my hand to interrupt:

"Why shouldn't it be settled?"

I tapped the security camera above my head lightly and said:

"Intentional dine-and-dash. You should call the police immediately. According to local regulations, the debt should be recovered tenfold."

Steve, you got it backwards.

You've been deceiving me without any qualms all along simply because you've been relying on my love for you.

Now that my love is gone, let's see what becomes of you.