He Left Me for His Ex—Then Found Out I'm a Billionaire's Daughter

Emmett Archer let out a low scoff. "Your father's a penniless wretch who can't even put food on the table," he said. "What gift could he possibly have for me? Are they leftovers from a trash can, or junk you picked up?" He paused, then added, "Alice Pemberton, I've honestly had enough of the days I spent with you. Looking at you now makes me physically nauseous." I looked at his face, the face of a man who'd forgotten where he came from, and the last bit of warmth in my heart turned completely cold. When he was so poor he couldn't get by, it was I—newly arrived to gain experience in the slums—who saved him. At that time, I was penniless myself. I could only endure the sour stench of the trash bin and pick up half a bread roll from nearby to give to him. Back then, he was in complete disarray, so hungry he was seeing stars. He held that dirty roll in his hands, not minding the dirt or the stench, his eyes red-rimmed, choking and sobbing as he ate it bite by bite. He gripped my hand tightly, his gaze sincere. "Alice," he said, "when I make it big and rise to prominence one day, I will never forget you." But a man's promises never meant anything anyway. They came and went, leaving nothing behind. I lifted my eyes and stared straight at the cold-hearted, ungrateful man before me. "Emmett, you'd better remember what you've done today. Don't regret it," I said. Vera Langdon affectionately wrapped her arm around Emmett's, nestling coquettishly in his arms as she raised an eyebrow and looked at me mockingly. "Or what?" she said. "You'll smash us to death with a cardboard box?" The surrounding guests roared with laughter. "Hilarious. She's already been reduced to picking up garbage at the bottom of the barrel, yet she's still putting on airs like she's Mrs. Archer? Does she really think she's somebody?" "Can pride put food on the table? If not for Mr. Archer's kindness and old affection, she would never have touched such an expensive wedding dress in her entire life!" "She's only fit to wear a plastic bag! And she still dares to be an eyesore here!" Then Vera covered her nose with her hand, her face full of disgust, and said, "Get lost if you know what's good for you. Don't dirty our wedding with your sour stench." Just as I was overcome with humiliation, my hands and feet turning ice-cold, Emmett suddenly raised his hand to stop everything. "Take off that wedding dress you're wearing," he ordered. "Today is my and Vera's wedding. This is her day. I won't allow anyone to steal even a fraction of her spotlight, especially not you." I clenched my palms tightly, my fingertips turning white. "My father picked this dress out for me specially. It's mine," I shot back. "Who says I have to take it off? If you don't want to marry me, there are plenty of people beating down my door to propose. You're nothing special, Emmett!" The second I said that, the room erupted in even more cutting, malicious laughter. "Beating down your door? You mean the beggar gang from the west side of the slums, or the vagrants from the north?" "With her background and looks, only bottom-of-the-barrel scum would have her!" "She's probably already sleeping around with all kinds of disreputable people by now! Good thing Emmett got out while he could!" The disgust on Vera's face deepened. She clung to Emmett's arm and said, "Emmett, don't waste time on her. Make her take off the dress and get out, now. Who knows how many bacteria and viruses a woman like her carries. She's filthy." I snapped, "Why should I be the one to leave? Emmett, I personally chose and finalized the venue for this wedding, and I stayed up all night participating in the design and setup! This should have been my wedding! If anyone should get out, it's you two!" Emmett looked like he'd heard the most ridiculous joke in the world. A cold, contemptuous smile curved his lips. "The venue rental cost two million," he said. "Who paid for that? The total cost for the ultra-luxury decor was five million. Whose card was charged in the end?"