The Price of His Dignity

To scrape together the money for my sisters treatment, I became Vivian Grants contracted lover for three years.

For three years, I came whenever she called and threw away every last shred of dignity.

I thought that as long as I was obedient enough and knew my place, I would eventually warm her heart.

Until that charity gala, when I heard her chatting with her best friend, her voice full of contempt.

Liam Reed?

Hes just a little toy I keep around with money, nothing more. Hes very obedient. Give him some cash and hell go away.

The Sullivan family can help me secure the land in South Bay. Next month, Ill get engaged to Ethan Sullivan, and when the time comes, Ill kick Liam out.

At that moment, the last bit of love in my heart went out completely.

In front of a room full of elites, I smashed the million-dollar watch she had just bought for me back into her arms, then walked into the pouring rain without looking back.

A year later, I became a rising star in the business world, holding a project worth hundreds of billions, with admirers lined up all the way to France.

But that once-arrogant heiress of New Yorks elite knelt outside my door on a stormy night, soaked to the bone, crying in a hoarse voice.

Liam, I was wrong. Please, look back at me

I looked at her through the floor-to-ceiling window and calmly instructed my assistant, Call the police. Someone is harassing me.

Late autumn in New York was cold enough to cut into the bones.

But the charity gala on the top floor of the Peninsula Hotel was filled with elegant gowns and polished guests, warm as spring.

I sat in the corner of the lounge, looking down at the balance on my phone.

Mias medical funds were almost drained again.

Vivian brought me here tonight, saying she was going to bid on something for me as a gift for our third anniversary.

To be honest, I had been looking forward to it.

It had been three years, and she had never brought me to a public event before.

This was the first time.

Footsteps and teasing laughter came from outside the door.

Vivian, that was a huge move. Thirty million for a limited-edition Patek Philippe, and you didnt even blink.

It was Vivians best friend, Zoe Carter.

Ethan likes it, so whats thirty million? Vivians voice was lazy and careless.

My heart sank hard.

Ethan?

That heir of the Sullivan family who had just come back from overseas?

But what about the one in your lounge? Hes been with you for three years. Even if he hasnt contributed much, hes at least put in the effort, right? Zoe lowered her voice, her tone teasing.

Vivian let out a soft laugh.

That laugh, separated from me by a thin door, stabbed into my heart like a knife.

Liam Reed? Her tone was indifferent, as if she were talking about some irrelevant object. Hes just a pastime I can dismiss with money. His sisters life is still in my hands. He wouldnt dare make trouble.

True. The Sullivan family has the core technology for the South Bay project, and youre getting engaged next month, so its time to clean up those messy relationships.

I sat on the sofa, my whole body ice-cold.

It felt like I had fallen into an ice cellar.

Engaged?

Three days ago, she had held me in her arms and murmured in my ear, saying that after Mias surgery, we would go to Iceland to see the northern lights.

So it had all been a lie.

I thought time had turned into love, but it was only charity after she weighed the benefits and losses.

The door was pushed open.

Vivian walked in wearing a couture gown, holding the velvet box with the luxury watch inside.

When she saw my dark expression, she frowned slightly.

Whats wrong? Are you not feeling well?

She walked over and instinctively reached out to touch my face.

I turned my head and avoided her hand.

Her hand froze in midair, and her eyes darkened.

Why are you throwing a tantrum? Her tone carried a trace of impatience.

I stood up and looked straight into her eyes.

Youre getting engaged? I heard my own voice, calm in a terrifying way.

Vivian froze for a moment.

Then she tossed the box onto the coffee table and crossed her arms.

You heard? She showed no panic at being exposed and instead looked perfectly entitled.

The Sullivan family can help me secure the land in South Bay. A marriage alliance with them benefits the company.

She looked at me like she was soothing a clueless subordinate.

Be good. This watch is yours, and your monthly allowance will double from now on. Aside from status, you wont be missing anything.

I looked at the watch gleaming with a metallic shine.

Suddenly, I found it unbearably disgusting.

Vivian Grant, I called her name.

Do you think my spine is made of money?

She sneered.

What else would it be? Have you paid your sisters dialysis fee for tomorrow? Without me, you two would have starved to death on the streets long ago.

She was certain I could not leave her.

Because I was poor, and because I had a sick little sister dragging me down.

I took a deep breath.

Then I picked up the velvet box on the table.

A mocking curve appeared at the corner of Vivians mouth, as if she thought I had finally compromised.

The next second.

I threw the box back into her arms.

Bang!

The box hit her arm, bounced to the floor, and the watch slid out, rolling deep into the carpet.

Vivians expression changed instantly.

She glared at me in disbelief.

Liam Reed! Are you insane?

Yes, Im insane. I looked at her coldly. These three years, just consider them my wishful thinking. Were done.

After I said that, I turned without hesitation, pushed the door open, and walked into the cold wind of the hallway.

Stop!

Vivian shouted behind me.

I did not stop.

The elevator at the end of the hallway happened to open, and I strode in, pressing the close button.

The elevator doors slowly shut, cutting off Vivians furious face.

When I walked out of the hotel entrance, cold wind and fine rain hit me head-on.

I wrapped my thin coat tighter around myself and stepped into the rain.

My phone vibrated crazily in my pocket.

They were all calls from Vivian.

I turned it off, pulled out the SIM card, and threw it into a trash can by the road.

I returned to the large apartment in the city center.

Everywhere there was filled with Vivians presence.

The walk-in closet was full of custom suits she had bought for me, and the shelves were lined with expensive skincare products in matching sets.

I found an old suitcase.

I only packed a few of my old clothes, several professional books, and a broken laptop I had used for five years.

I did not touch a single one of those glittering luxury watches or designer bags.

I neatly placed the black card, car keys, and access card Vivian had given me on the shoe cabinet in the entryway.

Then I took one last look at the golden cage I had lived in for three years.

With a bang, I closed the door.

Dragging my suitcase, I took the last night bus.

I arrived in the citys poorest neighborhood.

This place was the gutter of this glamorous city.

The alleys were cramped, sewage covered the ground, and the air was filled with the sour stench of cheap takeout mixed with drains.

I knocked on the door of a rental agency with a red light on.

Whats the cheapest room you have?

The landlady looked me up and down, then spat out a sunflower seed shell.

Top floor, no AC, shared bathroom, six hundred a month, three months up front plus one month deposit.

Fine.

I paid the money and got the key.

The room was only ten square meters.

There was a wooden plank bed and a wobbly wardrobe.

The wall paint was peeling, and there was a yellow water stain on the ceiling.

I sat on the hard bed board, listening to the snoring and a babys crying from next door.

It was very noisy.

But I felt freer than I ever had before.

Early the next morning.

I went to the hospital.

Mia Reed lay on the hospital bed, her face as pale as a sheet of paper.

When she saw me, she forced out a smile.

Liam, you didnt come see me yesterday.

Yesterday I had overtime. I walked over and tucked the blanket around her.

Liam, wheres Vivian? She hasnt come in a long time. Mia asked innocently.

My heart stung.

Mia, I looked into her eyes and said seriously, dont mention her again from now on. We have nothing to do with her anymore.

Mia froze.

Although she was sick, she was not stupid.

She looked at my tightly furrowed brows and seemed to understand something.

Liam, is it because of me Her eyes reddened. Am I dragging you down?

Nonsense. I held her ice-cold hand. Youre my only family in this world. As long as youre okay, Im not afraid of anything.

After I left the ward, the head nurse at the nurses station stopped me.

Liam, the money in your sisters account is only enough for three more days. Her targeted medication afterward costs fifty thousand per injection, so you need to find a way quickly.

I understand. Thank you.

I walked out of the hospital and stood on the busy street.

The sunlight was harsh.

I touched the jade pendant hanging around my neck.

It was the only thing my father had left me.

I gritted my teeth, turned around, and walked into a pawnshop on the corner.

Final sale, one hundred thousand. The owner studied it with a magnifying glass for a long time before naming a price.

This is high-grade glass jade! I said in a suppressed voice.

Young man, the market isnt good right now. The quality of this pendant is average, so thats the price. Take it or leave it. The owner looked like he knew he had me cornered.

I closed my eyes.

Mias pale face flashed through my mind.

Fine. Ill pawn it.

With the one hundred thousand in hand, I immediately deposited it into the hospital account.

That one hundred thousand would only last half a month.

I had to find a job as soon as possible.

I thought that with my degree from a top university, finding a job would not be hard.

But I underestimated Vivians methods.

In one week, I sent out over a hundred resumes.

Either they disappeared without a reply, or after I passed the interview, I would get a call the next day saying I was not a good fit.

Then I went to a fairly decent internet company.

HR handed my resume directly back to me.

Mr. Reed, if you offended someone you shouldnt have, then dont try to make it in New York. Go back to your hometown.

I clenched the resume, my knuckles turning white.

Vivian Grant.

She was trying to force me into a dead end and make me go back to beg her.

I stood under the blazing sun, looking at the Grant Group building in the distance.

It towered into the clouds, arrogant and untouchable.

Vivian Grant, dont even dream of it, I said through gritted teeth, one word at a time.

If I could not get into a big company, then I would go to a small one.

I would go somewhere that did not require connections, did not care about education, and only looked at performance.

In the end, I joined a newly established real estate agency.

The base salary was fifteen hundred, and the commission depended entirely on my own hustle.

The office had no AC, the electric scooter was old, and every day I handed out flyers on the street under heat close to forty degrees Celsius.

Hi, are you looking to buy a house? Theres a new development in the South District, right by good schools!

I stopped a passing middle-aged woman and handed her a thick flyer.

The woman waved me away in disgust, as if shooing a fly.

Go away, go away. Its too hot!

The flyers scattered all over the ground.

I crouched down and picked them up one by one.

Sweat flowed into my eyes, stinging sharply.

My white shirt was already soaked through with sweat and stuck tightly to my back.

But I had no time to complain.

After half a month, I was tanned and had lost ten pounds.

But I had also closed three small deals and earned over ten thousand in commission.

On payday, I bought a roast chicken and brought it to the hospital to eat with Mia.

Mia ate until her mouth was greasy, smiling happily.

Looking at her, I felt everything was worth it.

Just when I thought life was finally getting back on track.

Trouble came to my door.

That afternoon, the manager suddenly called me into his office.

Liam, theres a big client tonight who specifically wants to see that villa at Nanshan Manor. Come with me.

The manager rubbed his hands together, his face full of excitement.

Nanshan Manor? Thats a mansion worth over a hundred million!

Exactly! If this deal closes, the commission alone will be over a million! Youre lucky, kid!

A faint unease rose in my heart.

How could such a huge deal fall into the lap of a newcomer like me?

But a million in commission was too tempting.

With that money, Mias surgery and follow-up recovery fees would all be covered.

I pushed down my doubts and followed the manager to Nanshan Manor.

The moment I pushed open the door to the luxury private room.

All the blood in my body seemed to freeze.

On the leather sofa.

Vivian sat with her legs crossed, holding a glass of red wine and looking at me with a half-smile.

Ethan sat beside her in a custom suit, his face full of superiority.

There were also several rich heirs from their circle in the room, all staring at me like they were waiting for a good show.

Ms. Grant, I brought him. The manager nodded and bowed as he hurried over.

I turned to leave.

Stop. Vivian spoke coldly.

Two bodyguards immediately blocked the door.

I turned back and looked at her coldly.

Ms. Grant, if you want to buy a house, then look at the house. If not, I still need to get off work.

Ethan burst out laughing.

Vivian, this is the man you said had such a backbone? How did he end up like this?

He looked me up and down, taking in my cheap work clothes and sun-roughened skin, his eyes full of contempt.

I heard youre selling houses? Fine. Ethan took a stack of cash from his bag and threw it onto the table.

Drink these three bottles of liquor on the table, and Ill sign the contract for this hundred-million-dollar villa with you.

On the table sat three bottles of strong liquor.

The manager kept desperately winking at me from the side.

Liam, drink it! Ms. Grant and Mr. Sullivan are giving you respect!

I looked at the three bottles of liquor.

I was allergic to alcohol, and if I drank that much, I could die.

Vivian looked at me, her gaze carrying the charity of someone high above me.

Liam, as long as you drink it, this deal will be yours. Not only that, Ill pay for all of your sisters follow-up treatment overseas.

She was certain I would compromise.

Just like every time over the past three years when she had used Mia to threaten me.

I walked to the table.

Ethans smile grew even more smug.

A loser really is a loser. For money, he doesnt even care about his life.

I picked up a bottle of liquor.

I twisted off the cap.

Then.

I flipped my wrist.

Splash!

The entire bottle of liquor landed precisely on Ethans custom suit worth hundreds of thousands.