After dating him for five years, my boyfriend, Jayden Porter, sends me 10 dollars. He asks me to buy our future matrimonial home with that money.

That same day, he transfers 3 million dollars to his dream girl, Lina Doux, to buy her a grand detached villa in Centralis.

I decided to break up with him out of frustration, but he accuses me of being greedy for money.

"Your house is still livable, so why buy another one? When did you become such a gold digger?"

"Lina and I are childhood friends, so what's wrong with me giving her money?

"On the other hand, you're scheming to get your hands on my wealth despite us not being married yet. I'm so disappointed in you!"

He turns around and proposes to Lina.

Six years later, we encounter each other again in the werewolf kingdom based in Centralis—the Darkmoon Kingdom.

He's about to become Centralis' Beta. Lina is by his side, wearing a haute couture dress.

When he sees me covered in mud and rummaging through trash, he mocks me with disgust, "You looked down on 10 dollars back then, Emily Everhart, but now you're digging through trash cans like a beggar.

"Do you think you'll be able to earn money by selling scraps? Even if you put on a sorry act in front of me, I won't show you any pity!"

I glance coldly at him and continue to search for my pup's favorite ring. I had unknowingly discarded it like common trash.

My pup, Cassidy Holstrom, is incredibly upset about it. As such, I have to find it quickly to cheer her up.

In Centralis' most luxurious castle, Jayden Porter appeared down the corridor wearing a suit and tie. He was holding the arm of Lina Doux, who stood next to him in a haute couture dress.

Their good looks drew the attention of many people, and those who knew them gathered around enthusiastically.

"Congratulations on becoming the Beta of Centralis, Jayden."

"In just six years, you've been promoted from an ordinary werewolf to a Beta. How amazing!"

"I heard that the Alpha King will also be attending your inauguration ceremony today."

Jayden smiled and exchanged pleasantries with everyone, his eyes shining with unconcealed pride. He said, "Thank you for all your well-wishes, everyone."

I was momentarily stunned, pausing in my search through a trash can in a corner. I didn't expect Jayden to become the new Beta, but the fact that he could succeed in the position proved that he was capable.

In the future, he would be assisting the Alpha King in handling the Centralis' government affairs as the highest-ranking official below the king. Naturally, everyone would want to curry favor with him.

Someone looked curiously at Lina. "You're Beta Jayden's mate, right?"

Lina smiled and nodded slightly.

"You're so beautiful. You and Beta Jayden are a match made in heaven," someone else said flatteringly.

A second later, Jayden quickly clarified their current relationship. "She's not my mate yet, just my fiancee."

Lina stiffened slightly before forcing a smile onto her face and going along with his words. "That's right, but we'll be marking each other soon. Everyone will be invited to witness our bonding ceremony when the time comes."

I was surprised to find out they weren't bonded yet. After Jayden and I broke up six years ago, he promptly proposed to Lina. Considering how much he loved her, they should've bonded ages ago.

I didn't understand why they were dragging things out.

Suddenly, a waitress walked toward me with a nasty expression on her face.

"Hey!" the waitress yelled loudly. "This is a luxurious castle, you dirtbag, not some place any beggar can walk into. Hurry up and leave! You're dirtying our castle!"

There was obvious disgust in her eyes.

I had just returned from the playground with my daughter, Cassidy Holstrom. I was covered in mud stains from there, so I had dirtied the floor around me.

Cassidy had even torn my clothes in some places while I was playing with her, and my hair was a mess with grass stuck in it. All in all, my current appearance was very similar to that of a beggar.

"Sorry. I was looking for something in the trash can. I'll leave once I find it, and I'll also clean up after myself," I explained apologetically.

The waitress refused to listen and scolded angrily, "Enough nonsense! Get out, or I'm calling security!"

She spoke very loudly, which drew the attention of the surrounding people. Jayden, upon hearing the commotion, also looked over at me.

"Emily," he exclaimed in shock.

I glanced at him before looking away calmly.

"Do you know her, Mr. Porter?" the waitress asked, looking at him in surprise.

Jayden regained his calm and replied in a cold, indifferent tone, "She's an Omega who begged for scraps from my family before, so I've seen her a few times."

He quickly looked away as if looking at me any longer than he already had would hurt his eyes. He had even identified me as a beggar.

I could see where he was coming from. When we broke up, he criticized me for asking him for money to buy a house.

Upon seeing Jayden's reaction, the waitress reached out to shove me. "You're able-bodied, yet instead of finding a proper job, you snuck into the castle to beg! Get lost!"

I almost lost my balance and snapped angrily, "I told you I was looking for something. I'll leave once I find it, and I'll compensate you for any losses incurred."

The waitress sneered derisively. "You'll compensate us, you say? Do you have the money for it?

"Just the floor tile you soiled is worth $100,000. Can you even afford to pay the compensation costs?"

"I can afford the compensation costs," I said calmly.

The waitress still refused to believe me and insulted me furiously, her eyes filled with contempt.

"Stop talking big, you filthy beggar! Every item in our castle is worth more than you! Even ten of your lives won't be enough to pay for them!" She grabbed my arm, preparing to drag me away.

I struggled in her grasp, unwilling to leave.

"Stop dragging me! Hurry up and let go! I'll leave once I find the item, and I won't pay a penny less in compensation!" I retorted.

Jayden, who had already reached the entrance of the banquet hall, suddenly turned around and walked expressionlessly toward me. He dragged me away from the waitress.

Stunned, the waitress stepped aside.

"Enough already. Stop making a scene," Jayden said irritably. "How much money do you want?

"I'll give it to you, but stop trying to attract my attention using such methods. Following me all the way here to harass me is only going to make me feel disgusted toward you."

Lina approached as well and stared at me warningly. "Jayden and I are already going to be bonded, Emily. I hope you can understand your place."

I glanced coldly at them both. They were far too arrogant in assuming that I was here to cause trouble for them.

I really didn't want to pay attention to them, so I withdrew my arm and simply poured out all the contents of the trash can. I then crouched down to search intently through the pile.

Upon seeing this, Jayden glared at me. "Stop embarrassing yourself, Emily. I'll transfer $100,000 to your account. Take it and get out!

"After you take the money, don't ever appear in front of me again. I only loved Lina, and the relationship we had for a few years was nothing more than a casual fling. It's also a stain on my life.

"This sum should be enough to feed and clothe you, so don't ever bother me again."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he took out his phone to transfer the money to my account. After just a few seconds, he looked disbelievingly at me.

"You even closed your bank account! You don't have a penny to your name after becoming a beggar!"

I frowned lightly. It was only then that I recalled the payroll card we had applied for together, which Jayden would use to transfer money to me.

After getting married, I always used my mate's Centurion Card and never my own. Over time, the bank automatically closed that account. However, in Jayden's eyes, I had become a penniless beggar.

It seemed like he looked down on me from the bottom of his heart. Forget it. I couldn't be bothered to explain things to him.

Seeing that I was completely ignoring him, Jayden's expression darkened further, and his tone turned cold. "You've already come to the point of digging through trash, Emily. Why are you still pretending to be all high-and-mighty?"

I rolled my eyes in exasperation before finally looking directly at him. "You sure talk a lot. Also, I'm not short of money, so you don't have to give me any either."

If my mate—Caspian Holstrom—knew that Jayden wanted to give me money and that I had once been in a relationship with him, he would be jealous. I had no intention of trying to appease his anger.

Lina smiled mockingly. "Who would believe that you're not short of money, considering your appearance?"

I looked at her in displeasure. "That's my business. It has nothing to do with you."

"You came all the way here to seek me out, yet you still insist you're not short of money?" Jayden asked questioningly.

He stared at me with a complicated look in his eyes and added, "I'm somewhat responsible for you ending up in this state. After all, our breakup caused you to experience an emotional breakdown. They told me that you cried for several days and nights back when we first broke up.

"I'm giving you money out of pity for you. Once you take the money, please don't show up to bother me again.

"I have no feelings for you. Although if it's not money you want, could it be that you want me to feel guilty toward you?"

Lina's expression darkened. As she comforted Jayden, she didn't forget to throw in a jab at me.

"Don't blame yourself, Jayden. She's a lowly Omega who doesn't know a thing. Even though she's able-bodied, she's of such low status that nobody would want to hire her.

"She's also very lazy. Back then, she could've worked hard to earn the money to buy a house herself, yet she decided to ask you to pay for it instead. This proves that she's both poor and lazy."

Unable to listen to Lina anymore, I bellowed, "Please watch your words, Lina! I didn't ask him for money to buy a house!"

Lina instantly shrank back as if frightened. "Let's just forget it, Jayden. Look. Her temper is still the same as always. It's no use helping her, so let's leave her alone already."

I said thoughtfully, "There's no need for you two to worry about my affairs."

However, Jayden was unwilling to let the matter rest. He grabbed my arm again and gripped it hard.

"Stop acting pitiful, Emily. You looked down on the 10 dollars I transferred to you all those years ago, but you'd hardly find as much in a trash can, right?

"And now, you're refusing the money I'm offering you. Do you think your dignity is going to fill your belly?"

I stared speechlessly at him. After all these years, did he still think I broke up with him because of those $10?

Back then, Lina left to study abroad without even a farewell. She broke up with him so suddenly that he found it difficult to accept reality and was extremely upset.

Jacob Porter, who saw his son so depressed, asked me to spend more time with him and get his spirits up. At that time, I thought that since I was friends with him, I would stay by his side and help him get over his emotional pain.

Later, we naturally started dating each other. Yet, when Lina returned from abroad, he started to grow cold, distanced himself from me, and hurt me.

When Lina and I both needed money, he only gave me $10 while transferring $3 million to Lina to buy a detached villa in Centralis.

Such obvious preferential treatment made me understand that Lina was the person he loved most. I still loved him back then, so I couldn't bear to let him go. It wasn't until Lina sent me a message that I gave up on him completely.

Could it be that he didn't even realize that? No, he was surely just playing dumb.

He was now the one harassing me. How utterly ridiculous.

I gazed coldly at his complicated expression. "Stop being so full of yourself, Jayden. I'm perfectly well-off right now, and it was just a coincidence that I met you here."

I then tried to tug my arm out of his grasp, but he was holding on too tightly. In fact, his grip was hurting me.

I continued, "Our relationship already ended many years ago, and I've never tried to seek you out again. You can rest assured of that."

He frowned at me, looking deep in thought.

In order to dispel his confusion, I elaborated, "Also, I'm married. My mate has a rather bad temper, so it'll be bad news if he sees you clinging onto me."

He dragged me over to him in shock upon hearing this. "Did you get married behind my back?"

I immediately broke out of his grasp and retreated a few steps.

He looked at me with great curiosity and asked, "Who's your mate? How could he allow you to be reduced to picking up trash?"

I hated being asked invasive questions like these and didn't reply.

Upon seeing that I wasn't speaking, he suddenly sneered. "You almost managed to trick me. Oh, I get it now.

"You wanted to use marriage to upset me and make me return to you. I'll have you know that even if you told me you gave birth to our child, I wouldn't care."

I was once again rendered speechless. He didn't have to put it so bluntly. I was also well aware that Lina was the only person he loved.

He had been the first to confess his love to me back then. I even asked him over and over again whether he had gotten over Lina. It wasn't until he swore that he had forgotten Lina that I agreed to be with him.

So, why did he now feel that I was still unwilling to give up on him and wanted to continue to be with him?

I wasn't the kind of person to go looking for trouble only to make a fool of myself.

Unfortunately, he had already formed his own preconceptions of me, so it didn't matter what I said. I turned around and continued to rummage through the trash, deciding to ignore him.

Lina held onto Jayden's arm. "Since she doesn't appreciate your help, it's useless trying to help her, Jayden. Let's just go!"

However, Jayden refused to leave. He stared closely at me, a trace of hesitation crossing his face.