My Fiancée Accepted Another Man's Proposal. Now Her Family Wants My Millions In Your Dreams!

On our third anniversary, I planned to surprise Chloe with a proposal and take her straight to City Hall to get married. I even took a grueling red-eye flight back to the country just to make it in time.

I had been scrolling through social media looking for proposal ideas when a viral video with tens of millions of views caught my eye.

Under a stunning sky of artificial northern lights and a canopy of stars, thousands of pink roses swayed in the wind. In the center of it all, a man was down on one knee.

The comment section was flooded with congratulations, everyone envying the rich guys "financial superpower."

My grip tightened on my phone. With trembling fingers, I uploaded the video of my own engagement party from a year ago.

Because the woman receiving the grand proposal in that viral video was Chloemy fiance.

00

The moment I posted the video, it blew up.

"What is going on here? A proposal on one side, and an engagement on the other?"

"Look at the timestamp in the photos! The engagement was a year ago. Bro, your green hat is brighter than those artificial northern lights."

"Run, bro! She's a textbook gold digger!"

Right then, Chloe called to check in, just like she did every day. She clearly had no idea she had just become an internet sensation.

"Hey babe, Im still out of town on this business trip. I might have a business dinner tonight, so I won't be able to FaceTime. Miss me, okay? Mua!" she chirped, blowing a quick kiss into the receiver.

Through the phone, I could hear loud music and people cheering in the background. I even faintly heard someone shouting, "Kiss her! Kiss her!"

But Chloe didn't bother to explain.

She was always like this, never caring about my feelings.

To make it back for our third anniversary, I had spent over ten hours on connecting flights. I had pulled three all-nighters straight to cram a week's worth of business meetings into three days.

She always claimed she was an introvert who hated big, flashy crowds. So, I spent hours decorating our cozy apartment with her favorite pink roses.

But now I realized she didn't hate grand gestures. She just hated them with me.

"You can't make it back again?" My voice cracked. For three years, she had bailed on every single anniversary with the exact same excuse.

"Its not even a big deal, Ethan. If I rush back now, Ill have to drive for two hours. Do you know how tiring that is?" she whined, trying to act cute.

Right. A two-hour drive was too tiring for her. But my ten-hour flight and three days of no sleep meant absolutely nothing.

"It must be exhausting. After all, you've been busy getting proposed to all day. How could you possibly find the time to come back?"

The line went dead silent for a moment. Then, Chloe burst into defensive tears. "What the hell are you talking about? We aren't even married yet, and you're already spying on me? I work so hard every day for what? For our future! For our home!"

"If I dont work, do you think we can survive on your pathetic salary?"

I let out a cold laugh and forwarded her the viral proposal video on Snapchat.

"Are the artificial northern lights beautiful? The roses look great too. And that diamond ringso big and shiny."

"Since when did your job description change to 'stand-in fiance'? How much do they pay you per day for that?"

For a long time, there was no sound from the other end of the line, only her rapid, panicked breathing.

She must have finally opened TikTok and seen the comment section.

"Ethan Miller! We aren't married yet, and you're already tracking my every move? Delete that video right now!" Chloe screamed, her voice shaking with rage.

"Julian and I were classmates in college! He has a girlfriend. He just asked me to help him test out the venue today!"

"Do you have to make such a big deal out of nothing? We've been together for three years. Don't you have any trust in me?"

"Besides, Julian has several major projects tied to our company right now. How could I dare offend a VIP client? You're just insecure because of your own lack of ability, you coward!"

As always, she turned it around to attack my competence, comparing me to Julian.

"Then what about the ring?" I asked.

A rock that size on her finger was hard to miss.

"My ring size is similar to his fiance's! He was nervous, so he asked me to try it on to see how it looked. It was just a rehearsal to calm his nerves!"

Chloe only dared to lie so shamelessly because she knew how much I loved her.

But this lie was too ridiculous even for a toddler. She was only comforting her own guilt.

I was too exhausted to argue. Summoning every ounce of courage I had left, I said, "Return the $50,000 wedding fund I gave your family. The wedding is off."

###0

I hung up, feeling completely hollowed out. I tore down all the pink roses, threw them in the trash, and booked a professional cleaning service on the app. I had them pack up every single piece of Chloe's clothing and belongings and dump them outside the building.

Looking at the empty apartment, my body finally relaxed. The exhaustion of three days without sleep caught up to me, and I collapsed onto the floor, losing consciousness.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed.

The nurse told me the cleaning crew had found me and called an ambulance. They had prepaid the fee and requested a refund through the platform.

I nodded, opened my phone to pay them back, and was immediately bombarded with Snapchat notifications from Chloe.

"Babe, I was a bit harsh last night. But if you hadn't accused me first, I wouldn't have gotten so angry."

"Please don't be mad at me, okay?"

Seeing that I didn't reply, her tone quickly shifted back to arrogance.

"Ethan, you were the one who begged me to be with you in the first place. I already explained everything about Julian. Stop acting like a dramatic, whiny child over nothing!"

Even now, she still thought I was the one making a scene.

I opened the video I had posted. It was still trending, but the comment section had split into two opposing sides.

*They aren't even married yet. It's the 21st century, why can't a girl choose a guy with better financial prospects?*

*Why is everyone blaming the girl? Maybe the guy is just too broke to afford a wedding after all these years?*

As the video gained traction overnight, Chloes parents had somehow seen it.

They had actually liked those comments and even replied publicly:

*When did Julian get back? Bring him over for dinner tomorrow night.*

*It's been so long. Bring him over quickly! Arthur has been talking about having a drink with him for years. He hasn't had a good drink since Julian left.*

I stared at their comments, feeling a cold numbness wash over me.

So, Chloe had already brought Julian home back when they were in college.

Judging by her parents' warm attitude, they loved Julian. What did that make me?

For the past three years, every time I visited her parents, they treated me like garbage.

Our engagement had been a nightmare to arrange.

Her parents looked down on me because I was just an entry-level employee making peanuts back then.

They despised the fact that I wasn't a local and didn't own a house or a car. They did everything they could to tear us apart.

To prove myself, I worked myself to the bone. I drank so much at business dinners that I ended up with stomach bleeding, all because I wanted to build a life in this city and prove to her parents that Chloe hadn't made a mistake.

Finally, I made manager. Then, luck struck, and I was promoted to General Manager.

In just two years, I saved up enough for the wedding fund and the down payment on a condo.

Only then did her parents reluctantly agree to our engagement.

Over the years, I didn't just work; I had to constantly cater to her parents. I sent them a monthly allowance of 0-0,000 to cover their mortgage and bills.

Following her parents' demands, the deed to our condo was registered solely under Chloe's name.

I worked overtime constantly to pay off that mortgage. The moment it was paid off, her parents claimed the condo was too small and demanded I buy another house under her younger brother Leo's name for them to live in.

And like a fool, I agreed to that too.

Yet, they still treated me like a second-class citizen. They looked down on my small-town upbringing, thinking I lacked class.

I quietly closed the app. Another Snapchat notification popped up from Chloe: *Julian is coming over to my parents' place for dinner tonight. Are you coming?*

Before I could even type "No," her next message popped up: *My dad said he wants a luxury watch, and Leo wants the new iPhone. My mom has her eye on a Hermes bag. Don't forget to buy them and bring them over.*

*Julian prepared very expensive gifts for tonight. Do not make me look bad in front of him.*

I looked at the screen and let out a bitter, mocking laugh.

Did they honestly think I was the Jenkins familys personal, bottomless ATM?

I immediately called my assistant and told her to prepare a lawsuit. I wanted every single cent I had spent on them back. If they refused to pay, I would drag them to court.

When I arrived at the Jenkins' house, I saw Julian sitting on the sofa, laughing and chatting with Chloe's parents like they were one big happy family.

Seeing my empty hands, Chloe's face darkened instantly. She rushed over, grabbed my arm, and pinched my waist hard. "Where are the things I asked you to buy?"

"Ethan, are you trying to humiliate me on purpose?"

Mrs. Jenkins was even worse. In the past, she at least ignored me while grabbing the expensive gifts from my hands. Now, she looked right through me as if I were invisible.

Right then, Julian started showcasing his gifts.

"Arthur, Helen, I bought this premium red ginseng for you both. It's great for your health."

"And I got this iPad and MacBook for Leo. I heard he's in college now, so these should be useful."

"I came back in a hurry, so I didn't have time to prepare much. I hope you don't mind."

I knew Julian was doing this on purpose.

I had bought them far more expensive electronics over the years, but they had never treated me with even a fraction of this warmth.

The parents beamed as they accepted the gifts, throwing a disdainful glance at me.

"What are you standing there for?" Mrs. Jenkins snapped. "A grown man coming to eat for free. Go to the kitchen and help bring out the dishes!"

###0

They still expected me to play the submissive servant, just like always.

If this were the past, I would have gone straight to the kitchen without a word.

But now, I stood by the door, completely still.

Chloe pinched me again, but I shoved her hand away coldly. "Ethan! What the hell is wrong with you? If you didn't want to come, you shouldn't have! I didn't force you!"

"Do you have to ruin everyones mood to be satisfied?"

Leo chimed in from the couch, "Exactly! Chloe said you were going to bring me the new iPhone. Instead, you showed up empty-handed. Julian was the one who actually got me gifts. How do you even have the face to stand there?"

Looking at this family of parasites, I realized how pathetic I had been. Every word they said was a reminder of how I had let them treat me like a dog for three years.

"Are you all paralyzed? If you want expensive things, why don't you get off your asses, get a job, and buy them yourselves?"

Chloe's eyes widened in fury. "Ethan! How dare you talk to my family like that? Where are your manners?"

"I told you from day one he was just a classless boy from a small town!" Mrs. Jenkins added, sneering. "He has no breeding. We aren't even married yet, and hes already disrespecting us. Imagine what he'll be like after the wedding!"

"Ethan, are you still throwing a tantrum over that video from last night?" Arthur Jenkins, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke up.

"Chloe explained everything to us. It was just a misunderstanding."

"Since she explained it, you should drop it. You know our families come from different social backgrounds. Why are you being so petty over a silly internet rumor?"

Julian smiled politely and joined in. "Yes, Ethan. It was just a misunderstanding. Even if you don't trust me, you should trust Chloe. Shes such a good girl, she would never jeopardize her reputation. How is she supposed to face the neighbors if you keep making a scene?"

"As a man, your job is to work hard and give her a better life, not to restrict her social circle."

Julians words were so smooth. If he cared so much about her, why didn't he buy Chloe and her brother a house?

"This is what real class looks like," Mrs. Jenkins sneered, looking at Julian before turning back to me. "If our family hadn't gone through that financial crisis back then, do you honestly think a loser like you would have ever had a chance with my daughter?"

She was referring to the time their family business went bankrupt due to fraud and cutting corners.

Chloe and Julian had been dating in college.

They had planned to move abroad together, but after the bankruptcy, Chloe was forced to stay behind.

She didn't even finish her degree and had to start working.

Unable to survive the long-distance relationship, she and Julian broke up.

When I first started dating Chloe, she constantly begged me for money to support her family.

At first, she didn't tell me about their bankruptcy. It was only after I pressed her that she admitted they owed a massive debt.

I didn't care about the money back then. I just felt incredibly sorry for her, thinking she was a brilliant girl whose future had been ruined by her family's misfortune.

So, I worked harder. In the end, I was the one who paid off their entire $500,000 debt.

But the Jenkins family never showed a shred of gratitude. They took it all for granted.

To them, Julian and Chloe were the perfect match. If I hadn't interfered, they would have been together long ago. With Julians wealthy background, they wouldnt have had to suffer for so many years.

"Since you love Julian so much, perfect," I said coldly. "Return all the money I've spent on your family over the past three years. The wedding is off. I'm stepping aside to let them be together."

Arthur and Helen Jenkins stared at me in disbelief. I had spent three years acting like a loyal golden retriever, doing whatever Chloe asked. This was the first time they had ever seen me stand up for myself.

"Ethan, have you no shame?" Leo yelled. "My sister gave you three of her best years without even asking for a marriage certificate, and now you want your money back?"

Mrs. Jenkins pointed a finger at my face, her voice screeching. "What do you think my daughter is? A toy? You got to sleep with her for three years for free! If you want to call off the wedding, fine! But that money is what she deserves. You won't get a single dime back!"

For three years, I had never actually slept with Chloe.

She insisted on saving herself for our wedding night, claiming she wanted our first time to be special.

If Chloe hadn't cheated, I would have tolerated her family's awful behavior. Even after discovering her betrayal, I was initially willing to write off the $500,000 debt and let her keep the condo out of respect for our past.

But their utter shamelessness made me want to strip them of everything.

"Ethan, I think you've really misunderstood," Julian said, standing up with a sigh of mock disappointment. "If my presence causes this much trouble, I won't see Chloe again. Arthur, Helen, I'm so sorry for causing this drama. I should probably leave."

Arthur Jenkins immediately grabbed Julian's wrist to stop him.

"This has nothing to do with you, Julian! It's just this petty boy being insecure. You are our honored guest. If anyone is leaving, its the trash!"

By "trash," he meant me. I pulled out the legal notice and the court summons and tossed them right in front of Chloe.

She instantly exploded. "Ethan, are you out of your mind? If you want to get lost, get lost! Don't use some fake lawsuit to threaten me!"

She shoved me out the front door and slammed it in my face.

Before the door clicked shut, I heard Leos panicked voice from inside. "Chloe, you just kicked him out... but what about the money? Over the years, he really did pay for a lot of our"

"Shut up!" Chloe barked, cutting him off.

"What do you know? He's just upset because of that video. He's throwing a tantrum to try and gain some leverage over me."

"What is this garbage anyway?" Chloe scoffed. I could hear the sound of paper being ripped to shreds. "Just wait. In a few days, he'll come crawling back like a dog, begging for my forgiveness!"

"You really know how to handle him, Chloe!" Leo laughed.

The heavy thud of the door cut off the rest of their conversation.

In that exact moment, whatever love I had left for Chloe died.