Chapter 5

"You're always so thoughtful," he said.

Tiffany looked down and chuckled, then her gaze landed on me.

"Pleasure to meet you," she said. "I've heard Mason talk about you often. I honestly thought you might be different from other lower-class people, but it turns out you're just a terrible actress, a clumsy liar. Oh, and the 'dutiful daughter' act? Now that you have your money back, you can drop it. Go ahead, raise your mom from the dead. Wouldn't want those 'unlucky' words to actually come true, right?"

Her mocking tone, her disdainful gaze--the anger coiling in my chest finally snapped.

Saying things about me was one thing, but about my mom? I wouldn't tolerate it.

It was almost instinct.

My hand flew out, landing a punch squarely on her face.

By the time Mason roared, Tiffany was already sprawled on the floor.

"Mia, are you crazy?" he yelled. "Did I hit a nerve? Do you even know who you just hit?"

Did it matter who she was to the person I was now?

I had nothing left to lose.

I ignored his threats, dragged Tiffany up, and slapped her hard again.

But before I could finish, several burly men in black suits burst through the door and pinned me to the floor.

Tiffany scrambled up, looking disheveled, and burst into tears, burrowing into Mason's arms.

"Mason, I'm okay!" she sobbed. "I provoked her on purpose! I already recorded her hitting me with my tiny camera. I can press charges right away!"

Pinned to the ground, I couldn't move an inch, only watch her through gritted teeth.

She pulled out a tiny camera from her neckline and gave me a sinister smile.

"It's all recorded now!" she said. "Mason, you *have* to get revenge for me!"

Mason stared at me, his face grim.

He slowly took off his shoe, patted my face with it mockingly, then swung his hand back.

The pain arrived as expected--a harsh, stinging slap.

My tears instantly welled up and spilled over.

A flicker of regret crossed his eyes, but his gaze was full of disappointment.

"I never thought we'd end up like this," he said. "You were almost there, almost passed my test. But at the last moment, you showed your true colors."

"We did have two years together, and I truly loved you once," he continued. "This slap is just Tiffany returning the favor. Let's just part ways. You and I, we're simply not meant for the same road."

Tiffany, still held back, sounded indignant.

"Mason, you're too soft-hearted!" she said. "That's why this gold-digger had you wrapped around her finger. Look at her, still unrepentant. If she knew your real identity, she'd probably be on her knees begging to get back with you."

Mason looked down at me, his eyes full of pity, as if he felt sorry for me.

Yet in our two years together, he'd never once given me a gift.

Instead, I'd been constantly struggling to meet his demands.

Maybe that was another part of his 'test,' but truly, I owed him nothing.

I spoke coldly to Mason.

"Is it fun to play with someone's genuine feelings?" I asked. "In this relationship, I never owed you anything. Maybe I wasn't 'good enough' for a rich heir, but you have no right to insult me."

"From beginning to end, you're the only one who wronged me."

No sooner had I finished speaking than another angry slap landed.

"I wronged you?" he shouted. "I spent two years on you! Do you honestly think those cheap little things you gave me can buy back two years of my youth? You know I'm a rich heir! Do you even comprehend how valuable my time is, someone like you?"

Mason's face flushed crimson with anger, and Tiffany beside him laughed, clearly enjoying the show.

"Mason, didn't I tell you?" she said. "These people are hopelessly unrepentant. You try to give her an inch, and she'll take a mile."