He Funded His Other Life with My Money

To test my fiancé Ethan Wilson, I always pretended to be an ordinary office worker.

He firmly believed my best friend Noreen Fowler, who loved wearing designer brands, was the long-lost heiress of the Palmer Group.

He constantly manipulated me. "Julissa, can't you learn from Noreen's confidence? Stop acting so cheap."

Meanwhile, he secretly texted Noreen. "Babe, just hang in there. Once I secure the Palmer Group, I'll dump her."

At the Palmer Group's anniversary gala, he thought his moment had arrived.

In front of all the guests and media, he got down on one knee and aimed a diamond ring at Noreen. "Noreen, I know you've been using your friend's identity to test me, but I love your soul! Marry me, and let's run the Palmer Group together!"

...

To attend the Palmer Group's anniversary gala, Ethan took me shopping for a dress.

He skillfully avoided the luxury boutiques and dragged me into a fast-fashion discount store.

"Julissa, this one's nice." He picked up a chiffon dress with a price tag of $29.99.

I touched the rough fabric but said nothing.

"I know you don't like extravagance. This suits your style. Unlike Noreen, who's always flaunting designer stuff. So tacky." As he spoke, his eyes drifted to a mannequin in the opposite store window.

It wore the latest haute couture gown, the kind Noreen loved but he called tacky.

I gave a faint smile. "Really? I think Noreen looks good in anything."

Ethan's face stiffened for a moment before he threw an arm around my shoulders. "She's got a good foundation, but you're not bad either. Wear this, and you'll still steal the show."

He shoved the dress into my hands and nudged me toward the fitting room.

Just then, a perky voice interrupted. "Ethan, Julissa, what a coincidence!"

Noreen, dressed in a Chanel suit and carrying the latest Hermès bag, strutted over.

Ethan's eyes lit up instantly.

He let go of me and hurried to her. "Noreen, what are you doing here?"

"Shopping with a client." Noreen flicked her perfectly styled wavy hair, her gaze landing on the cheap dress in my hands. A flicker of disdain crossed her eyes. "Julissa, you're wearing that to the Palmer Group gala?"

Several nearby customers glanced over.

My cheeks flushed, but Ethan quickly smoothed things over. "Julissa's used to being frugal. Noreen, what do you think she should wear?"

While asking her, he unconsciously stepped closer to Noreen.

She sized me up and shook her head. "Julissa's vibe doesn't suit these. Want to borrow a dress I bought the other day? Never worn it."

Her words sounded kind but dripped with boastful pity.

I forced a smile. "No thanks. I like this one."

I took the $29.99 dress and headed to the fitting room.

In the mirror, I caught Ethan whispering to Noreen, his eyes full of adoration and flattery.

Noreen, meanwhile, carried herself like a queen.

When I came out, I paid for the dress.

Ethan looked surprised but mostly pleased. "Julissa, you're such a good girl. Not materialistic at all."

On the way home, his phone pinged.

He glanced at it and locked the screen quickly.

But I glimpsed the message. Noreen. "Ethan, you're so sweet to Julissa. I'm almost jealous..."

Back at our rented apartment, Ethan suddenly hugged me from behind. "Julissa, I've got this investment project with great returns. Just short on startup cash."

"How much?"

"Twenty thousand."

His eyes darted away, avoiding mine.

That twenty thousand was everything I saved over years of work.

He knew it.

"Didn't you say Noreen's family is loaded? Why not ask her?" I prodded.

Ethan's face flashed with irritation. "How could I use a woman's money? Julissa, I want to build our future with our own efforts! Once this project succeeds, we'll get a bigger place, okay?"

Same old lines.

I stayed quiet for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. I'll transfer it tomorrow."

His face broke into a wide grin, and he kissed my forehead. "I knew you'd have my back!"

That night, he slept soundly while I lay awake, staring at the ceiling until dawn.

The next day, I sent him the twenty thousand.

When he got the transfer, he spun me around. "You're the best, babe! When I strike it rich, I'll buy you the biggest diamond ring!"

That afternoon, after I sent the money, Noreen texted me.

She sent a picture of a dazzling diamond bracelet and a screenshot of a jewelry store receipt. The price was $20, 800.

"Julissa, look at this bracelet Ethan got me! He said it's to thank me for helping him land a client. Ugh, why's he so good to me!"

Even through the screen, I could picture her smug, hypocritical expression.

I didn't reply.

I tossed my phone aside and kept working on my project proposal.

It was the first task my dad gave me, planning the launch of a new charity project.

He wanted me to do something meaningful for society before officially returning to the Palmer Group.

The partner's representative, Isaac Barton, came highly recommended by my dad.

That evening, Ethan came home.

He was in a great mood, humming a tune and carrying a cake box. "Babe, let's celebrate! My project's a done deal! I know you don't like overly sweet stuff, so I picked this one."

He eagerly cut a slice and handed it to me.

I noticed his wrist was bare. The old watch he wore for days was gone.

Probably sold to cover the cost of that bracelet.

"Really? That calls for a celebration." I took the cake and forked a small bite into my mouth.

"By the way," he said casually, "my parents want to meet you this weekend. Let's have dinner together."

I smirked inwardly.

Ethan's parents were textbook snobs, always looking down on me for being an ordinary office worker with no connections.

This sudden dinner invite? They must have heard something from Ethan.

"Sounds good." I agreed easily.

I was curious to see what kind of show their family would put on.

On Saturday, I wore the $29.99 chiffon dress on purpose.

Ethan frowned when he saw it but said nothing, just hurried me along.

The restaurant was a fancy private dining spot, with meals costing hundreds per person.

Ethan's parents were already there.

His mom's disdain was obvious the moment she saw me.

"Julissa, you're here. Sit down." She forced a smile.

At the table, Ethan's dad rambled on about global affairs and stock markets, acting like a master strategist.

His mom kept piling food onto my plate, but her words always circled back to Noreen.

"Julissa, you're close with Noreen, right? Our Ethan's lucky to know her. She's opened doors to high society for him. I heard Noreen's the daughter of the Palmer Group's chairman? What a charmed life. Not like us regular folks, slaving away forever. You're so tight with Noreen. You should learn from her. Girls need to aim higher, not just cling to a measly paycheck."

The Palmer Group chairman's daughter?

When I got lost as a kid, Noreen's parents stole my bracelet with my birth date engraved on it.

They raised her to believe she was the misplaced heiress.

But fakes don't become real.

I just smiled and nodded occasionally, neither arguing nor agreeing.

Halfway through the meal, Ethan's mom changed her tone. "Julissa, you and Ethan have been together a while. As parents, we'd love to have grandkids soon. But you know how crazy house prices are in Glimmer City these days. It's tough for you young folks, and we get that. I heard Noreen owns several properties. Since you two are so close, could you ask her to lend you one for a marital home?"

The room went silent.

I nearly laughed out loud.

"Mrs. Wilson, Noreen's houses are her private property. No matter how close we are, I have no right to ask her for one."

Ethan's mom's face soured instantly. "Why are you so stubborn? It's just borrowing a place, not keeping it! Once Ethan makes it big, he'll pay her back tenfold, a hundredfold!"

"Exactly," Ethan's dad chimed in. "Young people should know how to use their connections. You've got a goldmine like Noreen and don't even know how to tap it. So foolish."

I stared at their ugly expressions, my stomach churning. "That's just how foolish I am. I'm done eating. Enjoy your meal."

"Julissa!" Ethan's face burned with anger. "How dare you talk to my parents like that!"

"I just told the truth. If you think I'm wrong, I have nothing more to say." I walked out of the private room without looking back.

Behind me, Ethan's mom's shrill voice echoed. "Unbelievable! We don't need an ill-mannered woman like her in our family!"

Back at the apartment, I started packing.

I couldn't stand another second in this place full of lies and schemes.

Soon, Ethan stormed in, yelling as soon as he saw me. "Julissa, did you mean to embarrass me today?"

"I just didn't want to play along with your act." I stuffed the last shirt blindly into my suitcase and zipped it shut.

"What are you doing? Running away?"

"Not running away. Breaking up. Ethan, we're done."

He laughed like I'd told a ridiculous joke. "Breaking up? Julissa, are you out of your mind? What do you have without me? You think you're something special? Just a plain office worker with a meager salary and average looks. I'm doing you a favor by being with you! Don't try that hard-to-get nonsense with me. It won't work! Apologize to my parents now, or else..."

"Or else what?" I cut him off. "Or else we break up, and you can openly chase your 'true heiress' Noreen?"

Ethan's face went pale.

He hadn't expected me to call it out so bluntly. "What... what are you talking about!"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about." I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the door. "Ethan, haven't you always thought I'm beneath you? Now I'm setting you free. Good luck taking over the Palmer Group and winning your beauty."

As I opened the door to leave, my phone rang.

I put it on speaker, and Noreen's affected voice came through. "Julissa, did you and Ethan fight? He just called me, sounding really upset. Don't hold it against him; he's just thinking about your future. Guys need their pride, you know. Oh, and I forgot to mention, Ethan got me an invitation to the Palmer Group gala. Let's go together!"

Ethan snatched my phone. "Noreen, don't worry about her! She's just crazy! Trust me, our plan hasn't changed. On the gala day, I'll have a huge surprise for you!"

Noreen let out a coy giggle on the other end. "Awesome, I can't wait."

Ethan hung up and smirked at me triumphantly. "Hear that? Julissa, I don't need you to succeed. Now you're the one begging me not to break up. Just behave, and when I... when I secure the Palmer Group with Noreen, you'll get your share."

I looked at his smug, despicable face and felt nothing but disgust.

Without a word, I pulled my suitcase and walked out of that suffocating place.

Downstairs, my dad's driver, Walter, had been waiting for a while.

He took my suitcase and respectfully opened the car door. "Miss, the chairman says, welcome home."

I slid into the car, watching the city streets blur past the window.

This test I orchestrated was finally reaching its final act.