Crash and Burn: A Love Story

When I first bought the Maybach, Harrison told me it wasn't right for a woman to drive such an expensive car. It would be such a heartache if I damaged it. He proceeded to suggest that he be the one to drive it, saying that I could just be a passenger princess.

He claimed that I'd be the subject of everyone's envy if they saw how handsome and rich he was as my boyfriend.

I thought he had a point. So, before I even drove it myself, I handed the keys over to him.

Yet, he had never once driven me anywhere. Whenever I asked him to come and pick me up, he'd find a reason to turn me down.

The company I worked for was quite a distance from my house, and relying on the subway wasn't the most convenient option. As a result, I bought a secondhand Volkswagen Beetle a few days ago to get around more easily.

Worried that Harrison would feel bad, I didn't tell him about it just yet.

Alas, even though I always made my decisions in his best interests, all I got in return was this. He'd betrayed me and trampled on my dignity.

Just as I was about to question him, he dragged me off to the side. All the warmth in his eyes disappeared, leaving nothing but frostiness behind.

"Vivian, this is the woman my mom wants me to date. My mom would get a heart attack if I didn't agree to it. Don't worry. I'm just playing along for her sake. However, if you make things embarrassing for me, I'll break up with you at once."

His self-righteous display made him feel like a stranger to me.

"But you're my boyfriend! You should be clarifying things with your mom instead of choosing to hurt me. Furthermore, I only let you drive this car because I felt bad about you having to take the subway to get around. I didn't even get a chance to ride in it yet. How can you let some other woman drive it? She even crashed the car!"

Harrison looked at me as though he was eyeing a fool.

"Why would my mom ever accept you? You know how traditional she is. She won't let me marry a career woman like you. Plus, didn't you give me the car? How is it any of your business who I allow to drive it then?"

In the first place, I'd bought the car for myself!

Initially, I planned to get a more affordable model, but Harrison turned his nose up at it. He thought it was too cheap and humiliating to be seen in.

He said he preferred a Maybach. Then, when we got married, he could drive over in a luxury car, and everyone would be envious of how lucky I was. It would reflect well on him too.

For the sake of fulfilling that wonderful dream, I bit the bullet and used up all my savings to buy the Maybach. But now, I wasn't even allowed to get into the car.

I couldn't figure out if he was merely putting on a show or truly had no feelings for me at all.

Feeling incredibly upset, I started choking up.

Amid all of that, I suddenly heard a familiar voice ringing out behind me.

"What are you doing, Vivi?"

I turned around and saw Mom heading toward me while dragging her suitcase along.

Upon seeing my mother, Harrison wiped the hostility from his expression and replaced it with a pleasant smile.

"Over here! We came by to pick you up."

Feeling touched, I teared up. He did love me after all. I trailed behind him and walked toward my mother.

However, when he got up to my mother, he paused and pushed her away before cheerfully taking a suitcase from the hands of another middle-aged woman. He even affectionately hooked his arm around hers.

"You're finally here, Mrs. Dunham! Anna and I have been waiting ages for you."

I watched in a daze as he brushed past me and helpfully opened the car door for his new girlfriend and her mother.

I felt like I'd fallen into a frozen lake at that moment.

I'd made countless requests for Harrison to head home to meet my parents with me, but he always found a reason to decline firmly.

He said he had social anxiety and found it difficult to treat older people in a friendly manner, the only exception being his own mother.

But now, not only was he being friendly, but he was going out of his way to leave a good impression.

I watched Harrison drive off, giving someone else's mother a ride with the car I bought.

The pain I felt almost suffocated me. Yet, Mom chose to approach me right at this moment. Her words felt like a personal attack as she said with envy, "Vivian, when are you going to find me a son-in-law who's as thoughtful as him? I'm dying of jealousy here."

I sorely wanted to tell her that the man she had just seen was my boyfriend, but he was simply doting on some other woman.

But when I saw her eyeing me in a way that expressed her exasperation, I couldn't bring myself to get those words out.