I was sketching caricatures on the sidewalk with my daughters when I ran into my old college roommate. She looked me up and down, a mix of pity and smugness on her face. "Wow, Sarah. I never thought I'd see you reduced to street art to make a living." Then, her expression shifted to something more complex. "But hey, your luck might be turning around. Is that your daughter with Kyle? You know, Kyle Sterling is huge now. He's not the same guy anymore." "And get this—even though he's married, he's been looking for you all these years. He said if you just apologize, he'll take you back as his mistress." Kyle Sterling was my ex. We met in high school, fell in love in college, and were supposed to get married. But on our anniversary, to please his rich fiancée, he slapped me so hard I fell and miscarried. And now he wants me back as a mistress? The next moment, a sleek black sports car pulled up. The Prince of New York stepped out. His voice was low and dangerous. "Excuse me? That's my wife and daughter you're talking about." 1 "Sarah?" I looked up from my easel to see my old college roommate, Jessica, standing there, scanning me from head to toe. "It really is you! It's been forever. What are you doing in New York? And look at you... reduced to selling sketches on the street to survive?" She shook her head, her expression shifting into a weird mix of pity and excitement. "Is that little girl yours and Kyle's? You have no idea... Kyle's business exploded. He's a big deal now. And the crazy thing is, even though he got married, he never forgot you. He's been searching for you since you left. He said if you just swallow your pride and apologize, he'll forgive everything and keep you by his side! You won't have to struggle with the kid anymore." I put down my charcoal stick and stared at her. Jessica. College roommate. And "Kyle" was Kyle Sterling. My ex-boyfriend. He's a married man now. What does "keep me by his side" mean? It means being a mistress. I looked her dead in the eye. "I'm not going back to Kyle. I stopped loving him a long time ago." Under her shocked gaze, memories flooded back. Kyle and I met in high school. Back then, the Sterling family business was on the verge of bankruptcy. The rich kid became a poor kid, just like me. We were outcasts, bullied and mocked. That trauma bonded us. We huddled together for warmth. We got into the same college and fell in love. I studied Art; he studied Finance. We worked part-time jobs and rented a tiny, damp apartment near campus. It was small, but under the warm yellow light, we dreamed big. After graduation, Kyle wanted to get his MBA. I gave up my art dreams. I worked two jobs to support us while he studied. But right after he got his master's, the Sterling family business miraculously recovered. They were back in the elite circle. Kyle's value skyrocketed. Then, he met Chloe Vanderbilt. They were inseparable. Once, when I went to Kyle's family home to see him, I overheard his mother. "Kyle, you're at that age. The Vanderbilt girl likes you. Why don't we arrange a marriage?" When Kyle stayed silent, she frowned. "That delivery girl? The waitress? She's not worthy of you. People will laugh!" She was talking about me. 2 Hearing that, my heart soured. I turned to leave. But I bumped right into Chloe Vanderbilt. She sneered, "What is the help doing snooping around?" Kyle rushed over. Hearing this, he quickly said, "She's not the help!" Chloe looked confused. I looked at him, waiting for him to claim me. To say, This is my girlfriend. Instead, guilt flashed across his face. "This is my college classmate. She's just here to drop off some textbooks." My heart dropped. A dull, throbbing pain spread through my chest. Chloe ignored me, laughing as she linked arms with him. "Kyle, look! I baked cookies!" She held one up to his mouth. "Try it! Is it good?" Kyle smiled. "Delicious." I clenched my fists, staring at him in disappointment. "Kyle, what is the meaning of this?" Kyle frowned, terrified Chloe would misunderstand. He grabbed my arm and dragged me outside. "Stop making a scene! That's the Vanderbilt heiress. We can't offend her!" I pulled away angrily. "Your mom wants you to marry someone of your status. What do you think?" "Do you also think I'm not good enough for you?" He grabbed my hands. "Don't be crazy! I only love you!" He guided my hand to his pocket, making me touch the ceramic charm inside. "I keep our token with me always." "How could I marry anyone else?" I pulled out my matching charm and smiled weakly. "Good. Don't forget your promise." When he was in grad school, I was working two jobs with a fever. He cried seeing me suffer and made these matching ceramic charms. He gave one to me and said, "Sarah, you've suffered so much for me. I promise I'll marry you and you'll never suffer again." Those charms were his vow. Just then, Chloe ran out, pouting. "Kyle! Why aren't you coming back in?" "Talking to a girl... I'm jealous!" Kyle dropped my hand instantly. "Coming!" He turned to me. "You go home first. I'll come find you when I'm free." Then he walked over to Chloe, voice soft. "Don't be mad. I'm here now." 3 After that day, Kyle never came to find me. The apartment meant for two became lonely. Then I started feeling sick. I went to the clinic. Pregnant. I held the test result, shaking with excitement. I texted him immediately. I started daydreaming about our wedding, our baby. Kyle didn't reply. Maybe he was busy. Tomorrow was our six-year anniversary. The next day, I bought flowers and a cake and went to Kyle's house. But when I got to the door, I saw Kyle kneeling on the floor, applying ointment to Chloe's ankle. Chloe whined about the pain, burying her face in his neck. Kyle smiled, his voice dripping with affection. "Don't be scared. It's almost done. Be good. Even though it's your birthday, you hurt your foot, so you have to rest." His friends around them cheered and teased. The scene stabbed my heart. So this is what he was busy with. It was our six-year anniversary. He didn't send a single text. He was celebrating Chloe's birthday. I stood frozen at the door. Someone noticed me. "Hey, who's that? Who are you looking for? Flowers and cake?" Another guy sneered. "Look at her clothes. So cheap... she probably has the wrong house." Everyone looked at me. "But she's looking at Kyle. Is she here for him?" "Huh? Kyle knows someone that poor?" "No way. Don't insult Kyle like that!" Under their scrutiny, I forced my legs to move toward him. "Kyle... today is our six..." Kyle's face flashed with embarrassment. He frowned, cutting me off sharply. "It's the delivery I ordered!" He snatched the flowers and cake from my hands. He presented my anniversary gifts to Chloe with both hands. "Chloe, I know you like me too. Will you be my girlfriend?" 4 Chloe blushed instantly. She covered her mouth. "Kyle! Yes, I will!" Everyone clapped and cheered. Except me. It felt like a nightmare. I couldn't tell if it was real. Kyle saw I hadn't left and glared at me. "What are you staring at? Delivery girl, get lost!" I looked at him in disbelief. "Kyle Sterling, who are you calling a delivery girl? I am your girlfriend..." I thought he was just placating his mother and the Vanderbilts. I didn't know he was cheating on me. Before he could speak, the room went silent. Everyone stared at me. "Didn't Kyle say she was a delivery girl? How is she his girlfriend?" "Impossible. Why would Kyle be with a broke girl like that?" "Well, the Sterlings were poor for a while. Maybe it's an old fling..." Amidst the whispers, Kyle's face turned red with shame. Chloe snapped, bratty and loud: "What are you talking about? I saw you pestering Kyle last time. You're just a stalker! Now you're delusional enough to claim you're his girlfriend? How shameless can you be? Kyle is my boyfriend now. Are you trying to be a homewrecker?" Her explanation satisfied the crowd. "Oh, a stalker. That makes sense. No way Kyle would date her." "Look at her sweater, it's unraveling. Desperate." "So shameless. Kyle and Chloe are together, and she's still clinging on." Everyone pointed fingers, looking at me like I was a rat. But she was the other woman. I looked at her furiously. "Who's the stalker? Who's the third party? Do you know Kyle and I have been together for..." Slap! Kyle slapped me across the face. His chest heaved, face dark. "Shut up! We were just college classmates! I pitied you because you were poor, so I gave you some delivery jobs to make money. Don't bite the hand that feeds you! Lying to my girlfriend to ruin our relationship?"
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