He Wanted a Doll, I Became a Legend

After three years together, the man who had once promised to marry me, Babur Caldwell, threw me out the moment he got into Redmont University.

"Valeria, a pretty little fool who only knows how to dress up, how could you ever be worthy of someone like me, a future elite of Gilded Row?"

Later, when I, Valerie Quinn, became the Financial Queen admired by thousands, he knelt in front of me, sobbing, begging for another chance.

Holding the bouquet Kearney Smith had sent me, I answered in the same tone he had once used.

"Sorry, Babur, someone as short-sighted as you isn't worthy of an elite like me."

......

On the fifth anniversary of our relationship, Babur suddenly sent me a photo of a diamond ring.

I was overjoyed and immediately shared the news with my friend.

"Oh my God, Babur just bought a ring! He has to be planning to propose! He used to say he wouldn't get married until he secured an offer from Redmont University, and now he couldn't even wait to buy a ring. He must not want to keep me waiting any longer."

My friend's expression turned strange.

She fell silent for a moment before speaking softly.

"Valeria, you didn't know? Babur already got into Redmont University. He invited us to his celebration party last night, and yesterday he also said..."

"Really? He got into Redmont?"

I nearly jumped, shaking her shoulders in excitement.

"That's amazing! He must be planning to surprise me! I'd better get ready!"

I could already picture him dropping to one knee and proposing to me.

But there was no trace of blessing on her face. After a long pause, she finally asked, "Valeria, are you sure Babur is going to marry you?"

"Of course." I answered without hesitation. "Babur loves me more than anyone in the world. After we graduated, he couldn't bear to see me struggle. He never let me work."

Thinking back on the years we had shared, I couldn't stop the smile tugging at my lips.

"Three years ago, at our graduation party, when he asked me to move in with him, he told me he would love me, take care of me, and protect me for the rest of his life."

My friend's expression grew even stranger, as if she had something on her mind.

But when I pressed her, she simply shook her head.

"It's nothing, Valeria. Weren't we going to buy a gift?"

We headed to the nearby mall together.

I was a regular there. I used to come almost every month to buy new accessories.

The sales associate knew me well. When she saw me, she gave me a teasing wink.

"Valeria, your boyfriend really spoils you. An hour ago, he bought a diamond ring next door. Looks like wedding bells are coming."

Thinking of the ring Babur had sent me, I couldn't help smiling.

"Yeah. It's our anniversary today, so I thought I'd get him something too."

After browsing for a long time, I finally chose a watch.

It matched the color of the necklace he had once given me. I was sure he would love it.

I could already imagine him wearing it with a tailored suit, confident and accomplished.

I swiped the card with practiced ease and picked up the box to leave.

The sales associate caught my wrist, her expression awkward.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Quinn, but your card has been frozen. The payment didn't go through."

"What?"

My first instinct was that the machine had made a mistake.

This was the supplementary card Babur had given me. After we moved in together, he told me I didn't need to work. He would take care of me.

He had placed the card in my hand himself. For the past few years, every expense of mine had come from it.

He said the card represented his love for me. How could it possibly be frozen?

Only after she confirmed it truly wouldn't work did I take out my phone and call Babur, only to realize I had been blocked.

I stood there, stunned.

The sales associate gently took the watch back from my hands, her tone no longer as warm as before.

"Ms. Quinn, maybe you should talk to Mr. Caldwell before making this purchase. I've heard Mr. Caldwell has been spending a lot of time with Professor Smith's daughter lately. Ms. Quinn, I have to say this. If you two have broken up, you shouldn't keep using your ex-boyfriend's card."

"That's impossible!" I shot back loudly. "Babur loves me more than anyone! Everyone knows that!"

I was shouting, but my friend gripped my hand, looking at me with pity.

People around us began to stare.

Their scrutinizing, contemptuous looks burned my skin.

As if I really were some shameless woman living off an ex-boyfriend's card.

But just that morning, Babur and I had woken up in the same bed.

I couldn't bear it anymore. I turned and ran.

Behind me, I could hear whispers rising, but my mind held only one thought, find Babur.

I went back to the home we shared.

Before I even stepped inside, I saw the candlelit dinner prepared through the window.

It was romantic, just like every anniversary before.

My mood lifted. It had to be a misunderstanding.

How could I doubt my own boyfriend because of what others said?

But when I opened the door, I was met with Babur's impatient face.

He shoved a large suitcase into my hands and pointed at several bags on the floor.

"Valeria. Take your things and get out of my house."

I stood frozen, lifting my head to look at Babur in disbelief.

His eyes were cold, as if he were looking at someone who meant nothing to him.

"We're done. Valeria. Take your things and leave my house."

It felt as though every drop of blood in my body had turned to ice. I opened my mouth, ready to ask if he was joking.

But when I saw the seriousness in his eyes, the words died in my throat.

After what felt like forever, I finally heard my own trembling voice.

"Why?"

Babur's gaze swept over me from head to toe, as though he were evaluating merchandise.

"Take a good look at yourself, Valeria. What can you do besides dress up?" His voice carried disgust, edged with mockery.

He opened an acceptance letter and held it out in front of me.

"I got into the Redmont Finance Department. Valeria. I'm heading to Gilded Row. I'll be one of the elites in the financial world. I'll be on business news, admired by everyone. And you? Dressed up like a Christmas tree, nothing but a pretty face. How could you ever be worthy of me?"

I felt something cold trail down my face. When I turned my head, the window reflected my smeared makeup and tear-streaked cheeks.

"It's not like that... Babur, you used to say you loved me exactly this way... You said all I had to do was look pretty and wait for you at home... Did you forget?"

I couldn't hold back my sobs. I grabbed his hand and broke down. "I don't want to break up, Babur. I'll learn. I'll work hard. I'll become someone worthy of you."

Babur shook off my hand and let me fall to the floor.

His eyes remained just as cold, as if I weren't the woman he had loved for three years but a tenant overstaying her welcome.

"Enough. Valeria. You'll never be able to do it. And I'm done wasting my money on an eye candy."

He dialed a number, and soon I heard his indifferent voice.

"Lacey, come pick up your best friend from my place. Or I'll demand the hundred thousand dollars I lent you back right now."

When Lacey Morgan arrived, I was still clinging to Babur, begging him not to throw me out.

My voice had grown hoarse from pleading. Tears blurred my vision until I couldn't even see his expression clearly.

The Babur who used to panic at the sight of my tears now forcefully pulled me away.

Like he was discarding trash, he shoved me toward Lacey.

"Listen, Lacey. I still have the IOU you signed. If you don't want me to reclaim that hundred thousand dollars, keep her away from me."

I felt my heart shatter.

Back then, Babur had been the one who insisted on lending Lacey the money. He said my friends were his friends.

Now he was using that same favor to threaten me into disappearing from his life.

I opened my mouth, but only a broken sound came out. Lacey grabbed my hand and dragged me into the car.

As the engine started, I pounded desperately on the window, watching Babur stand there, growing smaller and smaller in the distance.

Until he was gone.

I cried until I couldn't breathe and blacked out in the back seat.

When I woke up, I was lying on Lacey's bed.

Babur had supported me for three years. Other than depending on him, I knew how to do nothing.

I had no job, no savings, not even a place to stay.

Lacey took me in.

I could feel how worried she was.

She even took time off work to stay by my side.

But I couldn't forget Babur. In my dreams, I saw our past over and over again. He stood there smiling, arms open, waiting for me.

Yet whenever I ran toward him, the man whose eyes once overflowed with love would shove me away in disgust.

"You're not worthy of me, Valeria."

I would wake up screaming, tears streaming down my face.

Those words became a curse, echoing endlessly in my ears.

Two days passed like that. My world seemed to consist of nothing but grief.

Night after night, I jolted awake as if chased by demons. I couldn't eat. In just two days, I felt as though I no longer belonged among the living.

"Don't do this to yourself, Valeria."

Lacey sighed and took out a necklace, the exact style I had once told Babur I loved.

"I don't know who left it at my door, but I think it might be Babur. Valeria, he loved you so much before. He even went against his parents to be with you. Maybe this time he just acted on impulse. You two went through so much without breaking up. Maybe this is just a test. Valeria, you have to pull yourself together if you want to go back to him."

I clutched the necklace, remembering how Babur used to buy me jewelry every time he upset me. A sudden surge of joy and courage rose inside me.

"You're right, Lacey. I can't stay like this. I'm going to win him back."

I decided to see Babur one more time and talk things through. I would tell him I didn't blame him for what he had said.

As long as he still loved me, I would stay with him.

I would even start learning how to be a proper wife. One day, I would stand by his side and fight my way up Gilded Row with him.

I told Lacey every detail of my plan. Her eyes flickered for a moment, but she didn't interrupt.

As we were heading out, she gently removed the necklace from my neck.

"Valeria, Babur said he didn't like you looking like that. Maybe he wants you to dress more... simply?"

Lacey handed me a few photos. I recognized the girl in them. She had been the top student in our class, and I'd heard she was already studying at an outstanding school.

I styled myself to match the photos.

I tied up my long blonde hair, removed my manicure, skipped the makeup, and put on a plain pair of glasses.

The sexy mini skirts were replaced with jeans that covered my legs completely.

"Oh my God, Valerie, you look like a total academic overachiever now," Lacey exclaimed dramatically.

I looked at myself in the mirror and managed a small smile.

This time, I thought, Babur would finally believe I was serious.

I would tell him I wasn't just someone who knew how to dress up. For him, I could learn anything.

I left quickly and headed toward the apartment where I had lived for three years.

Every minute on the way, I replayed the scene of our reunion in my mind.

He would hold me like he used to, kiss my face, apologize for everything. Maybe he would even take out a ring and propose, fulfilling the promise we had made.

With that hope, I hurried all the way to Babur's place.

Babur was indeed kissing a girl. She had golden curls, flawless makeup, and the trendiest manicure.

A sexy mini dress clung to her curves. She looked so much like the old me.

And the man who had claimed he hated that version of me was kissing her like he meant it.

My body reacted before my mind could catch up. I screamed and rushed forward, forcing them apart.

For a split second, panic flickered in Babur's eyes. Then it hardened into contempt.

"Who is she?" the girl asked, confused.

Then I heard Babur's cold voice. "A fan. You know how it is. I used to be captain of the school baseball team. Plenty of girls had crushes on me. I just didn't expect her to be crazy enough to follow me home."

Babur's words pierced my heart like arrows.

All the strength drained from my body.

Even as he wrapped his arm around the girl and walked away, I couldn't move to stop him.

I watched Babur help her into the car. The smile on his face was sweet, just like the one he used to give me.

The car drove off, shrinking into the distance until it disappeared completely.

I leaned against the wall and slowly slid down to the ground. The pavement was hard. The rug I had once bought for the doorway was gone.

I remembered when we first moved in together. I told him I loved pink, and he had laughed, wrapping his arm around my waist, indulging me as I replaced all the furniture with pink pieces.

"Valerie, this is our home. You can turn it into anything you like."

He knew I had grown up living in my aunt's house, always longing for a place of my own.

He had placed the key in my palm and promised that I would be the only lady of this home.

I had believed him. Slowly, I had left pieces of myself in every corner of that house.

And now, those traces had been wiped away by his own hands, just like his love for me, erased without a mark.

Leaning against the door, I felt sorrow spreading through me.

How had it come to this?

He said he didn't like girls who only cared about dressing up. So I traded my pretty mini skirts for plain jeans.

Yet he had just been kissing another girl dressed exactly the way I used to be.

The image of their intimacy replayed in my mind again and again.

Tears kept spilling from the corners of my eyes.

I had to ask him.

Why was it acceptable for someone else, but unforgivable for me?

I didn't know how long I had been sitting there. My tears had nearly run dry when headlights suddenly washed over my face.

I opened my eyes just in time to see Babur stepping out of a car.

The girl was gone. He glanced at me, frowned, said nothing, and tried to walk past.

Just as he was about to close the door, I gathered what little strength I had left and forced my way inside.