Chapter 1The Billionaire's Budget Girlfriend

My billionaire boyfriend came from old money, but in our seven years together, he never gave me a single gift.

After proposing, he asked for the engagement ring back to return it for a refund.

When we got our marriage license, he complained that the $35 fee was "too expensive" and "unnecessary."

Yet, the moment we broke up, he turned around and married his childhood sweetheart, booking the most luxurious hotel in the city for their engagement party.

My grandma, unable to handle the shock of seeing the news, had a heart attack.

I knelt before him, begging for the wages I had deposited with him over the years to pay for her surgery.

He held his new fiancée, pretended not to know me, and told his bodyguards to throw me out, calling me a "lazy beggar."

Grandma died on New Year's Eve, the sound of fireworks drowning out her last breath.

During the holidays, while I handled her funeral alone, I accepted a job offer from a major tech company overseas.

When I went back to pack my passport, he had just returned from meeting his fiancée's parents, in high spirits.

Seeing me, he assumed I was throwing a tantrum and, for the first time, made a generous offer:

"Fine, your grandma will be okay. Worst case, I'll pay for a lavish wedding to satisfy her vanity."

He didn't know that from the moment my grandma took her last breath, I never wanted to marry him again.

* * *

As soon as I picked up my passport, a hand with distinct knuckles snatched it away.

"What are you looking for so seriously? Didn't even notice I was back?"

My boyfriend, Julian Sterling, had just come in from the cold, the tip of his nose red.

Realizing it was my passport, the slight smile on his lips flattened, and he frowned.

"Why do you need your passport? Are you threatening to leave the country again? I told you, Sarah's family is pressuring her. Getting the license with her is just to deal with them. We'll divorce quietly in a while."

I didn't even look up. I snatched the passport back with a cold face.

He rubbed his cold fingertips together.

In the past, I would have asked if he was cold, prepared heat packs, and poured him hot water.

But today, I was unusually cold.

He reached out and cupped my face, forcing me to look at him, the chill radiating from his hands.

"Lily, aren't you being a bit too jealous? Think about how many high society people were watching. If this gets to my dad, neither of us will have it easy!"

I laughed self-deprecatingly.

To him, I was just a shameful pastime.

I pried his hands away, but he clung on.

His cold fingers lifted my chin, examining the small scratch on my cheek with pity.

"Those bodyguards must have a death wish, turning my Lily into a little scratched cat. I'll dock their pay later!"

Here we go again. In the past, no matter how angry I was, I would always forgive him after he pestered me enough.

Not this time.

Seven days ago at the engagement party, under Julian's orders, the bodyguards threw me out of the hotel, pushing me to the ground.

"A peasant wanting to be a princess? Mr. Sterling and Miss Sarah are a match made in heaven. I've seen plenty of gold diggers like you!"

Passersby pointed and laughed, mocking me for being able-bodied but begging a man for money on my knees.

My dignity was long gone.

Snapping back to reality, Julian saw I was still unhappy and finally used his trump card.

He brought in a box of health supplements from the door.

"For your grandma. Don't lie about her needing surgery again to get my attention. It's boring."

My grandma, who raised me, said she wanted to see me and Julian get married so she could give us her blessing.

Instead, she saw Julian marrying another woman on TV and collapsed on the spot.

The doctor told me that with just $10,000 for surgery, she had a chance.

I begged everyone I knew on New Year's Eve. They either hung up or cursed me for being bad luck.

Amidst the fireworks, grandma closed her eyes unwillingly, leaving me all alone...

Thinking of her pale face, my heart felt like it was being carved by knives. Tears welled up instantly.

I didn't take the box. I just said coldly:

"Julian, let's..."

Break up.

Before I could finish, Julian interrupted:

"Alright, alright. You and your grandma are celebrating the holidays, probably short on cash, right?"

He tapped his phone and transferred me $200.

"Consider this for grandma's supplements. No need for an IOU."

It was laughable. Afraid I was a gold digger, he made me hand over my salary and approved my "allowance."

Every time he transferred money, he made me write an IOU.

Seven years together, and I owed Julian a fortune on paper.

I used to think that since his family ran a company, he was just sensitive about money. I indulged him.

But his frugality was reserved only for me.

He could spend millions on a diamond necklace for Sarah, or buy her a villa without blinking, making headlines every time.

Where the money goes, the love goes.

I immediately transferred the $200 back.

"No need. I don't want it."

Julian finally looked at me seriously. As if realizing something, he sighed helplessly:

"Too little? Fine, I promise to hold a wedding with you. Let your grandma satisfy her vanity. Your family really is all the same..."

Vanity.

The word stung, but I had heard it for seven years.

I just wanted a normal relationship with gifts and dates, but he accused me of being vain, of coveting his family's money.

"No need for a wedding. We aren't husband and wife."

Julian's handsome face fell, revealing a familiar annoyance.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Julian glared at me and turned to open it.

The next second, his voice pitched up in delight:

"What are you doing here?"

I turned to see Sarah standing at the door, wearing a down jacket matching Julian's.

She playfully punched Julian's chest and laughed brightly:

"My Prince, my besties are here and want to see what my husband looks like. accompany me for one more day, please?"

Looking past Julian, she blinked her innocent big eyes at me provocatively:

"Lily, you won't be mad, right? You weren't mad a few days ago. Julian and I are just bros, you know."

As she spoke, she complained about the cold and interlaced her fingers with Julian's, revealing their matching wedding rings.

Julian looked at her dotingly, naturally stuffing her hand into his pocket to warm it.

"Why would she be mad? Don't worry, I'll definitely give you face!"

With that, Julian grabbed his car keys and turned to leave.

After two steps, as if remembering me, he let go of Sarah's hand, came back, cupped my face, and kissed the corner of my mouth.

"Don't worry, this is the last time. From now on, I'll spend every day with you."

But Julian, we don't have a "from now on."

I wiped my mouth hard, watching them playfully walk away.

Then I turned around and picked up the resignation letter prepared on the table.