Chapter 1
870 Words
I was born to play with men's hearts. This time, though, I was the one who got played.
He handed over every penny he made doing construction work, spoiled me with endless emotional support, and shined like a little sun in my otherwise gray world.
For him, I settled down. I traded custom couture for cheap street clothes and was ready to spend the rest of my life struggling beside him.
Today was his birthday. I stood outside a private room, carrying a cake I'd baked myself to save him money, when I accidentally overheard a conversation.
"Steven, was Zona really that dumb to believe you're some poor nobody?"
"If she weren't dumb, how would she make my acting look this good?" he scoffed. "I pretended to be devoted for a few months, and the queen of players fell for it hook, line, and sinker."
Gone was the honest, hardworking guy I knew.
His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Next month, once my engagement to the eldest daughter of the Wood family is announced, I'll toss her twenty grand and call it a day. She's just a toy. Did she really think she was good enough to marry into our Reed family?"
I looked down at the homemade cake in my hands and suddenly laughed.
So this time... I was the one being toyed with.
I tossed the cake into the trash and dialed my father's number.
"Dad, I agree to the marriage alliance. But I'll only marry into the Stone family."
As soon as I hung up, the private room door opened.
Steven Reed froze for half a second when he saw me. Then he strode over and instinctively pulled me into his arms.
"Zona? What are you doing here?"
His voice was low and gentle, carrying the faint rasp of someone who'd supposedly spent all day doing manual labor.
Even dressed in cheap clothes, he had an effortless charm about him. The kind that could make any woman fall head over heels.
"It's your birthday. I made you a cake."
I pointed at the trash can nearby. "I accidentally dropped it."
Steven followed my gaze, his brows knitting slightly.
He let go of me and walked over. Then he actually picked the cake out of the trash.
"It's still edible. You made it yourself."
He scooped up a little frosting with his finger and tasted it. A smile spread across his face.
"It's sweet."
My heart twisted painfully.
If I hadn't overheard what he'd said earlier, I would've been touched.
This man was terrifying. He played the devoted boyfriend so perfectly that he didn't leave behind a single c***k in his performance.
"Stev."
I called him by the fake name he'd given me.
"Hm?" He looked up at me, eyes bright and innocent.
"Who were you talking to in there?"
Steven didn't even hesitate. "A few coworkers. They insisted on celebrating my birthday, so they pooled their money to rent a private room."
"The liquor inside looked expensive."
"It's fake booze. Just there to impress people."
He wiped the frosting off his fingers against his pant leg and reached for my hand again.
"Come on. I'll treat you to something good. I got paid today."
He led me away. His hand was warm.
But looking at his profile, I suddenly felt nothing.
I'd always been a player. Back when I was overseas, I'd met every type of man imaginable.
For Steven, I'd cut off all my flings. I put away jewelry worth millions. I traded designer gowns for twenty-dollar outfits from roadside stalls.
I thought I'd finally found true love.
Turns out, I was nothing more than an NPC helping him sharpen his acting skills.
We sat down at a barbecue stand on the street.
Steven ordered all my favorite skewers and even got me a bottle of milk at room temperature because I hated drinking cold beverages.
"Zona. Once I've saved enough money, let's buy a little house. It doesn't have to be big. As long as there's enough room for the two of us."
He peeled shrimp for me while painting a picture of our future.
His deep eyes sparkled with anticipation.
I looked at him. Suddenly, I felt sick.
"You want to buy a house? Isn't your plan to marry the eldest daughter of the Wood family?"
Steven's hand froze.
He still didn't look at me. Instead, he placed the peeled shrimp into my bowl.
"Who told you that?"
"I heard everything outside the private room."
Steven calmly picked up a napkin and wiped his hands clean.
When he looked up again, the honest and humble man was gone. In his place sat someone lazy, arrogant, and untouchable.
"You heard me. Why even ask?"
Stev, the poor laborer, was dead.
The man sitting across from me now was Steven, the privileged heir of a wealthy family.
"So you've been lying to me this whole time?"
"I wouldn't call it lying. It was mutually beneficial. You enjoyed being treated well. I enjoyed having someone obedient and easy to fool. Sounds pretty fair to me."
He looked at me without a trace of guilt, only amusement.
"Zona. You didn't seriously think I'd marry some penniless girl, did you?"
- Writer
