Chapter 1The Professional Gold Digger

I was the professional "lapdog" to Julian Sterling, the heir to the Sterling empire.

When he pretended to be poor to test my affection, I played along.

When he went on dates while pretending to be broke, I was his lookout.

Then, high school ended.

His "poor" first love went abroad to pursue her dreams.

I became Julian’s official placeholder girlfriend.

He told me plainly: when his true love comes back, I step aside.

So I waited. And waited.

I went from his girlfriend to his fiancée, and almost from his fiancée to his wife.

Finally.

Right before our wedding.

Julian flew across the world and brought his first love back.

I slipped off my engagement ring and let out a long sigh of relief.

As I left, I even thoughtfully closed the door behind them.

* * *

When I heard that Julian had chartered a private jet overnight to bring her back, I wasn't surprised.

After all, it was Chloe Vance.

When my best friend heard the news, she was furious:

"You guys were about to get married! Has he lost his mind?!"

No, he hadn't.

Chloe Vance was currently one of the hottest rising fashion designers in the industry.

And it was an open secret that she was Julian Sterling's first love.

Reporters had even asked her about it directly.

Chloe had replied: "Regardless of who someone's first love is, I got to where I am today through my own hard work."

"Please focus less on tabloid gossip and more on my designs."

But just last week.

Chloe was suddenly hit with a massive plagiarism scandal.

A stunning, star-studded dress that she claimed as her own.

Turned out to be stolen from an unknown indie designer.

The scandal blew up.

Chloe posted a dramatic update on her social media: [Are you all trying to drive me to my death?]

That morning, Julian had been glued to his phone through breakfast.

He was supposed to attend a crucial contract signing with a new supplier that day.

He had casually agreed to give the contract to my dad’s company.

But because Julian didn't show up, the VP seized the opportunity and gave the contract to his own relative instead.

My dad was so furious he called me ten times to scream at me.

I tried calling Julian, but he didn't answer.

By the third attempt, his phone was turned off.

When I finally saw Julian again.

It was 11:00 PM.

He told me to come to one of his vacant luxury properties.

I had never been to this specific house before.

As soon as I walked through the front doors, I saw the courtyard was filled with pink roses.

The exact flowers Julian used to give Chloe.

The sports car stuffed with pink roses—that was the extravagant scene from the day Julian had originally confessed his love to her.

The interior decor wasn't Julian’s usual pretentious, ultra-modern, minimalist style either.

Thinking about it, it was exactly Chloe's taste.

Approaching the master bedroom, I heard a woman crying softly.

The scene inside was pretty much exactly what I had imagined.

A pale-faced woman was sitting on the edge of the bed, crying beautifully, a bandage wrapped around her wrist.

A tall man stood beside the bed, looking utterly lost and helpless.

His usually immaculate, custom-tailored suit was wrinkled. The only thing keeping him looking somewhat put-together was a face that rivaled a runway model's.

I didn't understand why Julian had called me here.

Courier services exist for a reason.

He turned and looked at me, his eyes seemingly lighting up.

I knew that look all too well.

It was the exact same look he gave me back in high school when he and Chloe were secretly dating in the woods behind the school and almost got caught by the principal.

"Chloe gets embarrassed easily. You take the blame for her."

Whenever he didn't know what gift to buy Chloe, or when he somehow made her angry and didn't know how to fix it, he would give me that exact look, expecting me to come up with a solution.

I usually couldn't come up with any good ideas.

In the end, Chloe would usually just kick both of us out.

She would yell at Julian, saying he only had his stupid money, and she'd call me his pathetic little lapdog.

I would just roll my eyes and say, "Sidekick, sidekick. Lapdog sounds so ugly."

Julian would laugh at that.

But in the end, Chloe always accepted Julian's money anyway.

Chloe dreamed of being a fashion designer.

Back in high school.

For a birthday gift Julian gave her, she had to work three months of part-time jobs just to buy him something of similar value in return.

Unlike me, who took his gifts faster than a cheetah and constantly hoped some extra cash would slip through his fingers.

Later, Chloe bombed her SATs.

She ran up to the school roof, threatening to jump.

Julian cried and begged her to come down, promising he would make her dreams come true.

He sent her abroad.

The Sterling family was incredibly wealthy. While not the absolute top 1%, they were still far beyond ordinary rich.

Behind his family's back, Julian tapped into the trust fund he gained access to when he turned eighteen.

He spent millions to get Chloe into a prestigious design school in Paris.

Honestly, I had always suspected Chloe only got close to Julian for his money.

But then again.

So did I.

Lapdogs do it for free.

Sidekicks charge an appearance fee.