Chapter 2

Marcus looked down at the certificate in his arms.

Stunned for half a second, he flipped through it carelessly and laughed.

"Chloe, how can you be so stupid? You gave me a fake score sheet?"

"It's a bit of a pity you can't be Mrs. Carter..."

As if realizing something, his laugh grew even more mocking.

"You didn't actually think a Harvard degree would make you good enough to marry into the Carter family, did you?"

I looked at him and smiled—a bitter, mocking smile.

"Mr. Carter, I know exactly who I am."

In the billionaire circle, women like me are just toys. Even though I've been with Marcus for ten years, that's still all I am to him.

"But I've been with you for ten years. Now that it's ending, you can't even get me a college degree?"

Marcus looked down at me, his expression arrogant.

"Baby, I'd love to help, but you haven't opened a textbook in ten years. You can't just get into a school like that."

"Besides, Harvard isn't Carter territory. Did you really think you could fool them with a fake certificate?"

My face went serious as I told him earnestly:

"This score sheet is real. While you were busy preparing for your wedding, I was studying my ass off."

Marcus clarified softly, his hand brushing against my cheek.

"Jealous?"

"You're quite the actress. I almost fell for it. Maybe I should put you in Hollywood. You'd make a great star."

I jerked my head to dodge his hand and sneered.

"Marcus, do you even know me?"

The year I moved into his mansion, the thing I gave up was a 1585 SAT score.

Back then, I had the brains, but I didn't have the power to pay off a three-million-dollar debt.

Today, I still have the brains, but my freedom was bought by him.

The scorching sun began to wear down Marcus's patience.

His tone turned cold and sharp:

"Of course I know you."

"You're putting on this whole show just to remind me not to ignore you, aren't you?"

Hearing that, I fell completely silent.

This conversation was going nowhere.

As my master, Marcus gave me the best food, clothes, and shelter, expecting nothing but my eternal gratitude.

But how could he ever understand that what a caged bird wants most is the endless sky?

"Are you taking the janitor job or not?" he asked.

"No."

"Fine. I'll give you one more chance. Ask for another compensation."

"Send me to Harvard."

Marcus's eyes darkened completely. A mocking sneer slipped from his nose.

"I've spoiled you too much."

With that, he got into his car and slammed on the gas, leaving me stranded.

It was a remote suburb. I couldn't even get an Uber signal.

Pale under the baking sun, I pulled out my phone and called the Harvard admissions office.

The voice on the other end said:

"An LSAT score alone isn't enough for your situation. The fastest way is to retake the SATs and get an outstanding score."

"And of course, ma'am, we hope you understand that tuition at Harvard Law is nearly a hundred thousand dollars a year. Please be prepared."

My body swayed.

I had no money. Marcus rarely gave me cash. If I wanted something, he would buy it directly.

I knew he was afraid I'd take the money and run. After all, that happened all the time in his circle.

Lowering my gaze, I spoke in a hoarse voice:

"I'll take the test first. I'll figure out the money later."

I'd been his secret mistress for so long. If it wasn't for money, did I actually expect love?

Since they all claimed I wanted money, then fine. I would take the money and go.