Xander's face darkened. "Dalia, what nonsense are you talking about? It's his birthday party right now!"

I ignored his outburst, still looking at Rick in a playful manner. "Will you?"

Rick gave me a long, deep look, set down his wine glass, and naturally rested a hand on my waist. "It would be my pleasure."

We pressed close to each other, walking out arm in arm. Unexpectedly, Xander chased after us.

"Dalia!" His voice held a panic I'd never heard before, mixed with his usual dominance.

I looked at him coldly, leaning against Rick. "Xander, what do you mean by this?"

Xander's chest heaved, his anger no longer containable. "Dalia, must you make yourself out to be like that?"

I raised an eyebrow, shifting to a more comfortable position against Rick. "Why? Didn't you just say that's what I am?"

I stared at the man I'd been intimate with in so many places over the years. His anger did

Rick carried me back home.

As soon as we walked in, he lifted my hands and pressed me against the door panel, while the other hand fumbled around my back. 

"Hmm..." His unskilled, clumsy movements and fierce advances made me go weak all over.

Two minutes later... Rick buried his face in the quilt, refusing to look at me no matter what.

"Didn't you say you were good at this?" I struggled hard to hold back my laughter, unable to resist teasing him. What's more, neither of us had even taken off all our clothes.

"Stop it..." His voice came muffled from the quilt. He sat up, wanting to prove himself. "It was an accident this time. I'll definitely do better next time!"

Just then, Xander called. Before I could hang up, Rick grabbed the phone and answered it.

"Dalia, can we talk? Tomorrow, no, right now. I'll come to you, I have something to say!"

I still wanted to hang up, not wanting a

Xander’s voice was tight with suppressed anger, yet his fiery gaze clearly betrayed the desire he was fighting to contain.

I know that look all too well. He scolds me for dressing seductively, yet can’t resist the allure I bring him. How ridiculous.

"Hmph, do I need anyone’s permission to wear what I want?"

"Don’t forget—you’re the one who didn’t want me anymore."

I replied with a cold laugh. Xander’s fists clenched and unclenched.

"Of course I haven’t forgotten. You were my companion for ten years—how could I?"

He looked at me with disdain, pulled out a checkbook from his pocket, and scribbled his signature with a flourish.

"I won’t take what’s yours for free. Ten years—how much do you want?"

It felt like a boulder had slammed into my chest; I could barely stand steady. Anger and resentment surged up, but I forced my voice to stay steady.

"Xander, is that really how you see me?"

He shrugged. "Am I wrong? Look at you now, and how you acted with me—you’re worse than...a sex worker."

Xander’s mocking expression and cruel words cut me to the core. But then I thought: ten years of youth, ten years of catering to him—if he was going to pay, I deserved it. If I couldn’t have the man, I’d take the money.

"Fine. Ten years—five million dollars. Hand it over."

I held out my hand, my bright red nails brushing against his as he held the checkbook. I tore off the signed check.

"Thanks."

Even as my heart ached so badly I could barely breathe, I stood tall and stiff-backed, refusing to let him see my vulnerability.

"You... "

Xander didn’t expect me to actually take his money. And such a large sum at that.

"What’s wrong? Mr. Fletcher isn’t so stingy that he’d hesitate over this little amount, is he?" As I spoke, a sudden sadness washed over me.

In ten years, apart from buying me those clothes I never liked, picked solely according to his own taste, Xander had never given me a single gift. I’d never asked him for a penny, either. How laughable that was.

I’d put myself in a position lower than dust, only to be met with mockery and humiliation. If he insisted on painting me as a wanton, money-hungry woman, then I’d play the part—at least I’d get money out of it.

Everyone held their breath, watching us. Rick said nothing the whole time, but his eyes stayed fixed on me. Grace looked back and forth between us, then whispered, "Xander, let’s not do this. It’s your and Rick’s birthday party..." 

Xander’s gaze softened the moment he looked at her. "You don’t understand. Women like her don’t deserve kindness."

"Those years with her were just for fun. You have to believe me—she’s no match for you."

His words cut me again. I fought back the tears threatening to spill, tucked the check into my bag.

"Then thank you, Mr. Fletcher."

I walked slowly over to Rick, leaning gently against him, and let a finger trace the lobe of his ear. Feeling his body tense noticeably, I smiled.

 "Will you take me home?"



Xander's face darkened. "Dalia, what nonsense are you talking about? It's his birthday party right now!"

I ignored his outburst, still looking at Rick in a playful manner. "Will you?"

Rick gave me a long, deep look, set down his wine glass, and naturally rested a hand on my waist. "It would be my pleasure."

We pressed close to each other, walking out arm in arm. Unexpectedly, Xander chased after us.

"Dalia!" His voice held a panic I'd never heard before, mixed with his usual dominance.

I looked at him coldly, leaning against Rick. "Xander, what do you mean by this?"

Xander's chest heaved, his anger no longer containable. "Dalia, must you make yourself out to be like that?"

I raised an eyebrow, shifting to a more comfortable position against Rick. "Why? Didn't you just say that's what I am?"

I stared at the man I'd been intimate with in so many places over the years. His anger didn't seem feigned. But if that was the case, why didn't he want me? Was he regretting it, getting so 

Chapter 5