Chapter 1

My distant cousin was getting married next month, and she was flaunting her fiancé all over the place at our big family dinner.

After a few drinks, Aunt Brenda suddenly turned to me in front of all the relatives.

"Chloe, I heard you have a massive penthouse sitting empty downtown. Sarah desperately needs a decent place for her wedding. Why don't you let her borrow it for a few years?"

"We won't even take it for free. We’ll pay you fifty bucks a month for rent. That’s way better than letting it sit there gathering dust."

Hearing her words, I almost choked on my drink.

My downtown penthouse was ultra-luxury, custom-designed, and cost millions just to renovate.

Aunt Brenda really thought she could bully me into renting it out as a wedding home for a pathetic fifty bucks a month? And for years?

I shut her down on the spot with a stone-cold refusal.

I never imagined that just a few days later, I’d get an urgent call from building management.

Someone had literally broken in and smashed through the locks, utterly destroying my multi-million-dollar interior.

Aunt Brenda even posted in the family SnapChat group, brazenly declaring that since the place was empty anyway, moving in was just their way of "not letting resources go to waste."

Fine. If you’re so eager to ruin your own lives, don't blame me when I show no mercy!

Today was Grandma’s eightieth birthday dinner, and the whole extended family had gathered at a fancy restaurant.

The private dining room was loud and buzzing with chatter.

My distant cousin, Sarah, was clinging to an arrogant, slicked-back guy in an overly shiny suit, strutting around to toast every relative at the table.

His name was Kevin, and they’d only been dating for six months.

Aunt Brenda was grinning from ear to ear, practically shouting for the entire room to hear.

"Oh, our Sarah is so blessed! Kevin is an executive at a huge corporate firm, making hundreds of thousands a year!"

"Their wedding is next month, and you all better show up to celebrate with us!"

The relatives chimed in instantly, pouring on the flattery.

"Sarah really hit the jackpot with him!"

"Kevin, you’ll have to look out for our kids when they need jobs!"

Kevin waved his hand dismissively, his face practically dripping with smug arrogance.

"Oh, please, it's nothing."

"As long as it's within my power, just say the word."

I sat quietly in a corner, sipping my tea, having zero interest in joining this ridiculous circus.

Over the past few years, I’d been completely absorbed in running my company, rarely attending these family gatherings.

On top of that, I had dressed down in a simple, unbranded casual outfit today. In the eyes of these relatives, I was probably still just a regular desk jockey barely getting by.

Right then, Aunt Brenda turned her sharp gaze on me.

"Chloe, are you still working at that little company?"

I answered mildly, "Yeah, still there."

Aunt Brenda curled her lip, her voice dripping with condescension.

"Look at you, pushing thirty with no boyfriend, no house, and no car to your name."

"Though, I did hear a rumor... Didn't your boss assign you a downtown apartment to live in? Is that true?"

I frowned slightly.

That place was an ultra-luxury, top-floor penthouse downtown that I bought outright with cash—worth tens of millions of dollars.

I rarely stayed there because it felt too empty, only sending in cleaners now and then.

I had no idea where Aunt Brenda picked up that gossip, but she actually believed it was some company dorm my boss lent me.

I didn't bother elaborating and just said calmly, "It's my own place."

The room instantly went dead silent.

Sarah burst out laughing.

"Chloe, stop embarrassing yourself!"

"Downtown real estate is insane! With your measly paycheck, you couldn't even afford a bathroom there in ten lifetimes!"

Kevin looked down his nose at me too, a mocking smirk playing on his lips.

"Seriously, Chloe. I get that young people have egos, but there’s no need to front in front of family."

"If you're really struggling, I can put in a word with one of my supervisors. I can get you a receptionist or janitorial gig. It pays way more than whatever you're making now."

I gave him a cold look.

"No thanks. I'm perfectly happy with my current job."

Aunt Brenda cut in impatiently, waving her hand.

"Alright, whatever, who cares whose house it is? You live alone anyway, you don't need all that space."

"Sarah’s wedding is next month. Kevin’s family only has a tiny place out in the boonies, which is way too embarrassing for a wedding venue."

"That downtown apartment of yours is perfect. Hand over the keys tomorrow so Sarah can use it as her wedding home."

Her tone was so disgustingly entitled, as if she wasn't demanding a multi-million-dollar luxury penthouse, but casually asking to borrow a paper towel.