Chapter 3

Chapter 3

One day off, I went shopping with Lisa Harris, another waitress at the restaurant. She took me to drink milk tea, 逛 boutiques, and play claw machines.

I had never done any of these things before—they felt so fun! We had a great time together.

On our way back, a car suddenly pulled up in front of me. The window slowly rolled down, and a man wearing glasses in the back seat said to me: Excuse me, could I have your contact information?

I had never seen such a good-looking man before. His features were like they had been carved by God himself—fair and smooth skin, sharp, defined facial contours, and deep, dark eyes that could make someone fall in love at first sight. He looked as exquisite as a jade sculpture.

I was so stunned that I just stared at him. It wasn't until Lisa Harris nudged me that I came to my senses: O-Okay, sure.

We exchanged contact information that day. That night, he suddenly sent me a message:

Would you like to marry me?

I was shocked when I saw that message. Was he being this direct?

Lisa Harris said he must be rich—he was driving a Bentley. I didn't know much about luxury cars, so I looked it up online. Sure enough, he was wealthy.

I asked him why he had taken a fancy to me. All he said was that it was "love at first sight."

My mind immediately jumped to the Cinderella story—marrying into a wealthy family. I couldn't believe I was so lucky.

Early the next morning, he came to the restaurant where I worked and asked my boss for a day off for me.

He took me to a shopping mall and bought me a lot of brightly colored dresses. I had never worn such beautiful clothes before.

It's true what they say—clothes make the man (or woman). I felt like my appearance and temperament had improved drastically overnight.

After that, he took me to a hair salon and had my hair permed into loose curls. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I felt both strange and familiar—as if I were looking at a different person.

And in a way, I was. He had been dressing me up to look like Sophia Wilson all along.

But back then, I had no idea what he was thinking. All I knew was that no one had ever put so much thought into me before—he was the first.

I thought my true love had finally come. When someone has never felt loved, even a little bit of kindness can make them cling tightly to that person. It felt like I had been groping in the dark for a long time, and finally, I had seen a glimmer of light that belonged to me.

When I got back that day, I agreed to marry him.

But my household registration book was still in my hometown. He said he would go back with me to get it. I returned to my hometown with a mix of anxiety and hope.

As soon as my mom saw me, she started yelling: You ungrateful wretch! How dare you come back? I'll beat you to death today!

Dressed up like a floozy—did you go out to seduce men?

She raised a slipper and walked towards me, but then she noticed Ryan Bennett behind me. Perhaps she was struck by his elegant clothes and noble demeanor, because she stopped in her tracks and asked: Who is this man?

I took a deep breath, summoned up my courage, and introduced him: This is my fiancé, Ryan Bennett.

How dare you find a man on your own? Do you even have your parents in your eyes?

My dad heard the commotion and came out of the house.

You shameless good-for-nothing! Which daughter acts as shamelessly as you do, finding a man on her own?

What does he do? What's his family background like?

It was true—I had only known Ryan Bennett for three or four days, and I had no idea what he did for a living.

Ryan Bennett stepped in front of me and said in a calm tone: I'm here to get Ella's household registration book so we can register our marriage. I won't treat her badly.

My mom snorted coldly: If you want to marry her, you have to give us five hundred thousand yuan in betrothal money, and you have to buy my son an apartment in the county seat.

My brother stood at the door, looking like he was enjoying the show. I never thought my mom would be so greedy.

Mom! How could you say that?

How could I? We worked so hard to raise you—did you think it was for nothing?

My face burned with anger and embarrassment. I was afraid Ryan Bennett would look down on me, but to my surprise, he said:

Okay, that's fine.

Then he handed my mom a bank card.