My boyfriend was a soccer fan, so I went with him to watch the World Cup. While we were lining up in ninety-eight-degree heat to enter the stadium, I went to buy him an iced Coke from a stand nearby. But when I came back, my boyfriend was gone, and my digital ticket showed it had already been scanned. “You went in? Why does my ticket show it’s been used?” I called him anxiously. “Oh, I ran into Maya, the intern from my department. She didn’t get a ticket and was crying outside, so I gave her yours.” “Are you insane? That was the VIP front-row ticket I got!” “Oh, come on. You’re not even into soccer. You’d just sit there playing on your phone. Maya is a real fan. Ever heard of doing a good deed?” I was so shocked I couldn’t speak. “So you left me outside alone for an intern?” “You can watch the livestream anyway. Can’t you just find a patch of grass and sit there until the match is over? Don’t be so selfish.” Listening to the dial tone on the phone, I immediately called my soccer-star brother.
“Hello? Liam, my ticket was...” “Lily, I’m about to go on for the match. The signal backstage is terrible. After the game, I’ll take you to the celebration party!” From the other end of the line came the coach’s voice urging them to get on the field. Before I could finish speaking, the call was hurriedly ended. I stood there frozen, holding my phone. In my hand, I was still carrying the two bottles of iced Coke I had just bought. Water droplets slid down the bottles and dripped onto my shoes. Above me was ninety-eight-degree heat, and the brutal sun was baking the asphalt until it almost seemed ready to melt. “Ma’am, if you don’t have a ticket, don’t block the ticket-checking lane. Go wait in the plaza over there!” A security guard came over and waved me away impatiently. I could only carry the Cokes and retreat to the edge of the plaza, where there was no shade at all. Sweat ran down my forehead and into my eyes, and the sting made me squint. I took out my phone, wanting to ask Zach how long exactly he expected me to wait. The moment I opened Ins, the first post was one Zach had just uploaded. The photo was of the soccer field from a VIP front-row angle. On the right side of the image, there was clearly a girl’s slender wrist. On that wrist was the Cartier bracelet I had spent twenty thousand dollars on for Zach last month. The caption read, “Watching the match with someone who truly gets it. This is what the World Cup is all about.” I was shaking with anger, and I called Zach directly. It rang for a long time before he finally picked up. “What now? Are you ever going to stop?” Zach’s voice was full of extreme impatience. Deafening cheers came from the background. It seemed someone had scored a goal. “What’s with the Ins post? You gave my ticket to someone else, and now you let her wear my bracelet?” I questioned him through clenched teeth. Zach scoffed on the other end. “Lily, why are you so materialistic?” “Maya didn’t wear any accessories today. I thought the bracelet matched her outfit, so what’s wrong with letting her borrow it?” “You can’t even tell Cristiano from Neymar, and you think you understand soccer?” I took a deep breath and tried to keep my voice from trembling. “I don’t understand soccer, but I understand basic manners! That was my ticket. What gave you the right to make that decision without my permission?” “Do you know how hot it is outside? You’re making me stand out here for hours?” Zach’s tone became even more self-righteous. “I already told you, Maya is an intern, and her monthly salary is only three thousand dollars.” “She can’t even afford official merch. You carry bags worth tens of thousands, so what’s wrong with letting her have the ticket?” “You always act so superior at the office, and now you’re nitpicking over one ticket. Are you jealous that Maya understands soccer better than you?” I could hardly believe what I was hearing. He was being generous with someone else’s things and still made it sound so noble. Just then, a sweet, delicate female voice came from the other end of the phone. “Zach, is Lily mad?” “Why don’t I go outside instead? I really want to watch Liam play, but I don’t want to affect your relationship.” Maya’s voice sounded incredibly wronged. Zach immediately lowered his voice to comfort her. “Don’t mind her. She’s just being dramatic. Stay right here. No one is kicking you out today.” Then he turned back to the phone, and his voice suddenly rose. “Lily, I’m warning you. Don’t embarrass me out there by acting crazy.” “It wasn’t easy for Maya to come here. If you dare come in and cause a scene today, we’re done!”
I tightened my grip on the Coke bottle in my hand, and my knuckles turned white from the force. “Fine, I won’t go in. Zach, take your things and get out here right now.” Zach let out a cold laugh. “Come out? This is Liam’s home game, and you want me to come out?” “Is something wrong with your brain?” “Even if you got on your knees and begged me right now, I wouldn’t go out.” I felt as if a huge stone were blocking my chest, making even breathing difficult. “Zach, if you don’t come out, then don’t contact me again after this.” The other end of the line went silent for two seconds. Then came Zach’s mocking laughter. “Fine, Lily. Don’t threaten me with a breakup.” “If you dare leave today, don’t come begging me to get back together later!” “Maya, let’s go closer to the front. Ignore this crazy woman.” Before I could speak, the dial tone sounded again. I stood under the blazing sun, looking at the bustling crowd around me, and suddenly felt it was all absurd. After three years together, I had thought he was just a little short-tempered. I never imagined that in front of someone else, he could belittle me until I was worth nothing. The security guard came over again and tapped the railing beside me with his baton. “Hey, I’m talking to you. Don’t stand here and get in the way!” I took two steps back, and my vision suddenly went black. As the world spun around me, I heard people nearby cry out in alarm. When I opened my eyes again, I smelled the strong scent of disinfectant. A nurse was taking my blood pressure. “You’re awake? You had mild heatstroke. A kind passerby brought you to the medical tent.” The nurse put away the blood pressure monitor. I propped myself up on the canvas cot and felt my stomach churn violently. “Thank you. How long have I been lying here?” I asked weakly. The nurse checked her watch. “Almost an hour. Hurry and contact a friend or family member to pick you up. It’s too hot outside.” I patted my pocket and found my phone. There were no missed calls on the screen. There was only one message from Zach sitting in my texts, sent ten minutes ago. “Go buy Maya an official canvas tote. She didn’t get one, and you’re just hanging around outside anyway.” Looking at that line of text, I was so angry I laughed out loud. I had passed out from heatstroke outside the stadium, and not only did he not care where I had gone, but he was ordering me to buy merch for his “sweet little friend.” I directly called Zach on FaceTime. It rang until the last few seconds before he finally picked up slowly. “Did you get the bag? Don’t buy the wrong color. Maya likes the black one.” I spoke coldly. “Zach, I have heatstroke. I’m in the medical tent right now.” The other end paused for a moment, then Zach’s impatient voice came through. “Lily, why are you pretending to be fragile?” “Are you deliberately trying to get attention because you saw Maya having fun inside?” I closed my eyes and forced down the urge to smash my phone. “I’m not pretending. I’m dizzy and nauseous, and I can’t even stand steadily.” Zach clicked his tongue on the other end. “Enough. Stop putting on this pathetic act.” “Maya’s ankle got stepped on and it’s swollen. I need to go find an ice pack for her now.” “Since you’re in the medical tent, grab an ice pack and bring it to the ticket gate.” I seriously suspected there was something wrong with my ears. “You want someone who passed out from heatstroke to bring an ice pack to you and your mistress?” Zach instantly exploded. “Watch your mouth! What mistress?” “Maya is an innocent girl. We’re just pure friends!” “Why is your mind so filthy? If your own heart is dirty, everything you see looks dirty!” Maya’s tearful voice came from beside him at exactly the right time. “Zach, don’t scold Lily.” “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have twisted my ankle. I’ll walk out right now even if it hurts, and I won’t cause Lily any trouble...” Zach comforted her with obvious heartache. “Why would you walk? Your foot is swollen like that! The one who should leave is a cold-blooded animal like her with no sympathy!” I didn’t want to listen to this disgusting pair act anymore, so I hung up directly.
But I casually opened Ins, wanting to distract myself. The top trending nearby post was a post Maya had just made ten minutes ago. The picture showed Zach kneeling on one knee with his back to the camera, rubbing her ankle, along with a screenshot of my VIP digital ticket. The caption read, “Being spoiled like a princess by my boss today.” “Not only did I get VIP front-row tickets, but when I twisted my ankle, someone searched everywhere for an ice pack for me.” “Even if someone is going crazy with jealousy, my boss still chose me without hesitation.” “The spirit of soccer is love and peace.” All the comments underneath were praising her for meeting a god-tier boss, and some were scolding that “someone” for not knowing what was good for her. Looking at the screen, the nausea in my stomach got even worse. Just then, a stranger’s account sent me a video. In the video, my boyfriend Zach had his arms around Maya and was kissing her passionately. The provocative caption said, “When are you, old woman, going to get lost? I’m still the one who understands Zach’s heart best.” I was so disgusted I could barely breathe. I forced myself to stand up. My legs were so weak they trembled, and acid was still rising in my stomach. Outside the medical tent, the sky was gradually getting dark. From the distant stage came deafening cheers, probably because star forward Liam had scored again. The crowd began surging like a tide toward the various exits. Dragging my weak body, I walked step by step to the exit of the VIP-only passage. Not long after I stood there, I saw Zach come out carrying Maya on his back. Maya was still holding an official black canvas tote, which Zach had obviously bought for her just now. She lay on Zach’s back and smiled happily. The two of them were pressed very close together. “Zach, this bag is so pretty. Thank you for buying it for me,” Maya said in a sweet voice. “Why are you being polite with me?” Zach’s tone was indulgent. I took a deep breath, walked forward, and blocked their path. When Zach saw me, the smile on his face vanished at once, and his brows knitted tightly. “Lily, aren’t you embarrassed blocking the way here?” “Can’t you see Maya is hurt? Even a good dog knows not to block the road!” I ignored his insults and directly held out my hand. “Zach, shouldn’t you settle the cost of my ticket?” I looked at him coldly. Maya immediately poked her head out from Zach’s back and looked at me timidly. “I’m sorry. I’ll transfer you the ticket money.” “But I’m just an intern, and my monthly salary is only three thousand dollars.” “Lily, all the bags you carry are designer brands, so you shouldn’t care about this little bit of money, right??” Her words sounded like an apology on the surface, but underneath, she was accusing me of bullying the weak. I stared at her innocent face. “I earned the money for my bags myself by working overtime and staying up late, not because it fell from the sky.” “This VIP ticket costs ten thousand dollars. Transfer it to me now. No credit.” Zach suddenly put Maya down and shielded her behind him. “Lily, that’s enough! Are you obsessed with money?” “What is ten thousand dollars to you? Will you only be happy if you make things hard for a poor intern?” Looking at the man I had dated for three years, I suddenly felt he was unbelievably unfamiliar. “Why should I pay for her to watch the game? Am I her mother or her father?” Zach’s face turned ashen from my retort. “Fine, I’ll pay, okay? I’ll transfer it to you when we get back!” “Maya’s foot hurts so badly she can’t walk right now. I need to call a cab and take her back downtown. I don’t have time to argue with you here.” I gave a cold laugh. “You’re taking her home? What about me?” “My car keys are still in your bag. Do you expect me to fly back?” I had driven him here today, and the car keys had been in his backpack the whole time. Zach froze for a moment, as if only then remembering that. He irritably felt around his pocket, pulled out the car keys, and threw them straight at me. “Just drive yourself back. What’s the big deal?”
After the heatstroke, my hands and feet were weak, so I didn’t catch them at all. The car keys drew an arc through the air and fell into the deep grass beside us. “I have heatstroke. I can’t drive.” I looked at him, my voice calm. Zach scoffed, his face full of disbelief. “Keep acting. You sounded pretty strong when you were asking for money just now.” “Maya, let’s go. Ignore this crazy woman.” He reached out and stopped an unlicensed black car parked by the road, then carefully helped Maya into the back seat. Maya leaned her head out of the car window and winked at me. “Lily, if you really can’t drive, I can lend you my bus card.” The black car sped away, spraying exhaust all over me. The sky had completely turned dark. The World Cup venue was in the suburbs, and the official shuttle buses had gradually stopped running. There were fewer and fewer people around, leaving only trash all over the ground and a few drunk soccer fans shouting loudly by the roadside. I crouched in the grass, turned on my phone flashlight, and searched for a long time before I finally found the car keys. But right now, my head was spinning, my limbs were weak, and I did not dare grip the steering wheel at all. I leaned against an abandoned metal cart, trying to calm my rapid breathing. Just then, those drunk men staggered toward me. Two shirtless men reeking of alcohol looked me up and down without restraint. “Chic, all alone?” “No ride home? I’ll give you one.” My heart tightened, and I immediately took two steps back. “No, thanks. My friend is coming soon,” I said, forcing myself to stay calm. The man with tattooed sleeves reached out and grabbed my arm. “Why are you pretending to be innocent, bitch? Anyone wandering around this late is out looking for fun.” “Come on. Have a couple drinks with us.” I yanked my arm free and turned to run toward a place with streetlights. As I ran, I called Zach with trembling hands. “Sorry, the number you have dialed is powered off.” The merciless automated female voice completely shattered my last illusion. I hid in the gap between two buses, trembling all over. The footsteps of those men got closer and closer. “Where did she run off to? That bitch is pretty fast.” I was at the peak of despair and clamped a hand over my mouth, not daring to make a single sound. At the critical moment, a black Alphard van slowly drove over. The glaring headlights cut through the darkness and shone directly on the faces of those thugs. The car stopped steadily beside the bus. The door slid open with a loud whoosh. A tall man wearing a baseball cap and a black mask stepped out of the car. Without saying a word, he grabbed the tattooed man by the collar and flung him away like he was tossing a chick. “Get lost.” The thugs were about to lash out, but when they saw several burly bodyguards in black getting out of the back of the van, they sobered up halfway from fear and scrambled away. The man turned around and took off his mask. Under the car lights, I saw the face that had just been cheered by tens of thousands in the soccer stadium. It was my biological brother, Liam. “Lily, how did you end up like this?” When Liam saw my pale face and scraped knee, raging fury ignited in his eyes. I threw myself into my brother’s arms, and the tears I had held back all day finally burst free as I told him everything that had happened today. After we got in the car, a bodyguard handed me a warm towel and warm water. Liam’s phone suddenly vibrated. He opened it, glanced at it, and let out a cold laugh. “This idiot actually dares to DM me.” Liam directly tossed the phone into my lap. On the screen was a private message Zach had sent to Liam’s official social media account. “Liam, I’ve been your fan for ten years!” “Congratulations to your team on winning the championship!” “Today I brought the girl I love most to watch your match from the VIP front row. She even twisted her ankle for you.” “I hope we can get your blessing!” Liam’s gaze turned sharp, and his fists clenched until his knuckles cracked. “He left you alone in a dark, deserted place just to bring another woman to watch my game?” I dried my tears, looked at that private message, and felt the grief in my heart gradually replaced by anger. “Liam, your team’s celebration party next week is at the Hyatt Club, right?” I lifted my head, my eyes becoming extremely firm. Liam leaned back in his seat and looked at me. “Yes. What do you want to do?” “I want to make him understand that using me to show off comes with a price.”
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