The Secret Heiress and the Shallow Boyfriend

A few days before Christmas, my boyfriend, Ethan Cole, suddenly vanished.

I searched everywhere, finally finding only a blank check and an envelope.

I'm off to marry some heiress. Take this check and disappear. Know your place and don't make a scene.

My place? What place is that?

I wonder if my actual place, as NYC's unofficial princess, measures up to the "place" he's talking about!

...

I glanced at the handwriting on the envelope. It was definitely my boyfriend's.

I was puzzled. Ethan and I had barely argued since we started dating.

We hadn't even exchanged harsh words. Why would he suddenly dump me like this? And so cruelly?

Tucking the envelope away, I raced to the exclusive club Ethan frequented for leisure.

I had the black card he'd given me. Unexpectedly, I was stopped at the door!

"Excuse me, this is a private club. Members only."

I looked at the tall man in black standing before me, my knuckles cracking audibly.

"Are you sure you want to stop me?"

He seemed prepared for this reaction, showing no surprise.

"Please leave, Miss Yang. Mr. Cole doesn't wish to see you."

Before I could respond, Ethan's familiar voice came from behind him.

"As a parting gift, you'll receive a blank check."

"On the condition that you keep your mouth shut. Understand?"

I looked at this man, both strange and familiar, feeling lost.

Though Ethan and I hadn't known each other long, my feelings for him were real.

Just last night, he'd arranged a spectacular fireworks display specifically for me.

In that moment, I admit, my heart soared.

We watched the sky explode with color from the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows, hugging, kissing.

But when I woke up the next morning, my boyfriend was gone.

I had even planned to bring him home for Christmas.

But everything happening now felt like it was telling me it was all just a dream I'd imagined.

"Ethan, have you run into some trouble lately?"

I reached for his hand, but he pulled away.

"If you're really in some kind of difficulty, just tell me. I can help you solve it. Please don't joke about breaking up!"

It was the first time I'd ever spoken to anyone in such a pleading tone.

The moment I finished, Ethan glanced at me disdainfully.

"You?"

He looked at my faded, almost white work clothes and laughed out loud.

"I even got you your job. What could you possibly do to help me?"

"Just take the check and get out of my sight."

Ethan had interviewed me for my job, but that was because I didn't want to work at my own family's public company.

"Ethan, listen to me. I really can help you. You just need to tell me what's going on."

I lowered my pride, truly not wanting to lose him.

But this time, Ethan didn't even look at me. Instead, someone beside him spoke up.

I recognized him C Kevin Harding, the HR manager.

One of Ethans lapdogs.

"Miss Yang, it seems you haven't quite grasped the difference between you and Mr. Cole."

He approached me slowly as he spoke.

"Mr. Cole is offering you a blank check out of consideration for the time you spent together."

"Don't push your luck. Don't think you're something special."

Normally, Harding's words would have set me off.

But now, I bit back my anger and spoke again to Ethan, whose back was still turned to me.

"Ethan, do you remember what you told me before?"

"You said nothing could ever tear us apart, no matter what happened. Have you forgotten all that?!"

I practically yelled the last sentence.

Ethan flinched slightly but still didn't turn around.

"Ava, just go. Take the money and start a new life somewhere else."

"And... everything I told you before... it was all lies. Forget about it."

His words hit me like a deflating balloon. All my strength drained away.

Soon after, Harding started pushing me towards the exit.

"Miss Yang, if you please."

I couldn't resist, shouting towards Ethan's back.

"Ethan! I'm begging you, believe me! I really can help you!"

"Believe you?" Harding sneered.

"Count your blessings, Miss Yang. You dated Mr. Cole for a short while and gained wealth most people never see in a lifetime."

"If I were you, I'd be pinching myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming."

Amidst Harding's mockery, I was forcibly ejected from the club.

In the final second before the door slammed shut, Ethan never told me why he broke up with me.

After leaving the club, my initial plan was to reveal my true identity to Ethan.

But as soon as I picked up my phone, another message arrived.

It informed me I'd been fired from the company!

It seemed he was determined to cut all ties with me completely.

Not long after, Kevin Harding from HR tagged me in the company-wide chat, demanding I come in today to process my termination paperwork.

I silently replied "Okay" in the chat.

Ten minutes later, I was back at the entrance of Ethan's company.

I looked up at the place where I used to work, sighing at how quickly things had changed.

Though I was just a junior employee, everyone treated me politely because Ethan had my back.

Now that news of me being dumped had spread throughout the company, probably everyone was waiting to laugh at my misfortune.

Sure enough, the moment I stepped out of the elevator, the whispers began.

"See? I told you girls like her, who sleep their way up, always get replaced eventually."

"Exactly. Look at her background. Did she really think some trash could turn into treasure?"

"I heard Mr. Cole gave her a million dollars and a condo as a break-up settlement. She's set for life."

...

With every step I took, I heard my colleagues' taunts.

I offered no explanation, just silently signed my name on the termination papers.

"Ava Yang, is it?"

Just as I put down the pen, ready to leave, Harding suddenly grabbed my wrist.

"What do you think of me?"

Harding stared at me with a lecherous grin, his eyes roaming my body.

I instinctively stepped back, looking at him with disgust.

"Get away from me. I don't know what you mean by that."

He smirked, pulled the blinds closed around us, and lunged, grabbing me in a hug.

"Ava, dear, Mr. Cole doesn't want you anymore, but I do."

"As long as you take good care of me, then..."

A flash of coldness crossed my eyes.

A sudden "Aargh!" echoed.

Harding instantly clutched his groin, sinking to his knees in pain.

"I suggest you get to a hospital now. If you wait too long, the Harding family line might end here."

Tossing that remark over my shoulder, I kindly opened the blinds for him.

The employees outside gasped, their mouths agape at the scene.

I'd heard rumors while working here that the HR manager often harassed female employees.

My kick, in a way, was doing Ethan's company a public service. Pest control.

Just as I gathered my things and prepared to leave, I finally overheard the real reason for Ethan's breakup in the elevator.

"Hey, did you hear? Mr. Cole's fiance is the Kingsley heiress from Boston. They say she has a notoriously bad temper, and worst of all, some disturbing hobbies... rumor has it she enjoys tormenting men."

"Totally. If the Kingsleys hadn't helped crack open the Boston market these past few years, why would the Cole family be so desperate to marry their son off to her?"

"Tomorrow, at our company's annual gala, Mr. Cole is going to officially announce the engagement to Miss Kingsley."

I only managed to step out of the elevator, leaning against the doorframe, after everyone else had dispersed.

The Kingsleys of Boston?

Ethan, this was the reason you wouldn't tell me?

What a fool.

The Kingsleys, who seem so untouchable in your eyes, are just a minor pawn in my view.

If I wanted, anyone could take their place.

A few minutes later, I dialed a number back home in DC.

"Dad, the Kingsleys are bullying your daughter and stealing your son-in-law-to-be. You gonna do something about this?"

Cole Industries, Ethan's company, was considered a major player in NYC.

Their annual gala was naturally a lavish affair.

Especially today, being the day the Cole and Kingsley engagement was to be announced, nearly every big shot in NYC would be attending.

"Excuse me, Miss, do you have an invitation?"

When I arrived at the gala venue, a security guard stopped me at the entrance.

"Sorry, I forgot my invitation."

Truthfully, I had no idea you even needed an invitation to get into this place.

Growing up, I'd always gotten into any venue just by showing my face.

"I'm really sorry, but without an invitation, I can't let you in."

Just as I was about to make a call, a sickeningly familiar voice sounded behind me.

"Well, well, isn't it Miss Yang? It's cold out here, why aren't you inside?"

"Oh, dear, silly me. I forgot, you just got dumped by Mr. Cole, didn't you?"

I didn't even need to look to know it was Ethan's lapdog, Kevin Harding.

He had a woman in a revealing dress draped on his arm.

His walking posture, however, was a bit strange. I couldn't help but chuckle.

"It seems yesterday's kick didn't leave a lasting impression on Mr. Harding."

Harding didn't get angry at my words, just leered at me.

"Want to get inside, Miss Yang? Beg me. If you beg me, I'll take you in."

"Of course, as payment... tonight, you'll have to..."

Before he could finish his sentence, another "AARGH!" ripped through the air.

Just like last time, Harding clutched his groin, collapsing to his knees in agony.

This time, I'd used full force. Even rushing to the hospital now probably wouldn't be enough.

I strode forward, looking down at him imperiously.

"Know why a dog is always a dog? Because it can't stop eating shit."

With that, I crouched down and rummaged through his jacket pocket until I found the invitation.

Without a word, I handed it directly to the security guard who had stopped me earlier.

"Here's the invitation. Can I go in now?"

Before the guard could fully react, I quickened my pace and slipped smoothly into the venue.

I had to admit, as one of NYC's top families, the Coles did have some resources.

The main ballroom alone could hold several thousand people.

It was clear the Coles placed great importance on this union with the Kingsleys.

But compared to my family's events, this was... cute.

I remembered my eighteenth birthday when my father rented out Madison Square Garden to celebrate.

During the time Ethan and I dated, he mentioned more than once how rich his family was.

Each time, I'd pout "Not as rich as my family."

And each time, Ethan would playfully tap my nose.

"Okay, okay, my Ava is the richest princess in the whole world."

He said it jokingly, but it was the absolute truth.

I was indeed a princess, the richest princess in DC, in fact.

But he just wouldn't believe it.

"Ava! What are you doing here?"

As I wandered around, I spotted that incredibly familiar figure in the crowd.

Ethan saw me and quickly hurried over.

"Didn't I leave you enough money? What are you doing here?"

He carefully pulled me into a deserted corner, seemingly afraid of being seen.

I stared blankly at the man who had promised to love me forever, the words catching in my throat.

Seeing my silence, Ethan grew more anxious.

"Leave! Now! Get as far away as possible. This isn't the place for you."

He grabbed my hand and started pulling me towards the exit.

Feeling the warmth from his palm, I drifted off for a moment, as if back in those happy times.

"Ethan Cole, you have some nerve."