Chapter 3

I went broke. Yep, you heard that right. I was getting a facial at a Korean beauty salon when I got the news. I nearly ripped off my mask in shock.

I was the one who went broke? *Me?*

Turns out, there were major management issues, basically, internal embezzlement. But whatever, even a collapsing empire has its spoils.

After paying off all the workers and employee salaries, I still had enough left to live comfortably for the rest of my life.

But then, the final, devastating blow came from my ex-boyfriend.

Yes, Kyle, that absolute bastard! He’d transferred all my remaining money, using some genius method that a pretty, clueless mess like me would never have dreamed of.

Still, it was fine. I had cars, houses, jewelry, and bags. I could sell off my assets and make a comeback.

That’s what all the down-on-their-luck rich people do in movies, right? I’d be okay!

It wasn’t until I actually checked that I realized Kyle, that thief, had cleaned me out! I now had fifty dollars spread across five different cards, and literally nothing but the clothes on my back.

I slipped off my Patek Philippe watch and handed it to Alfred.

“Alfred,” I choked out, “you’ve worked so hard all these years. This is a small token of my appreciation.”

Then, I told Alfred to leave. And I left too. Walked out of that house.

Overnight, the news of my bankruptcy—Skylar Chen’s downfall—spread like wildfire. Everyone knew.

Everyone seemed eager to distance themselves from me.

I walked the streets like a zombie, gazing at the bustling traffic and towering skyscrapers, a flood of emotions washing over me.

Before, these were just insignificant things I’d barely deigned to glance at from my lofty perch.

Now, standing on the ground, they felt impossibly high, unattainable.

My eyes landed on a massive screen on a skyscraper, displaying the city’s wealthiest man.

Jasper. His figure was imposing, like a stable mountain, perfectly complementing the city skyline behind him.

“Jasper,” I murmured to myself. A brilliant idea sparked in my mind.

Twenty-eight minutes later, I rang Jasper’s doorbell. Don’t ask why twenty-eight minutes.

I had no money for a taxi, so I walked. It took exactly twenty-eight minutes.

The moment the door opened, my heart leaped into my throat. But Jasper didn’t say a word. He just gestured for me to come in with his eyes.

I swallowed hard, nervously following him inside. Then, I launched into my ‘grand plan,’ a river of compliments flowing effortlessly from me, each one more extravagant than the last.

Jasper didn’t seem to be listening. He just walked straight to the kitchen. “I don’t have much food here,” he stated. “You don’t mind instant ramen, do you?”

Instant ramen? That cheap, additive-filled, non-gourmet food totally beneath my dignity?

I shook my head like a bobblehead. But then, my stomach let out a pathetic grumble, betraying me.

Jasper shook his head, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, then deftly prepared the noodles.

Before long, I’d slurped down every last drop of the broth.

Jasper sat opposite me again, legs crossed, his fingers tapping softly on the table. His expression was serious.

“Skylar,” he repeated, his voice firm, “give me a reason to take you in.”

I forced a shaky smile. “My Lord Jasper,” I pleaded, “if you don’t help me, this poor girl’s going to be sleeping in the park tonight.”

With that, I put on my most pitiful puppy-dog eyes, sniffled, and looked up, my big, watery eyes brimming with feigned injustice.

“I know I’ve been difficult before,” I whimpered. “Can’t you just pity me, even a little?”

Jasper was silent for a moment, then, coolly, he uttered two words: “No, I can’t.”

My mind raced. I leaned closer to him.

“Actually,” I confessed, “this whole bankruptcy thing… it was just my first step to getting close to you.”

The words were out before I could stop them. I instantly regretted it.