My boyfriend had racked up a considerable debt to pay for his mother's medical treatment. To pay it off, we worked regular jobs during the day and took on side hustles at night and on weekends. That night, I was dressed up like a ghost, hiding in the corner of a haunted house attraction, waiting to jump out and scare the next group of customers, just like we rehearsed.

Soon, a disheveled couple stumbled in, locked in a passionate kiss. The woman called out her boyfriend's name with a coy tone, "Howard, be gentle! You just bought me this limited-edition lingerie; are you going to tear it up again so soon? You've already ripped seven today and messed up my makeup. I still need to go to the hotel tonight for your mother's birthday."

At first, I thought it was just a crazy coincidence. After all, Howard's mother was in a coma and still lying in the hospital. However, the man soon looked up and spotted me. Without a word, he threw a warm, lacy pair of panties and a wad of cash right at my face. "Shut your damn eyes and get out!"

I felt something warm trickle down my forehead, but I was frozen in place. It was because that voice belonged to none other than my boyfriend of three years.

——

"Freya, what are you still doing there? Don't disturb Mr. Garcia and his girlfriend's romance. Hurry up and get out!" The manager's urgent voice came through my earpiece, urging me to leave. Only then did I snap out of my daze. I quickly gathered the props on the ground. I awkwardly fled the dimly lit secret room, the sound of amorous whispers trailing behind me.

When I reached the front desk, I instinctively looked down at what I was carrying. Among the plastic props and fake blood were that pair of lace panties and the thick wad of cash. It looked like at least $3000, all brand-new bills. No wonder it cut my forehead.

Suppose only that money hadn't been thrown at me during sex between my boyfriend and another woman. In that case, I might've actually been happy. I might've even taken a photo and sent it to Howard. [Howard, look! We've got enough for your mom's medicine this month. You don't have to work so hard anymore.]

But now ... Mr. Garcia? This unfamiliar title, was this really the same person who used to split every penny in half to pay for his mother's treatment, who huddled with me in our rented room eating instant noodles and who promised me happiness? If the woman inside was his girlfriend, then what was I? The things in my arms slipped and fell to the ground with a thud.

"Mr. Garcia is really something! His first love just got back to the country and he's already going wild, throwing money and panties like it's nothing. Those panties alone go for over a thousand dollars a pair and he tears through them like paper. He must have gone through dozens in the past few days, right? Isn't he afraid his Cinderella will find out and get angry?"

"What's there to be afraid of? Mr. Garcia has plenty of money. Besides, what if that poor girl finds out? Megan dumped him and went abroad three years ago. Mr. Garcia acted out of spite when he got together with her for a bit of fun. Now that Megan is back, what does she matter? It's been tough for that man to play the poor guy for three years."

"Who asked our Howard to be such a romantic since he was little? He vowed he would only marry Megan. He swore his money would only be spent on Megan; no other woman could ever dream of it. That idiot Freya actually believed his lies, foolishly working everywhere to help him pay off his debts and save his mother. Haha."

These words crashed into my ears like thunder, making my internal organs ache. They stared at the monitor with knowing and excited expressions. Following their gaze, my breath hitched. Under the night-vision camera, Howard pressed himself tightly against that woman. He kissed her like he couldn't breathe, like he was desperate to devour her whole, letting out all the longing he had held in for so long.

Even though the lighting was dim and I could only see the side of his face, I recognized him instantly. This passionate, almost frantic side of Howard was something I had never witnessed in three years.

As if sensing something, he suddenly looked towards the camera, quickly covering Megan with his jacket. He grabbed a nearby skull prop and hurled it over. "Get lost! How dare you even look at Megan? I'll gouge your eyes out if I see you looking again!"

The screen immediately went static. One of those people awkwardly rubbed its nose and muttered, "It was so dark and he covered Megan so tightly. What were we even supposed to see? Can't believe Mr. Garcia flipped out like that."

"Just a few days ago, I joked with him about letting the bros check out Freya's figure sometime and he actually smiled and nodded. Sure enough, Megan is his precious darling. The way he treats her is on another level."

I clenched my fists but eventually let them fall, weak and powerless. It turns out that your initial response to something you truly didn't want to believe was denial rather than rage.

Even though the manager had reminded me three times that I could take off my makeup and go home, I stubbornly stood rooted to the spot. I didn't believe it. I didn't think the person they talked about, who played with other people's feelings, was the man I had loved for three years.

It wasn't until an hour later that the man emerged from the private room with Megan in his arms. The bright light outlined Howard's face so clearly and handsomely, completely shattering my self-deception. Megan's neck was covered in love bites. When she noticed the cut on my forehead, she said with a hint of embarrassment. "Miss, my boyfriend has a bit of a temper. He didn't mean to hurt you just now. Don't take it personally, okay? He just gets really possessive of me. Howard, aren't you going to make it up to her?"

Howard's eyes met mine. I thought he had recognized me. I hoped he would explain, even if he just denied the 'boyfriend' label, anything to make me feel like I wasn't a joke. Alas, he just pulled out a check, scribbled a few numbers and tossed it at my feet. "Keep your mouth shut. If I hear you talking nonsense and ruining Megan's reputation, I won't let you off," he said coldly.

We had been together for three years. I could easily recognize Howard's figure in the dark, but now I was standing right in front of him, just with NPC makeup on and he was only concerned with warning me not to damage his 'girlfriend's reputation. Was it that he didn't recognize me, or had he never cared about me?

Howard put his arm around Megan and walked towards the Bentley outside. That man considerately opened the door for her, fastened her seatbelt and drove away. From beginning to end, he didn't look at me once.

Watching that limited edition Rolls-Royce with the special license plate drive away, a bitter feeling welled up inside me. Because we had debts to repay and were saving money for his mother's medical treatment, we couldn't afford a car, only a second-hand motorcycle. Howard would often gesture grandly and speak to me behind him as those fancy cars carrying pretty women drove by. "Freya, just wait. Sooner or later, I'll ensure you ride in a car like that. The passenger seat is only for you."

I used to believe I would be the happiest woman alive if I rode that tiny electric scooter as long as I had his words. Now, he did have a luxury car, but the woman in the passenger seat wasn't me.

After taking off my makeup and returning home, I pulled the photo of Howard's mother from my phone while looking at the check. The amount was enough to pay for a year's medical expenses in one go. Howard, what other secrets are you hiding from me? There was a sound at the door and I quickly hid the check.

"Freya, I got paid part-time and bought your favorite strawberries. Come try some!" However, the smile on Howard's face froze when he saw the cut on my forehead.

He rushed over, eyes full of concern. "What happened? Does it hurt?"

I forced a small smile. "I accidentally scraped it. It's nothing. Strawberries are expensive, though. Why waste money?"

"How is that a waste?" he said. "Freya, I'd give you the whole world if I could. You've already sacrificed so much being with me. I'm working hard to earn money so my baby can live a good life."

I didn't say anything. That man's sweet words were as smooth as ever, but they suddenly felt ridiculous when paired with the scent of Megan's perfume on him. Howard didn't notice my change in expression. He casually glanced at my phone and chuckled. "Other girls love looking at handsome guys. Why are you staring at some old, sick lady? She's wrinkled and ugly."

I froze. "You don't know her, really?"

He looked confused. "No? Is she your relative? If she is, we should get her a gift and visit sometime."

"Oh right, Freya, I've got another part-time job tonight, so I must head out now. Can't stay for dinner. Be good and wait for me at home." He ruffled my hair, got dressed and left.

I was stunned by his words. He was the one who brought me to the hospital and pointed at the unconscious older woman in the photo, telling me with a pained look that she was his mother. How could he now say that he didn't know her?

I secretly followed Howard in a taxi. I watched him walk into a luxury mall, change into a suit worth tens of thousands and then head into a hotel. As soon as he entered the lobby, I saw Megan in a custom designer gown, clinging sweetly to a wealthy, elegant-looking woman whose features resembled Howard's.

Howard walked up to her and handed her a gift. He said with a smile, "Happy birthday, Mom."

An overwhelming sense of absurdity washed over me. I couldn't tell if I should be angry or sad. Back then, Howard looked haggard, burdened by high medical bills and debts. He always had a look of sadness in his eyes because he was worried about his seriously ill mother.

I felt sorry for his hardship and decided to share his burden. Besides eating and sleeping for three years, I desperately worked to earn money. As soon as my salary came in, I would immediately transfer it to him. Because I had no money for food, I often went hungry and could only fill my stomach with water. I fainted at work several times but didn't even dare to go to the hospital.

Now I realized that even the so-called 'seriously ill mother' was a lie he made up. He was only sad and haggard because Megan had gone abroad. Then what about the hunger I endured and the sweat I shed? It was truly laughable.

As the party reached its halfway point, Anastasia suddenly announced. "Thank you all for coming to this old woman's birthday party today. I also have some good news to announce. My son, Howard and Megan have been childhood sweethearts and are deeply in love. Now that Megan is back from abroad, we'll host their engagement party in three days. I hope you will all come to celebrate with us."

The guests offered their congratulations one after another. Confused, someone asked, "But didn't I hear that Howard already has a girlfriend?"

Anastasia's face darkened. She let out a cold snort. "How come some gold-digger from who-knows-where thinks she can latch onto our Garcia Family? My son was just toying with her. Did she really think a pheasant could become a queen? She should take a good look at herself."