At his lowest point, the hero of the story had it all: a gambling-addicted father, a mother with crippling hospital bills, and a sister he was single-handedly putting through high school. He faced a daily onslaught of debt collectors, and on top of it all, a broken version of himself. Oh, right. And there was usually a wealthy, obsessive female antagonist forcing herself on him. As luck would have it, I transmigrated into that malicious side character—at the peak of her wealth and power. “I’ll sponsor you. Is twenty thousand a month enough?” His name was Alex. And me? A joke? So what if I was the villainess? I was rich as hell. 1 “You’re just a damn bartender. Me telling you to drink with me is a compliment. It’s your honor to have caught my eye, so don’t be an ungrateful prick.” “You’re selling yourself one way or another, so what’s the difference who you’re selling to? Think you’re too good for me, huh?” Even from a distance, I could see Alex standing there, his head slightly bowed. A single glance was enough to tell he was handsome. The man berating him was aggressive and loud. With his bulging belly and arrogant stance, he was clearly trouble. He poked a thick finger into Alex’s chest, forcing him back step by step. Then, the man pulled out a thick wad of crimson bills and slapped them straight across Alex’s face. “Is this fucking enough? If you want it, get on your knees and pick it up.” Alex’s head snapped to the side from the impact. After a brief moment, he knelt to retrieve the scattered cash. The instant his fingers touched a bill on the floor, the man stomped his foot down hard on Alex’s hand. From the grimace on Alex’s face, it was clear he used his full weight. “Why pretend to be so high and mighty when you’re desperate for money? If you were with me, this would be nothing. Me wanting you is a favor, you get it?” I was watching Alex endure the humiliation, and I had to admit, there was a certain rugged charm to it. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her—the story’s heroine, Fiona, dressed in a simple white sundress. I knew this moment perfectly. The heroine swoops in, heroically saves the handsome stranger, and from that day forward, becomes the woman Alex can’t forget. She becomes his motivation, his driving force. And later, when Alex becomes a titan of industry, their sweet, fairy-tale romance begins, and they ascend to the pinnacle of life together. But not today. Sorry. I closed the distance in three long strides, positioning myself right in front of the hero. I reached into my limited-edition handbag and pulled out a stack of bills far thicker than his. I slapped it hard across the loudmouth’s face. The wad of cash hit the floor with a heavy, satisfying thud. “Is that all the cash you have? And you’re acting this big?” I sneered. “You old creep.” 2 It was only then that I noticed Fiona, who had been lagging behind the man, finally arriving. She looked at the scene before her, utterly bewildered, but still started walking toward us. The man, stunned by the slap, quickly recovered and pointed a trembling finger in my face. “Who the hell are you? Do you know who I am? You looking for trouble? If you want to play the hero, you better make damn sure you’re qualified.” He looked ready to throw a punch. Honestly, his words were pathetic. “Vivian Sterling.” “Daughter of the chairman of Sterling Enterprises.” The instant change in his expression was priceless. Just one word for it: satisfying. Please. As if I didn’t know exactly who this nobody was. I had, after all, read the entire novel. In the early stages of the story, my character was an invincible, god-tier entity. My power was almost laughably absolute. The man stammered for a long moment. “It was my mistake. I was blind. I’m so sorry, Miss Sterling, so sorry.” I let out a soft chuckle, putting on an air of authority. “Apologize to him.” The moment the words left my mouth, the man practically fell over himself apologizing to Alex. Alex stood there in his bartender’s uniform, his handsome features unreadable. He showed no reaction, no emotion. Fiona now stood at his side, watching me with a wary expression. With the trash taken care of, only the three of us remained. I took a moment to appreciate Alex’s face. He was the hero, after all, and just as devastatingly handsome as the book described. He was completely blank-faced, though. I knew this was his lowest point. A gambling-addicted father, a mother in the hospital with astronomical medical bills, and a younger sister he was single-handedly supporting through high school. He was hounded daily by debt collectors, a shattered man trying to hold the pieces together. He was utterly exhausted, just trying to scrape together enough money to survive. He looked nothing like the future tycoon who would dominate the business world. He was just a tragic, beautiful mess. My original plan had been to snuff out the hero before he could ever rise. But looking at that face, I reconsidered for a solid 0.0001 seconds and changed my mind. “Alex, you’ve caught my eye. Be my arm candy. Keep me entertained, make me happy. Ten thousand a month. How about it?” My words were blunt, my gaze fixed on him. He was just too gorgeous to pass up. Now that I had money, I wasn’t about to short-change myself. Forget chasing girls or hot guys—I was going straight for the hero-level prize. This was going to be fun. Alex remained silent, but Fiona, standing beside him, spoke up first. “Vivian, thank you for helping Alex just now, but that doesn’t give you the right to insult him like this.” I looked at her indignant face and laughed out loud. “I’m not just going to insult him. I’m going to own him.” If it weren’t for my unexpected appearance, they’d both be in the hospital tonight. “Fifteen thousand. Is that enough?” Seeing the flicker of consideration in his eyes, I realized just how fun it was to be a rich bitch. “Alex would never agree. You…” Fiona was still chattering on, grabbing Alex’s hand to pull him away, her eyes filled with pity. I had no interest in arguing with the heroine. My patience was wearing thin. “Twenty thousand.” “I’ll do it.” “Alex, she’s humiliating you!” When Fiona finally left, her eyes were brimming with tears. Alex didn’t move, but I could tell he was still thinking about her. He stared after her for a long time. But I didn’t care. They say forced fruit isn’t sweet, but who cares? I’m not looking for sweetness. I wanted his beautiful face; I couldn’t care less who was in his heart. “Down payment.” I pulled ten grand from my purse and stuffed it into his hands. Looking at his handsome face made me happy. “Silverwood Hills estate tomorrow. Be there. You have my number.” With that, I gave his abs a quick, appreciative pat. The money should be enough to prevent the tragedy with his mother. My conscience was clear. I slung my designer bag over my shoulder and walked away. 3 When Alex reported for duty, he was wearing a simple white t-shirt and jeans. Clean and crisp. Up close, I noticed his eyelashes were incredibly long. “The housekeeper has the day off. The kitchen’s over there. You’re making lunch. And one more thing: I need my food spicy.” Soon, a delicious aroma filled the air. It was actually quite good. “What are you standing there for? Sit down and eat with me.” Alex nodded and started to walk to the far end of the table. “Sit here. Next to me.” I saw him hesitate for a split second before moving to the chair beside me. He ate delicately, taking only a few small bites of the dishes before focusing on his rice. I slammed my bowl down on the table with a loud clatter. Alex looked up at me, his expression perfectly calm. “You have a problem with me?” I asked. “No.” I nodded, my tone hardening. “Good. I want you to remember something. I’m paying you twenty thousand a month, not to watch you play the martyr. You took my money, so you serve me well.” “And another thing,” I added, “I don’t like this cold, dead-inside act. It pisses me off. Got it?” Alex nodded. “Now, look up and give me a smile.” He looked up, and after a long moment, the corner of his mouth twitched into a smile. It was obviously forced. “Ugly.” With that, I got up and left. Over the next few weeks, Alex improved. He became a competent, if not enthusiastic, entertainer. The man was smart; he learned quickly, whether it was a new dance I wanted to see or just anticipating my moods. That, combined with his face, was a killer combination. Who needed to go to clubs? All in all, I was having a very pleasant time. Until Fiona showed up at my door. 4 I came out when I heard the shouting. A young girl was clutching Alex’s shoulder. He stood rigidly still. Beside them were a scruffy, middle-aged man and Fiona. I watched the scene unfold with amusement. The girl holding onto Alex glared at me. “Vivian, what gives you the right to make my brother serve you? Even if you buy his time, he’ll never like you! My brother only loves Fiona!” To wake up to this drama first thing in the morning was almost funny. But before I could speak, another familiar voice piped up. “Miss Sterling, Alex is a good person. He has his own thoughts, his own ambitions. He shouldn’t be trapped here by you.” For god’s sake, I couldn’t even be bothered to argue. They were both here to ruin my day. I pointed at the girl clinging to Alex. I knew who she was. Alex’s sister, Hailey. A staunch Fiona supporter. In the original novel, she had caused my character no end of trouble. “The right? My money gives me the right.” “The fact that you get to sit comfortably in a classroom is because of my money, you little idiot.” Hailey was stunned speechless, her large eyes filling with tears. Alex was looking at me too. My words were harsh. In the book, Alex was fiercely protective of his sister, but I met his gaze without flinching. “Alex, give me money! Give me the money, you ungrateful brat! Making all that cash, twenty grand a month, and trying to hide it from your old man!” The middle-aged man finally spoke, his voice agitated, his eyes wide and bloodshot, like he was about to pounce and devour someone. I instinctively took a step back. That was Alex’s father. A drunk, a gambler, and an abuser. Half of Alex’s misfortune stemmed from this man. I retreated into the house, making sure I was safe before calling security. They arrived quickly. Once they were there, I stepped back outside, staying behind the safety of the doorway. “I don’t have any money,” Alex said flatly. Fiona seemed terrified by the sudden turn of events and hid behind Hailey, leaving Alex to face his father alone. “If you don’t give me money, I’ll go to the hospital and find that sickly bitch! She’s gonna die anyway, it’s a waste keeping her there. I know you care about her. If you don’t want me to make a scene, give me the money!” The security guards moved in and restrained the man, holding him until he stopped struggling. He was still spewing curses. I couldn’t stand it. This man was disgusting, as both a father and a husband. I strode forward and delivered two sharp, clean slaps across his face. The sound echoed crisply. Still not satisfied, I kicked him hard in the knee. He crumpled forward, landing on his knees with a pained howl. It still wasn't enough for me. “You scum. Send me the medical bills. And one more thing: I am no longer employing Alex. You won’t get a single cent from me. Get all three of them out of here.” Hailey ran off first. Fiona stood frozen until a guard approached her, then she too left, calling back over her shoulder. “Alex, I didn’t mean for this to happen, really! I didn’t know your father would be like this!” … Only Alex remained. I stood on the porch, a full head taller than him. “If you even think about chasing after her, you can get the hell out too.” 5 “Smile.” Alex forced a smile. I critiqued it again. “Fake.” His expression stiffened. That made me feel a little better. “You’re coming shopping with me this afternoon.” “You’re not firing me?” I shook my head and picked up a piece of vegetable with my chopsticks. “That was for your father to hear. And have your mother transferred to a different hospital, one he can’t find. Tomorrow—no, this afternoon. Go with Arthur. The expenses will be deducted from your salary.” I left the table before he had a chance to react. That afternoon, I returned from my retail battlefield, followed by my driver, Arthur, laden with shopping bags. I was finally experiencing the life of a rich heiress. So simple, so unpretentious. The pure joy of swiping a black card until my heart was content. Alex was already back. He opened the door for me. “Get me a glass of orange juice.” Alex went back to the kitchen. I leaned against the doorframe, watching him. I’d seen him in an apron a few times, but today he was wearing a well-tailored black suit. The contrast was pure, raw sex appeal. It made my mouth water. When he brought out the juice, he stood in front of me, hesitating. I could tell he wanted to say something. “Spit it out.” “I wanted to ask… how do you know so much about my situation? And… did you know about it, and that’s why you hired me, to give me the money?” 6 It was true. When I read the novel, I learned that Alex’s mother was a wonderful person. I didn’t want her to suffer that fate. “Congratulations, you guessed it. No need to thank me, I’m not interested. You just need to remember that I am kind, beautiful, and generous.” I praised myself lavishly. I heard a very faint, “Thank you.” “Don’t thank me. It wasn’t a handout. You earned it through your own labor. I just provided a good opportunity. You don’t owe me anything.” Alex lowered his gaze, hiding the emotion in his eyes. … Being a rich heiress had its downsides. One, a love for shopping. Two, a bad temper. “What took you so long to get the food? It’s cold now. Did you do it on purpose?” I took the takeout from Alex, my tone impatient. I walked straight to the trash can and placed the bag on top of it, announcing loudly as I walked away, “I’m not eating this. I’ve lost my appetite.” Then, I turned a corner, got in the car, and drove off, leaving Alex standing there alone. Alex stood frozen for a moment, then a bitter smile touched his lips. It seemed a waste to throw away food he’d traveled so far to get. He started to walk towards it, but an elderly man picking through the trash got there first. The plastic bag on his back was already full of bottles. Alex’s sharp eyes noticed something under the food container: a red bill. The old man opened the container and began to eat ravenously, completely unaware of the money on top of the bin. Standing there, Alex thought again that maybe the heiress wasn’t so bad after all. The old man finished eating quickly and only then noticed the money. He froze, looking around as if searching for its owner, hesitating to take it. Alex walked over, took the money, folded it neatly, and pressed it into the old man’s hand. “Sir, the young lady who left the food here put this here for you.” He added, “She’s just a bit proud, too shy to give it to you directly.” The old man took the money, his eyes welling up with tears, and nodded repeatedly. “She’s a kind-hearted girl. Heaven will bless her.” Yes, it will, Alex thought. 7 Junior year of college started. I was determined to enjoy my second chance at university life. But a rumor started circulating on campus, accompanied by a photo of me bossing Alex around, making him carry my luggage. The gist of it was that I was a bully, using my power to force the campus idol to be my servant, holding his mother’s medical bills over his head. I read the post. The actual wording was a hundred times worse. The comment section was a war zone. People were cursing me, my family, you name it. “There’s no morality anymore. Money is king. I hope she goes bankrupt. Karma’s a bitch.” “Down with the bourgeoisie! Down with the evil elite! I hope she spends the rest of her life miserable, starving, and broke.” “Maybe she won’t even live that long. Hope she gets in a car crash tomorrow.” … It got so bad that people were waiting for me at the school gates to hurl insults. I had Arthur investigate. It didn’t take long to get the truth. A guy had posted it. Under a little pressure, he confessed everything. He had a crush on Fiona, and after seeing her crying over the photo and complaining about me, he got angry. He stole the photo and posted it online to be her champion. “I didn’t post it! It has nothing to do with me! Let me go, you’re illegally detaining me!” Fiona’s whining was giving me a headache. I didn’t waste my breath on her; Arthur pulled her aside to explain the legal ramifications. I turned to Alex. “What do you think?” “Fiona… she didn’t mean it.” “Vivian, can you just let it go?” “At her core, Fiona isn’t a bad person.” Of course. The destined couple. I didn’t say anything, but a wave of irritation washed over me. “Who the hell do you think you are, Alex?” He froze. I had never spoken to him like that before. “Everything you have, I gave to you. You still don’t understand your place. If I didn’t take pity on you, you wouldn’t even have the right to speak to me.” My temper was never great, rich or not. I don’t like being wronged, especially over something so stupid. I had been more lenient with him before because he was the hero of the story. But now, I was annoyed. The novelty was wearing off. “That’s not what I meant…” I cut him off. “Don’t try to explain. I don’t want to hear it.” … The clarification post went up quickly. I paid to boost it, and it immediately went viral. In the dean’s office, I didn’t mince words. “Hello everyone, I’m Vivian Sterling. Regarding the recent online rumors, I have found the culprits: Kevin Tao and Fiona Bell from the sophomore design department. The full story and evidence will be posted online shortly.” “Rest assured, they will pay for what they’ve done.” Public opinion shifted instantly. With a little push from me, the narrative changed from outrage at me to sympathy for me in just a few hours. The tide had turned, and Fiona was now suffering the consequences of her own actions. I stopped reading the comments. I refused to be a victim. Now that I’d gotten my anger out, it was time to treat myself. …
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "384853", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel