Chapter 1

Four years after breaking up with my ex-girlfriend Vanessa Clarke, we ran into each other at a class reunion.

Someone suggested we play Truth or Dare.

Vanessa drew Truth. Someone asked her:

"In your relationships, what's the smartest thing you ever did?"

She glanced at me, a smirk curling at the corner of her mouth:

"Making my ex pay off my $700,000 in loans, then dumping him after I found a richer boyfriend."

Everyone expected me to storm out in anger, but I just smiled and gestured for the game to continue.

When my turn came, the question became:

"In your last relationship, was there anything you kept from your partner?"

"Yes."

I answered.

"What was it?" my classmate pressed.

I smiled and said:

"I'm actually the son of the richest man in the country."

After a moment of stunned silence, my classmates burst into laughter.

"Liam Foster, have you been watching too many CEO short dramas while delivering food? Got yourself some delusions?"

"Take my advice—stop trying to act rich. You haven't even taken off your delivery uniform!"

I glanced down at my Armani casual wear and the custom AGV helmet sitting beside me.

I did kind of look like a delivery guy.

Before I could respond, Vanessa's mocking voice cut through first.

"Liam Foster, we broke up four years ago. Why are you still so pretentious?"

"This reunion is about reconnecting as friends. There's no need to show off wealth. Just be honest."

I leaned back calmly in my chair, looking at her with cool indifference:

"I'm telling the truth. I really am the richest man's son."

"Without my connections, do you think you could've booked the VIP suite at this hotel?"

Actually, I hadn't planned to come to this reunion at all.

I didn't want to see Vanessa, and I wasn't in the same social circle as these classmates anymore. No point forcing it.

But a close friend called me twenty-eight times begging me to come, saying Vanessa wouldn't be there.

He also said everyone agreed not to talk about their situations, just to reconnect.

But not only did Vanessa show up, she was flaunting herself shamelessly.

A gold digger pretending to be high society.

How ridiculous.

Yet this fake socialite wouldn't let me off, continuing to press:

"Liam Foster, there's a limit to bragging. My husband booked this suite with his VIP status. What does it have to do with you?"

"With that delivery outfit, if you weren't riding on our coattails, would you even qualify to eat at such a high-end place?"

Vanessa's words sparked laughter around the table, and everyone looked at me with scorn.

But I just waved dismissively and sneered:

"So you're saying I should be grateful to you?"

Vanessa pursed her lips and pointed at the food and wine on the table:

"Isn't that obvious?"

"Without me, could you afford this expensive food? Could you drink this premium wine?"

I slowly raised my head, a slight curve forming at my lips:

"Vanessa Clarke, you really haven't seen much of the world."

"This food? At my house, even the housekeeper wouldn't eat it. I certainly wouldn't."

My words immediately triggered another round of mockery.

"Liam Foster, please stop showing off. You're just a nobody—without Vanessa, you couldn't even get through the front door!"

"Exactly! If Vanessa hadn't specifically requested you be invited, I wouldn't have bothered calling you!"

"Just apologize to Vanessa and you can at least drink some of this good wine."

The mocking voices rose and fell, but I didn't take them to heart at all.

Because everything I said was true.

If I weren't trying to save these old classmates some face, I would've already told them that Pine Mountain Banquet was my property.

Seeing my silence, Vanessa walked up to me with a wine glass:

"Want to know why I dumped you? Men without power should stop trying to show off."

"Drink this wine, and I'll pretend what just happened never occurred!"

Looking at Vanessa before me, I slowly stood and met her eyes:

"Vanessa Clarke, I gave you some courtesy, but you actually think I'm still that lovesick poor kid from four years ago?"

Then I shouted toward the door:

"Waiter, bring the wine list."

"I'm paying for everyone's meal tonight!"