I Pretended to Be Poor

1

I met Ainsley during college, and we were together for three years.

When we graduated, Ainsley said he would take me to meet his parents.

Before the meeting, he warned me that his parents were very particular about etiquette and advised me not to spend too much on the gifts.

But I knew exactly what he hinted at.

So, I went to my cousin Colby Douglas's winery and casually picked up a few bottles of red wine.

Before leaving, my mom suggested I take a couple of luxury brand bags with me, thinking his mom might like them.

I just took two bags, one of which was a global limited edition.

After all, no woman didn't love bags. I guessed Ainsley's mom would be delighted.

As I was leaving, my dad suggested Tyrone drive me over with the Maybach. If things went well, I could give the car to Ainsley for his use.

I thought about it but declined since Ainsley always believed I came from a working-class family.

So, for my first visit to his home, I decided to keep a low profile.

I figured I could tell him the truth later.

In the end, I chose the car our maids used for grocery shopping, a black Mercedes.

When I arrived at the entrance of Ainsley's place, Tyrone asked if I had gotten the wrong address.

I smiled and shook my head, telling him that love didn't know social status.

Ainsley's home was in an old neighborhood. It was said his father's company awarded his father this apartment years ago.

I asked Tyrone to take the things out of the trunk and drive the car back.

After Tyrone left, I called Ainsley to come down and meet me.

"Ainsley, I'm at the entrance of your place. Could you come down and take me upstairs?"

Before Ainsley could respond, I heard his mom Ella Chandler's voice.

Ella spoke up loudly as if she wanted me to hear.

"Since she's already at the entrance, what's the point of fetching her? Why can't she go upstairs herself?! She hasn't even married into our family yet and is already bossing you around."

Ainsley spoke up for me, trying to explain, "Mom, Melissa must have brought a lot of things. It's only natural for me to go down and help her."

After saying that, Ainsley hung up, and it took him quite a while to come down.

I cheerfully carried the gifts and followed Ainsley back home.

I expected his parents to be as enthusiastic as the parents of my best friend's boyfriend when she met them.

But as soon as I stepped into Ainsley's home, I was met with a cold reception.

So was his family trying to tame me?

2

Ella was sitting on the sofa, sipping on a cup of coffee, not even glancing at me. His father wasn't home at all.

Today was the weekend. I asked Ainsley about it, and he said his dad was off work on weekends, so I chose to visit his family on a weekend.

Yet, I didn't see his father.

I walked over to his mom with the two bags.

Honestly, meeting Ainsley's parents for the first time made me a bit nervous.

I tried to smile naturally.

I handed the bags to Ella, respectfully saying, "Mrs. Chandler, this is a gift for you. I hope you like it."

Ella took the bags and looked them over several times.

And then she pouted disdainfully and tossed them onto the sofa.

She poured herself another cup of coffee and slurped noisily from her cup.

While slurping her coffee, she said, "They are indeed nice knockoffs."

Nice knockoffs?

This was a globally limited edition genuine bag, and the value of this bag could easily cover the expense of this apartment.

Ainsley smiled and explained, "My mom means she likes it regardless of whether it's genuine."

Really?

Her expression didn't seem like she liked it.

Ainsley quickly changed the subject. "Mom, what's for lunch?"

Ella glanced at me, or rather, scrutinized me, and finally gave me a look of disdain. "There are leftovers from yesterday. Just eat whatever's available."

I realized that his mom seemed not fond of me.

When my best friend visited her boyfriend's family, his mom took her to a fancy restaurant.

And her boyfriend's background was similar to Ainsley's.

In contrast, Ella didn't even bother to cook for me.

Oh well, I was not quite particular about food anyway.

So, for lunch, his mom made sandwiches as the main dish.

To my surprise, I had to cut the sandwiches into triangles myself.

Even more bizarre, when I was eating, I noticed that Ainsley and his mom both had bacon and eggs in their plates, while I had nothing except for the sandwich.

His mom was munching on the bacon loudly.

I politely said, "Mrs. Chandler, I also brought some red wine. Would you like to try it? My mom loves this brand."

Ella glanced at the wine on the cabinet by the door with a dismissive look and said, "What good wine can your family have? I have a discerning palate and only drink premium wines."

What the hell?

This was Colby's vintage wine, each bottle worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Besides, it was so rare that people could only get one at auction.

I smiled slightly without saying anything, amused at the thought of how Colby would react if he knew his wine was despised.

3

After lunch, Ainsley started to clear the table and do the dishes.

His mom frowned at his actions.

Then she raised her hand and tapped Ainsley's hand with her fork, giving me a look.

Was she implying I should do the dishes?

Ainsley was a bit embarrassed and said, "Mom, it's Melissa's first time here. It's not appropriate."

But as he spoke, Ainsley still put down the dishes and pushed them towards me.

Ella laughed menacingly, "What's the big deal? When I first visited your dad's parents, I did the dishes too."

Seeing Ainsley's awkward expression, I decided not to make things difficult for him.

I rolled up my sleeves and picked up the dishes, ready to head to the kitchen.

I maintained a polite smile, "Mrs. Chandler, I'll do the dishes."

While I was in the kitchen washing dishes, Ainsley wanted to help, but his mom wouldn't allow it.

I heard her in the living room saying, "Why help her? Given her background, she has to finish the house chores if she wants to marry into our family."

With that, Ainsley didn't come into the kitchen.

The two of them were in the living room, watching TV and chatting happily.

After I finished washing the dishes, Ella pointed at the dining table and glanced at me, saying, "You haven't cleaned the table."

Outrageous.

At home, my dad wouldn't even let me into the kitchen, saying the cooking was bad for my skin.

Now here I was, washing dishes and cleaning the table.

After cleaning the table, Ainsley pulled me to sit on the sofa with him and his mom to watch TV.

Coincidentally, the TV was showing a scene about meeting the parents for the first time.

And it also mentioned the issue of family background.

This seemed to remind Ella, who glanced at me again.

"Melissa, I heard from Ainsley that you're not a local?"

I indeed wasn't, so I nodded.

Ella immediately put on a stern face, scrutinizing me with a nearly contemptuous look, "Then your family doesn't have a house in Aveloria, does it?"

I planned to tell her my family had several villas in Aveloria, and my dad even intended to buy a hilltop villa for me and Ainsley, saying the air was good for future pregnancies.

"Never mind. I shouldn't have asked. Given your family background, you probably can't even afford to buy a small place in Aveloria."

I couldn't help but laugh, feeling her words were ridiculous. But it wasn't over. While sipping on her coffee, his mom continued sarcastically, "To be frank, Ainsley earns twenty thousand dollars a month now. I heard from him you're still an intern, making only five thousand dollars a month. And even after you become a permanent employee, your salary won't be over ten thousand. Your family is just an ordinary family in Aveloria. I don't think you two are a perfect match. Ainsley should marry someone better."

4

Seriously?

How did Ainsley manage to earn twenty thousand a month?

We were both interns back then, and why did he become a permanent employee while I was still an intern?

That was because Ainsley asked me to give up the opportunity to become a permanent employee for him.

Originally, I was supposed to be promoted early!

Ainsley said he wanted to buy a car, and I thought if I just gave him one, it would hurt his confidence.

So, I came up with a compromise.

I even offered an extra ten thousand to his salary each month to make it twenty thousand.

This way, he could buy a car and feel accomplished in his career.

Now his mom was using this to mock me?

Ainsley stayed silent, seemingly agreeing with his mom's words.

Every time money was mentioned, Ainsley would go quiet.

And she despised my family background?

I was the sole heir to the Robinett Group!

I had a net worth of over a hundred million dollars. How could she think Ainsley was out of my league?

At eighteen, I already owned eight companies.

Now, these eight companies were all publicly listed and renowned in the country.

I just wanted to keep a low profile to avoid making Ainsley feel stressed out, but now his mother looked down on me!

I could accept defeat in anything but in the aspect of money, I wouldn't be defeated.

I remembered a line, "I wanted to interact with you as an ordinary person, but all I got in return was actually distance."

I glanced around at Ainsley and his crowded two-bedroom apartment, untied my apron, and tossed it aside.

"We're indeed from two different worlds. As for this bag, I don't think you're qualified to have it. So, goodbye."

With that, I stood up and took the globally limited edition bag with me.

Ella's face was full of shock and surprise. Perhaps she thought I would beg her son to marry me?

I glanced at Ainsley, who remained indifferent, slung the bag over my shoulder, and headed downstairs.

Ella started yelling at me, "What a country bumpkin you are! How could you take back the gifts you've given me?! Ainsley, look at her! You shouldn't have brought her back home! How disgusting!"

5

I shook my head and laughed. We really belonged to two different worlds.

I heard Ainsley planning to chase after me, but after his mother shouted at him, he didn't dare move.

It took me this long to realize Ainsley is a mama's boy.

I would never take back something I gave away.

Seeing a cleaner nearby, I handed her the globally limited edition bag.

She was overwhelmed and thanked me repeatedly.

I knew she couldn't appreciate the bag's value, but at least she was grateful for getting something, unlike some people.

6

When I got home, I didn't dwell on today's events. I cozied up on the sofa, scrolling through social media.

This place was where Ainsley and I rented during our internship.

But in truth, it wasn't rented.

When we graduated, I thought the housing prices in Aveloria were too high for Ainsley, so I secretly bought this one-bedroom apartment and lied to him that the rent was only five hundred a month.

Ainsley was thrilled and suggested he pay three hundred while I paid only two hundred.

So, I started collecting rent from myself.

Looking back at my chat history with Ainsley, I suddenly realized that for the past three years, I had been such a fool.

I met Ainsley in my freshman year.

He was quite outstanding, immediately taking over as the president of the student's union.

Ainsley was also good-looking, so many girls liked him, and I was always proud of him.

During holidays, I would buy Ainsley various gifts, luxury brand sneakers, accessories, and watches.

But Ainsley always thought they were knock-offs and never wore them.

When I asked about it, he said he was afraid of getting them dirty.

At the time, I thought he treasured the gifts I gave him and was happy for a long time.

Now I realized the truth.

He wasn't afraid of getting them dirty. He just thought they were fake and would embarrass him.

Every holiday, Ainsley would send me a box of chocolates.

How hilarious. The joke was on me all along.

I remember one time on Valentine's Day, I pestered Ainsley for a long time before he bought me a rose, a dried one, claiming it symbolized eternal love.

I was head over heels and blind to reality back then!

Just then, my phone rang, interrupting my thoughts.

It was Ainsley calling.

7

I hung up.

Ainsley called again.

I picked up.

His tone was a bit impatient.

"Melissa, open the door."

Oh, I had locked it.

I thought Ainsley had come back to apologize.

But when I opened the door, he glared at me with a long face.

As soon as he entered, he closed the door and sternly questioned me, "Why did you give my mom attitude today?"

What the heck?!

Was it me giving his mother attitude, or was it his mom who never liked me?

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Pfft."

He was really good at playing the victim first.

Ainsley looked puzzled and said, "What are you laughing at? And I didn't mind that you gave me knockoffs as gifts in college. But how could you give knockoffs to my parents too? Melissa, what the hell were you thinking? My mom was right. You're not worthy of me."

What the heck!

I gave them knockoffs as gifts?

If my gifts were knockoffs, then nothing in this world was genuine!

I crossed my arms and leaned against the door, looking at Ainsley. "So, are you here to break up with me?"

Ainsley replied decisively, "Yes! I was mindless to choose you as my girlfriend! You're such a vain girl!"

With that, Ainsley went inside to pack his things.

I was utterly stunned.

How could he accuse me of being vain?

I watched him pack up.

He even took three out of the five bottles of water from the fridge!

I had never been so speechless in my life.

I couldn't help but laugh, "Why not take three-fifths of the sofa too? Oh, and you can take the toilet brush, but please leave the toilet seat."

Ainsley ignored me with a sour face the whole time.

Finally, he came out of the bedroom with a full suitcase, holding the scarf he bought me.

He stopped in front of me, showing me his bank account as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"It was unfair you paid only two hundred for the rent before. Now you owe me twelve hundred. But just transferring a thousand to me is okay. The two hundred can cover the cost of sending the rest of my stuff to me."

I was utterly shocked!

What a stingy man he was.

Without thinking, I transferred him twelve hundred bucks.

I walked to the door, opened it, and pointed outside.

And I said to Ainsley, "Not a penny less! You can leave now!"

It was just money!

I had plenty!

Ainsley saw the payment notification and looked relieved.

What? Was he worried I wouldn't pay him?

He was such a cheapskate.

As he left, he reminded me, "Remember to send my stuff."

Dream on!

As soon as Ainsley left, I packed up all his remaining things and threw them out, including the sheets he slept on and the dishes he used.

I disinfected myself and the house repeatedly!

Finally, I put the apartment up for sale.

How disgusting!

With the money from selling the apartment, I bought myself a custom set of a luxury brand.

8

I thought we wouldn't see each other again after the breakup.

I blacklisted his number and unfriended him on all social media platforms and even quit the job we worked at together.

My dad told me to just relax and enjoy my life with my family's money.

That sounded great!

During the three years with Ainsley, I had to avoid dining in a fancy restaurant in case I would hurt his fragile confidence.

I figured it was time to return to my own life.

So, I invited Colby to one of my family's five-star hotels.

I wanted to celebrate my newfound freedom from Ainsley.

This hotel, if nothing else, had the best steak in the country, and all the wealthy people in Aveloria would gather here.

In Aveloria, this hotel was considered the top hotel of luxury.

Colby was said to be the son of a distant relative of my mother.

Though we were not blood-related, we grew up together, and he insisted on hanging out with me.

He was handsome and wealthy, and my mom often told me how girls would chase him all the way to his house when he was in college.

Some were head over heels to the point of drama for his attention.

To me, though, he was just someone who was always there when I needed him.

As soon as we entered the hotel, the staff at the entrance lined up in two rows, and even the lobby manager scurried over eagerly.

This was my dad's rule. He always doted on me and believed I deserved the best the world had to offer.

So, in any of my dad's establishments, everyone treated me with utmost respect.

"Good day, Miss Robinett!"

"Alright, you can go back to your work," I replied.

The spectacle had passersby guessing which important figure had arrived.

I linked arms with Colby and cheerfully declared, "Today's expenses are on me!"

Colby ruffled my hair, "Let me cover today's expenses. It wouldn't be right for you to pay when you've just been dumped."

I winked and playfully said, "Well, if you insist!"

When I was with Ainsley, I never experienced such treatment.

Just thinking about him, I suddenly realized I seemed to see his silhouette in the hotel!

Based on my knowledge of him, he wouldn't usually come here, but when that figure turned around, oh my goodness, it really was him.

Was this a twist of fate or an uncanny coincidence?

How could I cross paths with him here?!

But what surprised me even more was what followed.

After Ainsley appeared, his parents came out, with his mom holding the arm of a woman.

And there was Ainsley's father, whom I'd never met before.

He was dressed formally in a suit, yet his demeanor still hinted at his humble background.

The woman was even more ostentatious.

10

The first sight of her told me her family must have struck it rich overnight.

She wore logos from head to toe, with a gold necklace and diamond bracelet that clashed terribly.

It was clear she dressed so to impress.

Ainsley's mom stared at the bracelet on the woman's wrist without blinking.

I realized that day I should have worn all my jewelry.

But the sapphire earrings I wore that day could buy the woman's entire outfit and more.

But unfortunately, his mom didn't appreciate its value.

Ella's sharp eyes caught sight of me just as I was about to lead Colby to my private elevator to avoid them. Ella called out to me, her voice piercing enough to draw the attention of everyone in the lobby.

Oh my! What a rude woman!

"Melissa! Ainsley, isn't that Melissa?"

Ainsley looked over, saying, "Mom, you must be mistaken. This is a hotel under the Robinett Group. She couldn't be here."

But as soon as he said that, his eyes met mine.

10

Well, not only was I here, but it happened that this place was owned by my family!

I smiled at Ainsley, taking off my sunglasses to let him see clearly. His eyes widened in disbelief.

"What a nuisance," I muttered, putting my sunglasses back on, mimicking his mom's quick change of expression.

I stood there elegantly, casting a disdainful glance at Ainsley's family, who were frozen in shock.

His mom blinked in disbelief, unsure if it was because of my presence in such a high-end venue or my changed demeanor.

Ainsley's whole family, as well as his date, stared at me.

"Why are you staring at her like that?" Ainsley's dad asked, puzzled since he hadn't met me before.

But once his mom mentioned I was Ainsley's ex-girlfriend, he immediately adopted a superior attitude.

"So, she's the one who shared a small apartment and ate quick food with you?"

Well, his father was as despicable as he and his mother as expected.

Ella, holding the arm of the showy nouveau riche, approached me with a displeased look.

"Are you still hung up on my son? Why do you chase him all the way here? Melissa, have you no shame?"

Colby raised an eyebrow and glanced at me. "Is this your ex-boyfriend? This family is certainly... special."

"You might as well stay quiet." I retorted, rolling my eyes at Colby as I nonchalantly walked past Ainsley's family.

Today, I carried a limited edition luxury brand bag, one of fewer than ten released worldwide.

I swear I wasn't trying to show off, just passing by, but Ella couldn't help but mock me.

She turned to the showy nouveau riche beside her, proudly boasting, "Ainsley said you like knock-offs, so stop pretending. Let me be honest with you, this is Ainsley's new girlfriend and her father is one of the top entrepreneurs in Aveloria."

I glanced at the showy nouveau riche, feeling a bit sorry for her. She probably didn't know the true colors of Ainsley's family yet.

I paused and looked at the young woman. "So you're a local in Aveloria, and you're going to marry into his family? You'll suffer from that."

What a tragedy!

12

The showy nouveau riche's face lit up when I mentioned she was local, but as soon as I finished my sentence, her face soured, and she glared at me.

Ella quickly tried to appease her, looking exactly like a sycophant.

"What are you saying? Harley will enjoy her life after marrying Ainsley, so stop clinging to him!"

She then scrutinized Colby beside me, launching into another indiscriminate attack.

"If I didn't know you, I would think you've hooked up with a rich guy. But I know your true colors, so this man is just pretending to be rich. Do you really think entering this hotel makes you rich? A knock-off is a knock-off, never worth showing off."

I simply smiled, knowing there was no point in arguing with someone like her.

"Hey, did you hear that? She said you're pretending to be rich." I teased Colby, seizing the rare opportunity.

Colby, who had been indifferent, suddenly changed his expression at my teasing.

Though he appeared refined, I knew he had a hidden side.

He was once an underground boxer, taking on over twenty thugs single-handedly and leaving two of them permanently injured.

As expected, Colby's lips curled into a smile, and I knew it was a sign he was upset.

Just as he was about to act, I stopped him. After all, we were on home turf, and it was best to remain civil.

"Since you think I'm poor, then I'll make you poor."

As I said, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.