"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."

"What do you think, Howard?"

Howard was silent for a moment, then smiled faintly. "You're right, Mom. It's just a pheasant, after all. We'll do as you say."

Looking up in shock, I saw Megan throwing herself into his arms with a delighted laugh. Then, Howard took out a massive diamond ring he'd prepared in advance from his pocket. He slipped it onto her ring finger and tenderly kissed her fingertips as everyone cheered.

I'd seen that ring on TV a few days ago. It was worth two hundred million. I glanced down at the plain ring on my finger, now yellowed and tarnished. Howard had given it to me on our first anniversary. It wasn't expensive, just a few hundred bucks, but I was as happy as a fool back then. Even though it wasn't even real silver and the color had faded badly, I couldn't bear to take it off.

I hid in a corner like some shameful voyeur, watching as the two of them held hands and smiled while drinking toast offered by the guests. The drinks were meant for both of them, yet Howard took them all on her behalf and gently handed her a glass of juice instead. "You're allergic to alcohol," he said softly. "Drink this instead."

Megan leaned on his shoulder like a pampered little princess, blushing and happy. "Howard, you're the best."

Howard had a weak stomach. Back when we were together, I was the one who always drank for him at parties. I'd instead drink until I had a stomach hemorrhage than let him have a single drop. I had taken such meticulous care of him for three years. Now, to protect someone else, he didn't even care about his own body.

That man must have been thrilled today. I had never seen him drink so much. Soon, he was drunk and Megan helped him upstairs to a guest room. I knew leaving at this moment was sensible, but I was standing outside their bedroom door before I knew it. The door wasn't closed tightly and the sounds from inside were faintly audible, making my face burn. My hands were shaking as I dialed Howard's number. It rang for over ten seconds before he picked up. His voice was hoarse and breathless. "Freya, what's wrong?"

"Howard," I cried, "let's get married. I don't want a dowry or a house. Just come back now and we'll register our marriage immediately, okay?"

I knew how pathetic I sounded, how low I'd fallen. But sometimes, love makes you let go of your pride. If Howard stopped now, walked out of that room and returned to me right this second, I'll pretend none of this ever happened.

Howard paused for a moment, then gave a helpless little laugh. "Silly girl, why are you crying? I never said I wouldn't marry you, but my mom's still in the hospital. I don't have the heart to think about marriage right now and I don't want to rush you into something less than you deserve. Once she gets better and I've made more money and bought a house and a car, I'll give you the wedding you deserve. Okay? Just wait for me a little longer. My part-time job will run late tonight, so I won't be home. Lock the door and get some rest. I'll bring back something tasty for you."

He suddenly let out a muffled groan and quickly hung up the phone. At the same time, the sounds from inside the room grew more intense and unbearable. I numbly lowered my phone as tears poured down my face. On the way home, the sky opened, pouring rain that soaked me to the bone. The cold rain washed over my face, only to be repeatedly replaced by my own tears.

Suddenly, I felt so tired and my head grew heavier and heavier. Before I lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground, one final thought echoed in my mind: Howard, I'm never going to wait for you again.

When I opened my eyes again, it was already dusk on the third day. I was lying in a hospital bed. The nurse told me that a kind passerby had brought me in. I turned on my phone, but Howard hadn't sent me a single message. No matter how busy he was, he used to always message me goodnight and remind me to eat breakfast.

Now, the nurses were whispering to each other, full of envy, as they looked at their phones. "Did you hear that? The only son of the Garcias is getting engaged. The bride-to-be is the Lin family's daughter. Mr. Garcia liked Miss Larkin since they were kids. Last night, he bought out the entire city's fireworks to propose to her."

"That's not even the craziest part. There was a whole drone light show, too; there must've been over a thousand of them! Word is, Mr. Garcia planned the whole thing himself just for her. I'm so jealous."

I stood there in a daze and my phone started ringing. It was the manager from one of my part-time jobs. "Freya, we've got a client throwing a bachelorette party tonight. They want someone in a costume to perform. The pay's really good. I know you need the money, so I personally recommend you. Don't make me regret it, alright?"

I wanted to refuse, but this manager had always been good to me, always thinking of me first when there was work. I didn't want to make things difficult for him, so I agreed. Besides, I wasn't planning to use Howard's check. I'd given him all my savings and now I had to rely on myself to survive. I used the wages from that secret room part-time job to pay off some expenses. It was the first time I spent money on myself in three years. Anyway, Howard didn't need my meager savings anymore.

I forced a bitter smile. Maybe it was for the best. His little "Prince turned pauper" game was finally over. It was time for him to go back to the woman he truly loved. They were the perfect match, both from wealthy families, good looks, everything in common. He and I were never from the same world. The past three years could just be a bitter yet sweet dream. Now that the dream was ending, we should each return to our rightful places.

I didn't expect the client throwing the bachelorette party to be Megan. In the private room, it wasn't just her. A group of wealthy young men and women was there, staring at me with obvious contempt. Megan tossed a costume at my feet with a smug look. "Your manager said Miss Youngson is great at entertaining guests. Then put this on and show my friends a good time."

It was a clown costume, but the style was strange and the neckline was very low, exposing my entire back. I replied politely, "Miss Larkin, this doesn't comply with our work regulations. I've already prepared a Doraemon costume and can perform magic tricks for you and your friends."

The next second, a sharp slap landed on my face, burning with pain. Megan was nothing like the kind and considerate person I saw that day. She sneered coldly, "What a joke. In your line of work, the customer is the rule. If you don't wear it, I'll assume your manager lied to me and his business can kiss goodbye."

For these rich people, crushing a small business was as easy as flipping their hands. I couldn't drag my manager down with me. Clenching my teeth, I picked up the clown costume and put it on. Megan said lazily, "Wait. Where's your professionalism? Take off your own clothes first, right in front of us. I don't want you sneaking off."

The men on the couch suddenly looked at me with disgusting, leering eyes. If I still couldn't see that Megan had set this up to humiliate me, I'd be an idiot. "I'm sorry, but I can't do what you ask. I don't want the payment either. Please find someone else, Miss Larkin."

I turned to leave, but two men grabbed me firmly. One of them kicked my knee hard and I fell to the ground in pain. Megan walked up to me and slapped me across the face more than ten times, then sneered, "That's more like it. You poor trash only deserve to kneel before me."