Chapter 3The Perfect Stand-In: Why I Chose My Sugar Baby Over My First Love

I swiped my card for twenty grand on the spot.

The club brought out stacks of cash, and I had them distribute it to everyone present.

Whenever someone hit a hole-in-one here, it was tradition to tip out cash to the staff as a celebration.

When they reached the caddies who had been whispering, I said coldly:

"Skip those guys."

"Their mouths are too filthy. I don't want them dirtying my money."

Their faces instantly flushed with deep shame.

The CEO who invited me laughed and said:

"I didn't expect your... boyfriend to be so skilled."

I waved my hand dismissively. "If it wasn't for his family's bad luck back then... sigh, never mind. Let's just say it wasn't easy for me to win him over."

I was born into a Manhattan old-money dynasty. With a large extended family, I was groomed from childhood to be the primary heir, which gave me the capital to look down on almost everyone.

It was safe to say that, aside from the massive failure I experienced with Ethan Vance, no one had ever rejected me.

Just as the cash was being handed out near the edge of the green, a low gasp rippled through the crowd.

A tall, remarkably handsome man stood there. I didn't know when he had arrived.

It seemed like he had been watching for a while.

His assistant tried to hand him a couple of thousand dollars from my tip pool with an apologetic smile, but he didn't even look at it.

He stepped up to the tee and took a swing.

Another hole-in-one.

The crowd gasped again.

He swiped his card for forty grand.

When he turned his head, he saw me happily holding Liam's hand.

"How are you so amazing? As expected of my boyfriend, you make me look so good!"

Ethan's face darkened instantly.

I was completely oblivious, continuing to praise Liam.

Suddenly, a golf ball shot into my field of vision. It was moving at a terrifying speed, hurtling straight for Liam's head.

It missed by a fraction of an inch, grazing Liam's temple before slamming heavily into the ground.

A golf ball of that density, with that much momentum, could have easily given someone a severe concussion or worse!

But Ethan just walked over and said nonchalantly:

"My bad. My swing went wide."

"Wide, my ass!" I couldn't hold back my curses anymore. "Vance, are you out of your f***ing mind?!"

He didn't expect me to react so explosively. He held up his hands in a mocking surrender.

"He's just a little pet you keep around. I heard he's even my substitute. The real thing is standing right in front of you, and you're still settling for the knockoff?"

Beside me, Liam's expression didn't change, but his eyes visibly dimmed.

Ethan's words stomped directly on my biggest landmine.

I raised my hand, pointing a trembling finger right at his nose, gritting my teeth.

"Let me make this clear. Liam is my boyfriend. He's not a substitute. You better learn your f***ing place next time, or I swear to God, every time I see you in New York, I will make your life a living hell."

"You know I have the power to do it!"

Strictly speaking, the Vance family controlled commerce, while my family controlled politics and infrastructure. His family still had to bow their heads to mine.

Ethan's expression shifted. Slowly, his jaw clenched tight.

He looked at me with pure disbelief:

"You're doing this... for him?"

But I was already dragging Liam away.