After the Pretending-to-Be-Poor CEO Is Exposed by Me

Once we got home, Lewis pulled me into a tight hug and said, "It's my fault. I don't have the money to marry you yet, but I'll work hard. Just wait for me."

"Even if it takes ten years, I'm going to make sure I marry you."

He looked at me playfully and teased, "By then, you won't think I'm too old and refuse to marry me, will you?"

I kissed him right then and there, smiling cheekily. "You're stuck with me! No take-backs!"

He hugged me tighter like he never wanted to let go.

That night, watching Lewis sleep peacefully, I knew that if I didn't come up with the money for my mom, we'd never be able to be together.

Suddenly, I remembered something I had seen on social media a few days ago.

I tiptoed out to the balcony, grabbed my phone, hesitated for a moment, then dialed the number.

The voice on the other end was soft and polite, "Hello, how can I help you?"

I took a deep breath and said, "Hi, are you still looking for kidney donors?"

The tone immediately shifted to something more serious. "Yes, miss. You can come in for a match test. Even if you're not a match, we'll compensate you with ten thousand dollars. But if you are, we'll pay one million for the donation."

I bit my lip, then said, "Okay. Send me the address, I'll come in tomorrow for the test."

A few days later, I got a message on my phone.

"Your match test was successful. Please come in for the kidney transplant surgery as soon as possible. Afterward, our medical staff will be there to assist with your recovery."

I replied, "Got it."

When I came home that afternoon, Lewis wasn't there. I assumed he was out job-hunting.

I packed a few things, sent him a quick message: "Got a last-minute work trip. I'll be back in about two weeks."

Lewis replied, "Alright, take care, Lola!" He even sent me a hundred dollars with a note that said, "Earned by your husband, just for you."

My heart swelled with emotion, and it felt like all of this was worth it.

The surgery went smoothly. I was so worried about Lewis being home alone that I rushed back even before the two weeks were up.

But as soon as I reached the front door, I heard a woman's playful laugh from inside.

"Lewis, how much longer are you planning to stick around here with that penniless woman?"

I froze, and a familiar voice followed.

"That depends—how long are you going to keep making me happy?"

The woman teased, "You're such a bad boy, Mr. Carr. You're the heir to the Carr family, yet you pretend to be a poor man just to fool that woman.

"She's been so good to you all these years, too. Too bad, as if someone like you could ever fall for someone like her."

Lewis let out a cold laugh. "She's just a plaything. I've had my fill of other women, so I wanted a change of pace."

At that moment, it felt like I was plunged into ice.

To him, I was just a game.

My hand tightened around the bank card in my pocket.

This place was supposed to be where Lewis and I would build our future. Now, that future was gone.

Five years. In those five years, I gave him everything I had.

And it turned out I'd just been lying to myself all along.