Chapter 1

Ten years after our divorce, I ran into my ex-husband at a nightclub.

He was the domineering CEO buying drinks for the entire venue to celebrate Rose's birthday.

And I was the delivery driver bringing them condoms.

The whole time, he pretended not to see me.

Until I got down on my knees and begged, all for a five-star rating.

Looking at my gaunt, skeletal face, he grabbed my chin and demanded coldly:

"You'd rather deliver food than stay married to me?"

"Mata, you're pathetic!"

I didn't take it to heart. I just pointed at his phone.

"Could you... give me a five-star rating?"

Ten years had passed. Whatever love we once had was long gone.

But every five-star rating brought me closer to getting promoted and earning more money.

Money I desperately needed to secure the last available treatment slot.

"Begging on your knees for a five-star rating!"

"Mata, is this how you degrade yourself?"

Alex's face darkened instantly, probably embarrassed.

Then again, a five-star rating meant nothing to people like them.

But enough of them could get me promoted and earn me more money.

Rose giggled as she wrapped her arm around Alex's, marking her territory.

She wore a strapless dress, and the hickeys on her neck were painfully obvious.

The onlookers started cheering.

"Kiss! Kiss!"

Alex didn't shy away. Instead, he grabbed her waist and kissed her.

The expensive wine he'd ordered for Rose's birthday—over a hundred bottles.

But I'd need to earn thousands of five-star ratings just to afford one bottle of that wine.

Rose leaned close to me, a mocking smile on her lips.

"Alex has been waiting for you to apologize. But you divorced him out of spite and now you're out here delivering food. Aren't you embarrassed?"

I knew she was trying to provoke me.

In the past, when other women challenged me, I'd grab them by the hair and slap them senseless.

But now, I just looked at her calmly.

"I work for what I need. What's there to be embarrassed about?"

Hearing my response, Alex flew into a rage, laughing coldly.

"You want a five-star rating? Then show me some sincerity."

I was used to her deliberate humiliation by now.

Instead of lashing out, I reached for an empty wine bottle on the table.

Alex immediately stepped in front of her, watching me warily.

"Crack!"

But as the sharp sound of shattering glass rang out, everyone froze in shock.

"Alex, we're all working people. It's not easy for anyone."

"There's no need to make things hard for a delivery driver..."

Rose nestled into his arms, whimpering pitifully. Alex's brow furrowed.

"You want to stand up for her?"

He cut off the employee mid-sentence, his casual tone now laced with anger.

"If you don't want to get fired, shut up!"

The employee had only spoken casually, not wanting trouble, so he laughed awkwardly:

"I'm just worried she'll make a scene and damage the company's reputation. I didn't mean anything else..."

I'd hit myself too hard. My stomach convulsed violently.

The pain made me grimace as I crouched on the floor.

But soon, I covered the bleeding wound on my forehead, stood up, and reached for a second bottle.

Alex suddenly grabbed my arm.

"Are you trying to kill yourself?"

"Is this sincere enough?"

The moment the words left my mouth, someone slapped me hard across the face.

"Smack!"

I fell to the ground, my ears ringing.

My elbow was cut by broken glass on the floor, blood flowing freely.

Alex glared down at me, so angry his hands were shaking.

"You'd debase yourself for money, but there has to be a limit!"

"When you die, I'll pay for a grand funeral. Otherwise, don't expect a penny from me!"

I could only silently clutch my wound, my whole body trembling as I struggled to my feet.

That's right. Cold and ruthless.

This was the Alex I remembered.

In an instant, memories buried deep in my mind came flooding back like a tide.

"You bitch! You drugged me just to steal my billion-dollar deal!"

"You love money so much, why don't you just die?"