Chapter 4
The more I saw Jake’s true colors, the more I wondered:
How blind had I been for these seven years?
People around us started whispering and pointing.
When they saw Jake wasn’t stopping them, their voices grew louder.
“Mr. Parker hid his wealth because he didn’t want Emma to feel insecure. He made us all keep it secret–shows how
much he cares about her.”
“She eats his food, lives in his apartment, and still has the nerve to give him attitude.”
“Trying to social–climb without bringing anything to the table. Without Mr. Parker, what is she anyway?”
The more people joined in, the more smug Jake looked.
Madison kept adding fuel to the fire, piling on made–up accusations.
“Emma, didn’t you lie about your mom dying just to squeeze $2,000 out of Jake?”
“You’re a gold digger trying to play the victim. Talk about having it both ways.”
Her words were like cold water hitting hot oil–the crowd exploded.
Everyone stared at me with disgust, hurling insults one after another.
I looked at Jake, who maintained his indifferent expression.
He actually seemed to feel vindicated, like Madison had finally spoken his truth.
I twisted my lips into a bitter smile.
Just as I was about to speak, Jake grabbed my arm with exaggerated casualness, playing the magnanimous boyfriend.
“Let’s drop it, okay? What’s done is done. It’s not like I’m hurting for cash.”
“If you need money in the future, just ask me directly.”
“No need for all these excuses.”
Once Jake spoke, the entire office erupted in righteous indignation, convinced I was ungrateful.
“Exactly! Mr. Parker is loaded. If you want money, just ask him straight up.”
“Wishing death on your own mother for cash? That’s inhuman.”
13:06
My Ex’s Secret Kid? LOL, I Chose the CEO Who Faked Crazy for Me
32.8%
Chapter 4
“I can’t believe I thought Emma was just frugal. I even brought her food sometimes.”
I watched coworkers I’d thought were friends pile on with everyone else.
Thinking about everything Jake had done,
I suddenly realized how pointless this all was.
I was leaving anyway, and even if I slapped my pay records in his face right now,
He and Madison would just spin some new twisted narrative to keep the mob coming after me.
Silently, I slipped the pay records back into my pocket.
I looked up at Jake with a calm smile.
“We’ve been together seven years. Go ahead and calculate exactly how much of your money I’ve spent.”
“If you can’t name a single penny that went to me, I suggest you return hundreds of thousands you owe me.”
“Otherwise, both you and this company can expect a lawsuit.”
From day one, he preached about love being separate from money.
Yet our entire seven years together had been all about money at every turn.
This trust fund prince who everyone thought threw money around like water?
He was living off the savings I’d put aside for my mother’s treatment.
Jake racked his brain, panic flashing in his eyes.
Of course he couldn’t think of anything he’d spent on me–this was a man who Venmo–requested me for condoms.
I had already understood, it wasn’t that rich people were stingy, but that I simply wasn’t worth spending on.
He looked like he wanted to argue more, but I was done listening.
As I turned to leave, Madison suddenly shoved me hard.
I lost my balance and fell to the floor.
“Emma, stop twisting things! Jake doesn’t owe you anything.”
“Spread lies like that and we’ll call the police.”
“If you end up in jail, who’s going to take care of your mom lying in the hospital waiting for your money?”
“Apologize to Jake right now!“.
Madison thought she could still threaten me.
Mu Tv’s Corrot Kid? LOL. I Chose the CEO Who Faked Crazy for Me
33.1%
Chapter 4
But I had nothing left to lose.
Just then, the HR manager walked by, spotted Jake, and pushed through the crowd.
She was holding some paperwork.
“Mr. Parker, Emma’s mother passed away several days ago. You haven’t signed off on the employee bereavement fund yet.”
“Also, as you instructed, I canceled Emma’s request to advance that $2,000 from her salary.”
“It’s a shame, though. I heard Emma’s mother only needed $2,000 to cover her surgery.”