Chapter 2

I knew she might love my money more than me. But money was the one thing I had in abundance. I didn’t care how much I gave her.

I thought that, given enough time, our feelings would grow into something real.

And over the years, she had been attentive.

When Sophie heard that our neighbor’s husband had bought her a luxury yacht, she begged me to build her a seven-star hotel. I agreed without hesitation, found the land, and called in the right people.

And what did she do? Handed it to her boy toy. Who just happened to be my old nemesis.

Thinking back, that flicker of excitement when I’d told her I couldn’t attend the opening hadn’t been my imagination.

Even now, she was calling to make sure I wouldn’t show up.

I could make her fall just as far as I’d raised her.

The next day, I postponed my business engagement and drove my Maybach to the hotel.

The moment I entered the lobby, I saw a huge LED screen cycling through intimate photos of Sophie and Logan.

A caption ran underneath:

“Celebrating the Grand Opening of the Grand Meridian and the Engagement of Logan Pierce and Sophie Bennett.”

Logan stood among a crowd, laughing and chatting. Our old high school classmates surrounded him.

And the custom Armani suit he was wearing was identical to mine.

Sophie had actually asked my personal designer to make two of the same suit. Bold of her. Had she really thought I’d never find out? I walked through the crowd toward them. Logan’s face fell the moment he saw me, while everyone else looked at me with contempt.

“Huh? Daniel Hayes? Look who it is. You said you weren’t coming and ignored everyone in the group, but you still came crawling over like a little lapdog.”

The class president, Logan’s most devoted lackey, spoke first. A woman beside him spotted my suit and pointed.

“You actually wore the same thing as Logan? This is his day. Did you do that on purpose?”

Logan and I met each other’s eyes. Suddenly, he burst out laughing.

“Daniel, I know life hasn’t been kind to you. I get it. But why wear a knockoff? Isn’t it embarrassing standing next to the real thing?”

Everyone nodded, their disgust deepening.

One eager flatterer jumped in:

“Look, there are two letters embroidered on his cuff. Logan’s doesn’t have those. Obviously Logan’s is the real one.”

DH. My initials. I always had my designer embroider them onto my custom suits.

“Daniel, did you spend two hundred bucks on that getup hoping we’d mistake you for some business tycoon and kiss your ass? That’s pathetic.”

I remained calm as they laughed at me.

“Mine is real.”

That only made them laugh harder.

“A delivery guy can afford the real thing? Please. I bet even that two-hundred-dollar fake has you crying under your blankets over the money you spent.”

“If he can afford a real one, I’ll eat shit on a livestream. What a shameless liar.”

“Someone’s scared of losing that old bet and licking Logan’s shoes, so he’s putting on an act.”

Their voices buzzed around me like a swarm of flies.

With everyone backing him up, Logan grew even more arrogant.

“Since you’re doing so badly, I’ll be generous and go easy on you. My hotel still needs someone to unclog the toilets. Beats working outside in the heat and rain. Beg nicely, and I might consider hiring you.”

Everyone roared with laughter. They were already waiting for me to drop to my knees. Even passing guests began pointing and whispering.

I narrowed my eyes and surveyed the magnificent lobby.

“You’re saying this hotel belongs to you?”

Before Logan could answer, someone rushed to speak for him:

“Logan’s got game! He landed the CEO of Sterling Group, and she gave him a seven-star hotel just like that. This place must be worth tens of millions. You’re going crazy with jealousy, aren’t you, Daniel?”

Logan stroked his chin smugly.

“Probably closer to a hundred million.”

I gave a dismissive laugh. The hotel had cost a billion to build. He didn’t even understand the luxury he was pretending to own.

At the mention of a hundred million, everyone’s eyes widened, and they redoubled their efforts to flatter him.

“Your fiancée is seriously loaded. A hundred million, just like that! Only Logan could pull that off. With his family’s money and a wealthy wife, you’ll shoot straight to the top of the rich list!”

Logan glowed under their praise. I sneered inwardly. All their wealth combined wouldn’t amount to a fraction of mine.

“By the way, Logan, where are your parents?”

The class president’s question made Logan’s expression shift.

“They’re traveling around the world. They couldn’t make it.”

Someone noticed his reluctance to discuss them and quickly changed the subject.

“You’re such a good son! When Logan makes it big, we’ll all get a piece of the pie. Unlike certain people, who don’t even deserve the scraps.”

“Exactly. Logan’s the real deal. Some people borrow fancy clothes and pretend they’re rich when they’ve probably been patching the same underwear for years.”

Everyone turned to me again and rolled their eyes.

After all these years, their bootlicking faces hadn’t changed. Letting them stay would only dirty my property and drag down the hotel’s standards.

I took out my phone to call the general manager, cancel the banquet, and have security throw them out.

“Oh, you rented a tri-fold phone, too? Too embarrassed to bring your old flip phone?”

I shot the speaker a cold look, and he shrank back.

After years at the top of the business world, I knew how to intimidate someone.

Just as I was about to place the call, Logan lunged forward, snatched my phone, and punched me.

“Why do you have a picture with my fiancée?”