From Blind Love to Self Love

Gary, who had been slightly hesitant, seemed convinced by that reasoning.

His expression turned smug and righteous as he lowered his voice and said to me, "Mariska is my wife now. I'm giving you a chance to get along with her. If you upset her, don't blame me for not even letting you be the mistress. Hurry up and pay."

Looking at the smug confidence on his face, I almost laughed out of sheer anger.

All that talk about me living off Gary, was just cake leftover from Mariska, a meal she couldn't finish and a house my father bought for me, from which I was kicked out after catching them sneaking around, I was labeled as filthy and toxic woman.

In five years, I once adored those eyes and brows. But the moment he left me at the marriage office, that burning obsession instantly turned cold.

I looked at him now, all that remained was disgust.

I realized just how blind I'd been, how foolish to have wasted five years on such trash.

Seeing me silent, Gary impatiently snatched the wristwatch from my hand. Before I could stop him, he had already unwrapped it and put it on.

He said, "I'm even wearing your crappy gift now. Satisfied? Now hurry up. Keep acting and I really won't bother with you. Even if you kneel and bring me five billion later, don't dream of getting a word out of me."

Gary's buddies took the opportunity to scold me, "Rose, Gary's already giving you face. Don't push it. A little drama maybe cute, but too much just makes people sick."

"Exactly. It's just 2.5 billion pound sterling, it's just pocket change for you. Being so stingy is disgusting. You should learn from Mariska, she is generous and thoughtful. She bought her gift for Gary with money earned from her part-time jobs," they said.

I glanced at the cheap little doll keychain hanging from Gary's phone, completely out of place.

I couldn't help but laugh, "Very thoughtful indeed. What, that keychain is not even worth 9.9 pound?"

Mariska looked like she'd been mortally insulted. Her eyes instantly turned red as she bit her lip, tried to look like a pitiful, strong little flower, "I don't have your kind of money, but everything I buy, I earn with my own hands. I'm cleaner than you. How dare you humiliate me?"

Gary pulled her into his arms protectively and barked at me, "Apologize to Mariska!"

I smiled and shoved the entire receipt list into her arms, "Mm. You're clean, I'm dirty. So let your clean money pay for these gifts for your Gary."

Mariska's face turned ghostly pale. She slumped in Gary's arms as if about to faint.

Gary, burned with fury, slapped me across the face, "Rose, I've had enough! You dare bully Mariska like this? On your birthday banquet, even if you kneel and beg me, I won't agree to the marriage alliance!"

He shot me a glare and stormed out, carrying Mariska along.

In the past, those words would've shattered me. I would've cried, begged, done anything not to be abandoned. But now, I felt nothing.

That slap? Considered it repayment for him save me from the kidnappers five years ago.

A few days later, the jewelry store called. The wedding ring the Gilmore Family custom-ordered for me was ready.

When I rushed over, I saw Gary with his arm around Mariska's waist, they tried on rings. The two of them were pressed close, clearly intimate.

When he saw me come in, Gary snorted and deliberately bit Mariska's ear, make her squeal and swat him playfully.

As if that weren't enough, he grabbed her waist and kissed her deeply, right there, like no one else existed.