Five Years Abroad, A Stolen Love novel
And the bride-to-be turned out to be my first love.
She had no idea who I truly was. Back then, she thought I was poor and left me for a rich heir.
I never imagined that years later, she would end up getting involved with my brother.
Staring at the photos and messages my brother had sent, I was about to reply and put a stop to the marriage.
But just then, my first love sent me a message of her own.
Ethan Carter, Im getting married. The wedding will be held in three days.
Im marrying Daniel Carter, the second young master of the Carter family in New York City. Youve heard of them, right? The Carter Group is a Fortune 500 company, and their wealth could fill the entire city.
Once I marry him, Ill finally rise to the upper class and completely cut ties with people like youthose poor nobodies at the bottom.
From now on, we wont even belong to the same world. You wont get to see me again. Attending the wedding will be your last chance.
If she hadnt messaged me, I would have long forgotten her contact information.
I couldnt help but roll my eyes.
I dont have time. Im not going.
And tell me, do you really love money that much?
Her reply came back sharp and scathing:
You idiot, if I dont love money, do you expect me to love you? What else can you offer besides doing laundry, cooking, and handing over a measly paycheck every month? All you ever did was send me a 0-000 Valentines transfer once in a while. What good is that?
Can you give me a mansion? Can you put me in a Ferrari? Can you buy me a Herms bag?
Why should I waste my life suffering with you? Id rather follow a rich old man!
I must have been blind to ever fall in love with you.
You must come to my wedding. I need you to see with your own eyes how far apart we are now, how happy I am without you. Only then will you understand how much you wronged me.
Thats the only way Ill ever feel vindicated.
You owe me thatyou have to come!
Reading her barrage of messages, I smirked with disdain.
Fine. Ill go. As you wish.
Closing the screen, I stared blankly at the reflection of my own face on the phone.
The mature, refined man I saw was nothing like the penniless boy Sophia Reed had abandoned five years ago.
I had met Sophia when I had just started collegea na?ve freshman, still green to the world.
Right after I finished my SATs, my father rushed to bring back his illegitimate son and mistress.
Under the pressure and scheming of my stepmother Margaret Carter, I was thrown out of the family home.
They called it a necessary trial for a man.
Sophia had once been my salvation during those years.
She was cold and beautiful, refined and elegant
yet she only ever showed her gentleness to me.
No man could resist a woman like her, and I was no exception.
Once I fell in love, I swore to make her the happiest woman in the world.
To keep that promise, I attended classes by day and snuck out at night to work part-time jobs.
Even though I only had $200 a month to live on, I still gave Sophia $400 in pocket money without fail.
Those four years of college were the happiest of my life.
After graduation, thanks to a single remark from Margaret, I was forced into the family company, starting at the very bottom.
With no salary during my internship, I kept working side jobs to survive.
On Valentines Day or anniversaries, I would transfer her 0-000 as a token of love.
It wasnt much, but for mewhen a single meal cost only a few dollarsit was a fortune.
But she changed.
Instead of being grateful, she became filled with contempt.
Another 0-000? You sent me that in college, and now, with a job, its still the same? Thats not even enough for a manicure!
All my friends at least get $200 gifts like 1314. Even the worst boyfriends send $800. And you? Barely a hundred bucks. What are you trying to do, feed a beggar? I dont even have the courage to post this on social media!
Guilt gnawed at me, and I promised her over and over that one day Id make real money and give her the best life.
I begged her to wait for me two more years. Just two years, and I would marry her.
But Sophia Reed sneered:
Two years, two yearshow many two years does a woman have? With your pathetic salary, when will you ever save enough for a million-dollar dowry? By the time you come to marry me, Ill already be a thirty-year-old has-been!
That night, we had our fiercest fight. Neither of us said the word breakup, but neither of us sent another message for a month.
She blocked me and moved away.
And just like that, my first love was over.
Later, I climbed step by step to the position of general manager in the Carter Group, multiplying the companys performance many times over.
But my stepmother, Margaret Carter, feared I might compete with Daniel Carter for the family fortune. So, overnight, she sent me abroad, claiming it was to expand our overseas business.
Snapping back to the present, I messaged my assistant, Kevin Johnson:
Book me a flight back to the United States in two days.
And have the limited-edition Pagani shipped over. I want to drive it.
The moment I stepped out of the car at the hotel entrance, I drew countless stares.
Many of those staring were my old college acquaintancespeople who once knew Sophia and me.
Whoa, what the hell is that? Never seen that brand before. Must be some cheap knockoff.
Wait, isnt that Ethan Carter? The poor loser Sophia dumped back in college!
That car frame looks familiar. Isnt it just one of those new Teslas?
Bet he spent a fortune modding it. Always pretending to be rich. Sophia, look! Your first love is heredriving some trashy car! Hahaha! Did he really think we wouldnt recognize it?
Sophia, dressed in a custom-made wedding gown, stood at the entrance, her eyes filled with expectation as she looked toward the Carter family estate.
Hearing their laughter, she turned. The contempt in her gaze was impossible to hide.
Ethan, you really went all out just to show up at my wedding, didnt you?
Too bad. Even a Tesla maxes out at thirty grand. No matter how much you modify it, its still garbage. It only proves your inferiority complexnothing more!
Seeing you so pathetic now only makes me even more certainI was right to leave you. No matter how hard a sparrow tries, it can never become a phoenix.
One of my old roommates laughed out loud and mocked me:
Ethan, dont you know? Sophias fianc gave her a Porsche as an engagement gift. Limited edition, studded with diamonds! If you really like sports cars that much, why dont you get down on your knees and beg her? Who knows, maybe her soft heart will take pity on you!
Someone jabbed him with an elbow.
Hey, dont say that. A mans pride is worth more than gold. Ethan showing up in a souped-up car is already entertaining enough. Otherwise, how would we get to see something this ugly?
Unbelievable! Ive lived thirty years and never seen someone so desperate to show off. Ive gotta snap a picture for social media!
Ever since I left the country, the Carter Group under Daniels management had plummeted. Its market value dropped by billions.
If not for my overseas profits propping them up, the family would have been wiped off the map in New York City long ago.
And yet, they had the nerve to use my money to curry favor with women?
Sophia tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and smirked.
Ethan, my husband says hell hire me a driver after the wedding. If youre really that obsessed with cars, I can put in a word for you. You could drive for me. Consider it repayment for all you did back then.
I knew they were ignorant, but I didnt expect them to be this stupid.
I almost laughed, but kept my face expressionless as I explained:
This isnt a modified car. Its a Paganiworth twenty million.
Dollars.
For a moment, the crowd went silent.
Then came an explosion of laughter.
Pagani? More like Panini! Did you get the name wrong? Too much fast food mustve fried your brain!
Ethan Carter, wake up. You and Sophia Reed havent been in the same world for years. Spending so much effort on this carare you still trying to win her back?
One Herms bag of hers is worth more than that piece of junk!
Seeing Sophias smug, arrogant gaze, I shot back coldly:
Win her back? I have no interest in a woman obsessed with vanity.
And I despise a woman whos crawled into the beds of ten different sugar daddies.
Only the blind Carter family would treat her like treasure. Rotten roots, rotten branchesno wonder youre all blind together.
Since Im not welcome here, I wont attend the wedding. Goodbye.
I turned to leave, but Sophia lunged forward, slapping me hard across the face.
You bastard! What nonsense are you spouting?
Who had sugar daddies?!
You couldnt have me, so now you slander me? Youve gone insane with jealousy!
You claim you dont want me, yet here you are, driving a pathetic car just to show off!
I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and sneered.
Whats wrong? Should I tell everyone how you used to get into that Maybach waiting outside the school gates?
The hotel check-in records were sent straight to my phone.
Did you really think I didnt know?
I left you your dignityits you whos shameless. Let go, or Ill call security.
Her composure cracked instantly, her face flushed red with rage.
Youre lying! Who got into a Maybach?!
You came here just to ruin my wedding, didnt you? I must have been blind to ever love you! Get outleave right now!
She raised her hand to hit me again.
I held up my phone.
I still have the evidence.
Try hitting me again, and I guarantee by tonight the entire internet will know just how colorful your past really is.
I turned toward my car, but Sophia grabbed my sleeve and yanked hard.
Stop! What evidence? Tell me now!
Let me go!
In the struggle, a loud rip split the airher wedding dress tore at the hem.
Sophias face twisted in fury.
Ethan, Ill kill you! This gown was a custom luxury designcost over a million dollars to ship from overseas!
Youre just trying to ruin everything for me!
I spread my hands.
You grabbed me first. Not my problem.
And a million? Crawl into a few more beds and youll get it back easily enough.
Her eyes went bloodshot as she screamed at the onlookers.
What are you standing there for? Cant you see this bastard humiliating me?
Beat him!
Smash his damn carI want to see how he pretends after that!
I rushed in front of the Pagani, blocking it with my body.
Touch it, and I swear the entire Carter family couldnt afford the price youll pay.
Sophia lost all reason, shrieking like a madwoman:
Its just a broken Tesla, what are you even showing off for?!
The Carters money could buy your worthless life a hundred times over!
Several of the classmates surged forward.
Ethan, youve lost your mind! That dress was specially chosen by Daniel Carter for Sophia!
Figurespoor men are always trouble. Date one once, and he sticks to you like a leech you can never scrape off!
Ethan, youre just bitter Sophia dumped you for a rich heir. Youve got no one to blame but yourself for being useless! Now that youve offended the Carter family, dont even think about surviving in New York City!
Guys, we have to stand up for Sophia! Get him!
I tried to break free, but two men hoisted me off the ground, holding me immobile.
One smashed a bottle against my car window, another dragged a brick along the paint, grinding it mercilessly.
In the blink of an eye, my Paganione of only ten in the worldwas reduced to a heap of twisted metal.
Rage made my entire body tremble.
Sophia, youre insane! Do you even know what youre doing?
This is a crime! Do you want to go to prison?
She slipped off her high heels and whipped them across my face.
The flesh split open instantly, blood pouring down.
Crime? In New York City, the Carter family is the law!
You tried and failed to seduce me again, and now youre furious. But tell mewhen my husband arrives, do you think hell arrest you or me?
Ethan Carter, you were trash five years ago, and now, five years later, youre still trash beneath my heel. Youll never rise above it in this lifetime!
She glanced at the others.
Let him go.
If you kneel right now and kowtow in apology, I might let bygones be bygones and offer you a drivers position. That way, youll get to see me every day.
If not youll regret it.
I spat out a mouthful of blood and sneered.
Apologize? In your dreams.
Sophia, I swear youll pay a heavy price for this day. I promise you.
A sharp crack rang out as she slapped me again, even harder this time, pushing me over the edge of fury.
Still mouthing off at deaths door? Just wait until my husband comesyoull see who really pays the price!
This gown cost two million. If you dont pay every last cent, you wont walk out of here alive!
If I hadnt sworn never to strike a woman, she would already be incapable of speaking.
I let out a cold laugh.
Fine. Just let me go. Two million? Ill pay.
In fact, Ill pay ten times that.
The crowd howled with laughter.
Listen to him! His words stink worse than athletes foot! Ten times two million? Does he even realize how much that is? In cash, it could bury him alive!
Sophia, hes lost his mind ever since you dumped him. Hes nothing but a deranged pauper now!
Lucky you didnt marry him back then. Otherwise, how would you be enjoying your life now?
I pulled out my phone and recorded a voice message to my assistant.
Withdraw two hundred million. In cash.
I dont know if its enough to bury mebut its definitely enough to bury them.
Then I dialed 911.
Hello? Police? I want to report a violent assault. Theres a mob attacking me. The location is
Before I could finish, Sophia snatched the phone from my hand and smashed it on the ground.
You dare call the cops?!
Call them, Ill show you!
Hold him downbeat him until he cant stand!
A rain of fists crashed onto me. My face swelled so badly it was unrecognizable.
Finally, someone hesitated.
Sophia, this this doesnt look good. Hes barely breathing.
She waved dismissively.
Whats there to fear? If something happens, my husband will handle it!
She called Daniel Carter, her voice dripping with false panic.
Honey, my poor ex lost his mindhe came to the hotel to crash the wedding! He even tore my gown to shreds!
But dont worry, my classmates have him under control. Hes just been roughed up a little.
You know I only love you, darling. Besides you, Ill never marry anyone else in this lifetime!
Please hurryIm so scared!
Hanging up, she looked down at me with a cruel smirk, pressing her bare foot against my head.
Ethan, you ruined my wedding and shredded my gown. If you admit fault now, I might even give you a discount on the compensation.
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