Chapter 3

That was the first time I'd made him *that* mad. I honestly thought he wouldn't talk to me for days.

But to my surprise, he contacted me that afternoon.

Liam: [5 PM, wait for me by the school gate.]

Me: [Why?]

Liam: [To attend my birthday party.]

What?!

Rich people really know how to humiliate someone. Just because I played a trick on him this morning, he was going to drag me into his circle and let his high-society friends judge me.

Seeing my delayed response, he added.

Liam: [My mom really wants to see you. She's curious about the girl who's always clinging to me.]

Liam: [She doesn't know yet that you're Mrs. Miller's daughter.]

I'd met Liam's mom before.

Before I even saw her, my mom used to tell me she was a really good boss.

To surprise my mom, I secretly went to the Harrison family mansion once.

The moment she saw me, her elegant eyebrows furrowed tightly, as if in utter disgust.

"Where did this dirty brat come from? You're in the wrong place, get out of my sight."

I was chased out by the security guard.

I desperately wanted to burst into tears, but thinking of my hard-working mom, I swallowed them back.

I stayed there from noon until nightfall.

The moment my mom, with her face etched with exhaustion, saw me, it was like she instantly recharged, all her energy flooding back: "Chloe, what are you doing here? Have you been waiting for Mom for a long time?"

I flashed her a sweet smile: "No, Mom! I just got here! Chloe's a big girl now, I can walk Mom home!"

My phone buzzed with new messages, pulling my thoughts back to Liam.

Liam: [Why aren't you saying anything? You don't want to go?!]

Liam: [My mom is super gentle, don't be scared!]

Liam: […Are you mad about this morning? But *you* were the one who treated *me* like that!]

Liam: [Answer me!]

Liam: [Alright, I'm sorry, okay….]

Though it was an order I felt I couldn't refuse, the thought of his mom's gaze gave me goosebumps.

Me: [I can't go. I have plans tonight.]

Liam: [Aren't you curious about what Mrs. Harrison looked like when she worked at my house?]

Liam: [When I was little, Mrs. Harrison used to hold me, and we took so many photos.]

Liam: [If you come, I can give you all the pictures.]

Wanting to see my old vibrant mom again, I agreed instantly.

Half an hour later, I received an instruction from my mysterious contact.

"Liam invited you to his birthday party? You can't go."

"If you don't go, I'll add an extra million dollars to your payment."