Chapter 2The Billionaire's Five-Year Poor-Boy Cosplay

When I got home, a message popped up instructing me to deliver a document to the Apex Club.

I turned around, opened the company's expense app, and hailed a ride, used to this kind of routine.

The nights of adults rarely belong solely to themselves.

Besides the time dedicated to love, the vast majority of it is occupied by unpleasant work.

Stepping out of the car into the biting wind, I looked around.

I had heard rumors about the Apex Club; the people who came and went here were all extraordinarily powerful.

My boss was probably riding the coattails of some higher-up to even set foot in this private, courtyard-style club hidden deep within the city.

Pushing open the heavy oak doors, men in sharp suits stood on either side. After I stated my business, they respectfully guided me into the inner courtyard.

As expected, after delivering the document, I put on a fake smile and respectfully toasted everyone at the table.

Most of the time, I didn't need to personally run errands to deliver documents.

But for business dinners like this, they always needed an attractive woman as decoration.

"Mr. Wu, this is Maya from our tech department. I had her come over to explain things to you. She's a total pro!"

When a slightly chubby hand brushed against the back of mine, I lowered my wine glass and subtly dodged it.

Often, I couldn't firmly refuse, even if it meant enduring certain lingering stares.

After a few drinks, I made an excuse to step outside for some fresh air.

Turning a corner in the corridor, a door was left slightly ajar. The brass door handle gleamed with a cold, hard light, and the intricate carvings on the doorframe flickered in the night light.

I glanced casually, my gaze about to sweep past, when a voice suddenly drifted from inside the room.

"I'm dying laughing. Are you telling me Maya thinks Liam is broke, and that's why she won't marry him?

"Gotta say, that girl has a good head on her shoulders.

"I asked around at the bank. I heard her total savings amount to exactly $195,460. She withdrew every last penny to put a down payment on a place, saying it was for their marital home.

"Two hundred grand? Can you even buy a decent bathroom with that?"

My footsteps halted. I took a few steps closer in disbelief and listened closely.

"But seriously, what kind of rags are you wearing? We're all hanging out, and you're still not done with this 'broke guy' cosplay?"

I remembered the clothes Liam was wearing this morning. His jacket was a new down coat that cost over two hundred dollars. His pants were some cheap Amazon find for thirty or fifty bucks. And on his feet were the Balenciaga 3XL sneakers I had asked several personal shoppers to finally track down.

I looked down at myself. My entire outfit, from head to toe, cost less than two hundred dollars.

Thinking I might have misheard, I squeezed my palms, pulling out my phone to make a call.

Right then, I saw a person inside the room lean forward, reaching out to casually grab a bottle of wine from the table.

This movement completely revealed his profile, as well as the clothes he was wearing.

I unconsciously gripped the hem of my shirt tighter, my knuckles turning white from the force.

My eyes were locked onto the scene unfolding before me. In that instant, I wanted to speak, but it was as if the freezing wind had paralyzed my throat. I couldn't make a sound.

Liam shot a glance at the man who had just spoken. "I have my own timeline. Mind your own business."

"Ha, you're hilarious. What kind of timeline takes five years? Didn't you say it was just a meaningless fling at first? Don't tell me you actually fell for Cinderella?"

The hand Liam was using to light a cigarette paused slightly. After a long moment, he let out a scoff. "What are you talking about?"

"Even if you do have feelings for her, can you really marry her? My advice? Cut it off clean and get out now. Don't waste the girl's time. Let her go find a good guy to settle down with."

"Jason—" Liam exhaled a puff of smoke, looking at him lazily. "You talk too much."

"Heh," Jason gave him a half-smile. "I might talk too much, but if you ever dare make me download some stupid discount app at 2 AM to 'help you get a deal' for your Cinderella again, I'll kill you myself."

At that moment, a young man wearing glasses raised his hand politely. "I think those discount apps are great. I maxed out my 'Billionaire' badge on it~"

No one paid him any attention. Jason continued his interrogation: "When do you plan on coming clean to her?"

Liam paused. "Probably on the day of my engagement."

"Is it definitely the Sterling family?"

"Mhm."

"How are you going to tell her? This whole thing is pretty messed up."

"Just don't tell her. Let 'Liam' simply vanish."

"That works too. Just don't let there be any accidents. A girl like Maya will probably never cross paths with anyone in our circle for the rest of her life anyway.

"When the time comes, give her a sum of money. She's been with you for five years, at least treat her right."

These words were like a wrecking ball from another world, violently smashing into my brain.

I looked at Liam, desperately hoping he would speak up at that moment, say something, anything different.

She's not like that. Maya is not like that. She is your legitimate, official girlfriend of five years.

But he didn't. He didn't argue; he didn't say another word.

I stood rooted near the doorway, feeling as if the freezing wind had penetrated my very bones, swelling my skin until it ached.

I even wanted to see through the swirling cigarette smoke, to clearly see his unreadable expression.

The bare branches of the crabapple tree were heavy with winter snow, bent over, unable to straighten up no matter how hard they tried.