Chapter 3

On the day of the lottery draw, our old college group chat suddenly came alive. Someone was organizing a reunion.

Chloe and I had been college sweethearts. We went from campus dating straight to marriage, witnessing each other’s youth.

That was why her cold betrayal had hurt me so deeply.

After thinking about it, I decided to go. I was curious to see how everyone was doing after graduation.

More importantly, knowing Chloe’s vanity, she would definitely show up to brag. I wanted to see the exact moment her world crumbled.

When Chloe arrived at the lounge, she drew gasps from everyone.

She had completely ditched her usual modest look. Now, she wore a flashy, hot-pink dress with a high slit, her hair curled into loud waves. She practically screamed "new money."

Seeing everyone's reaction, Chloe covered her mouth and giggled, though her eyes were filled with arrogance. "Oh, stop it, guys! It’s only been a couple of years!"

"Wow, Chloe, you look so different!" one of the girls asked curiously.

Chloe took a sip of her champagne and said casually, "Well, they say a bad marriage is like acid to a woman's face. Now that I’ve broken free from my chains, I've finally got my glow back!"

The room went quiet. Several eyes darted toward me. The atmosphere turned incredibly awkward.

Back in college, Chloe and I were the couple everyone envied. These classmates had all attended our wedding, calling us soulmates.

Now, Chloe’s words were a direct slap to my face, mocking me for being useless and unable to provide for her.

I let out a cold laugh. "Well, they also say it takes two to tango. I’d rather be a simple man than a gold-digging, unfaithful snake."

"You!" Chloe’s hand tightened around her glass. Her eyes flared with rage. She stood up, ready to throw her drink in my face, but a few classmates quickly stepped in to pull her back.

I sat there, completely unfazed. Go ahead, throw it. Let's see if you can afford to pay for my custom-tailored shirt.

Just as someone tried to change the subject to break the tension, the VIP room door swung open. A collective gasp echoed through the room.

"Serena Vance! I can't believe she actually came!"

I looked toward the door. Serena Vance walked in, wearing a stunning red high-slit gown. Her legs were wrapped in sheer black tights, ending in killer black heels. With her perfectly styled dark waves and flawless pale skin, she looked like a dangerous, breathtaking rose blooming in the dark.

Most importantly, Serena was now the CEO of a major listed company. Her net worth was astronomical—far beyond anyone else in this room.

That was why so many people had shown up tonight. Everyone wanted to get on her good side and bag some business opportunities.

Coincidentally, her outfit was almost a direct contrast to Chloe’s.

But Serena’s elegance and posture easily outclassed Chloe. Standing next to Serena, Chloe looked like a cheap, tacky plastic flower.

Seeing her spotlight stolen, Chloe’s face fell. She tried to strike up another conversation to draw the attention back to herself.

But everyone was too busy trying to greet Serena. Nobody paid Chloe any attention.

To everyone’s absolute shock, Serena ignored the crowd. She picked up a glass of wine, walked straight toward me, and smiled softly. "Ethan. It's been a long time."

A quiet murmur rippled through the room. I smiled and clinked my glass against hers. As she sat down next to me, I looked at her beautiful face, and my mind drifted back to the quiet girl from college.

Back then, Serena was plain and introverted. She used to wear her bangs so long they covered her eyes, always keeping her head down. She was so quiet that some of the guys in our class used to pick on her.

I couldn't stand it, so I helped her out a few times. I never expected her to take it to heart.

She started bringing me breakfast, cleaning my desk, and even doing my homework. Chloe had thrown massive tantrums over it, so I had to politely ask Serena to stop.

After that, we drifted apart. Whenever I tried to talk to her, she would just lower her head and walk away quickly.

But on my wedding day with Chloe, though Serena didn't show up, she sent a whopping $188,000 wedding check. It had shocked every single guest at the venue.

Now, our classmates began whispering, speculating about my relationship with Serena. Chloe’s face twisted in jealousy. Seeing me become the center of attention, she sneered and spoke up, her voice dripping with venom.

"Serena, Ethan is just my trash. He's a broke loser with nothing to his name. Aren't you worried about catching his bad luck by sitting so close to him?"