Beg Me, Will You?

My boyfriend came from a wealthy family. We had been together for seven years, yet he had never given me a single gift. When he proposed, he even asked for the diamond ring back so he could return it for a refund. Later, when we were about to register our marriage, he complained that the paperwork fee was too expensive and said it wasn’t necessary. However, not long after that, he registered his marriage with his childhood sweetheart instead. He even booked the most luxurious hotel in the entire city, eager to throw a grand engagement party. The shock was too much for my grandmother, and she suffered a heart attack. I dropped to my knees and begged my boyfriend to return the salary I had entrusted to him over the years, as I needed the money to pay for my grandmother’s surgery. He simply wrapped his arm around his childhood sweetheart and pretended not to know me. He said he would never help a lazy beggar who only knew how to freeload. Then, he ordered the security guards to throw me out. Later, my grandmother died on New Year’s Eve, her final breaths drowned out by the sound of fireworks outside. While everyone else celebrated the holiday season, I handled my grandmother’s funeral alone. At the same time, I accepted a job offer from a major overseas company. When I returned home to get my passport, the man—who had just finished introducing his sweetheart to his parents and was clearly in a good mood—saw me and assumed I was still throwing a tantrum. For the first time, he spoke generously. “Alright. What could possibly have happened to your grandmother? At worst, I’ll make it up to you with a luxurious wedding.” What he didn’t know was that from the moment my grandmother took her last breath, I no longer wanted to marry him. Chapter 1 I had just picked up my passport when a long, well-defined hand suddenly snatched it out of my grasp. “What are you looking for that you didn’t even notice I came back?” My boyfriend, Hudson Chase, had just returned home. The tip of his nose was red from the cold. When he realized it was a passport, the faint smile on his lips disappeared, and his sharp brows knitted together. “What do you need a passport for? Are you planning to run off overseas?” he said. “Haven’t I explained it to you? Lara’s family has been pressuring her. Registering the marriage with her was just to help her deal with them. After a while, we’ll quietly get divorced.” I didn’t even look up. Keeping a cold expression, I snatched the passport back. He rubbed his chilled fingertips together. In the past, whenever he came home, I would always ask if he was cold and pour him a cup of hot tea. Today, though, I was unusually distant. He reached out and cupped my face. The coldness of his hands brushed against my skin as he forced me to look at him. “Sophie, aren’t you being a little too jealous?” he said. “Think about how many people from high society were watching that day. If word got back to my dad, neither of us would come out of it well.” I let out a self-mocking laugh. To him, I was nothing more than a pastime he couldn’t publicly acknowledge. I pried his hand away, but he clung to me again. His icy fingers lifted my chin as he carefully examined the small scratch on my cheek, his voice full of concern. “Do those bodyguards have a death wish? They turned my Soph into a little stray cat. I’ll dock all their pay later.” Here it was again. In the past, no matter how angry I was, I would eventually forgive him after he pestered me, but not this time. Seven days ago, at the engagement party, the bodyguards—under Hudson’s orders—had thrown me out of the hotel and shoved me to the ground. “Who do you think you are?” one of them sneered. “Mr. Hudson and Ms. Lara are a perfect match. I’ve seen plenty of gold diggers like you.” People passing by pointed and mocked me. They laughed at how someone perfectly capable of working had instead knelt in front of a man, begging for money. I had long since lost all my dignity. When I snapped back to the present, Hudson, seeing that I was still upset, finally brought out his trump card. He carried over a box of caviar from the doorway. “These are for your grandma,” he said. “And don’t use that story about her needing surgery to trick me again just to get my attention. It’s not interesting.” My grandma and I had depended on each other for years. She had said she wanted to witness the day Hudson and I registered our marriage so she could give us her blessings. However, when she saw Hudson registering his marriage with another woman, she collapsed on the spot. The doctor told me that as long as I could come up with a hundred thousand dollars for the surgery, my grandma would still have a chance to live. Chapter 2 On New Year’s Eve, I humbled myself and called everyone I could think of, begging to get a loan. However, every call ended with them either rejecting the call outright or scolding me for bringing bad luck during the holiday. Amid the endless sound of the fireworks, my grandma closed her eyes, and just like that, I was the only one left. At the thought of her pale face, my heart felt like it was being sliced apart. My eyes reddened instantly. I didn’t take the box of caviar he had brought. Instead, I said, “Hudson, we–” I wanted to call for a break-up, but before those words could leave my mouth, Hudson cut me off. “Alright, enough. You spent the New Year with your grandma. You probably don’t have much money left, don’t you?” With a flick of his finger, he transferred me two hundred dollars. “Take this as the money I spent buying caviar for your grandma. No need to write an IOU.” Thinking about it, I found it rather amusing. He was afraid I was a gold digger, so he made me hand over my salary to him. If I needed spending money, I had to wait for his approval, and every time he transferred money to me, he would make me write an IOU. After seven years of dating, I somehow ended up deeply in debt to Hudson. Back then, I simply thought that his sensitivity to money was because his family ran a company. So, I indulged him and agreed to all his requests. However, his frugality was only ever directed at me. When it came to Lara, he could spend lavishly, buying her diamond necklaces worth a fortune or even purchasing villas for her. Every gesture made headlines. Well, as they said, where the money went was where the love was. Snapping back to reality, I immediately transferred the two hundred dollars back to him and said, “No need. I don’t want it.” Only then did Hudson finally look at me seriously. As if realizing something, he sighed helplessly. “Is that too little? Fine. I’ll agree to have a wedding with you, alright? That’ll make your vain grandma proud, too, wouldn’t it? Honestly, you’re all the same…” His words pierced my ears. Yet, I had endured it for seven years. All I had ever wanted was a normal relationship—exchanging gifts and going shopping together like any other couple. However, he always accused me of being vain and comparing myself to others. He claimed I was after his family’s money. “There’s no need for a wedding. We’re not real husband and wife anyway.” Hudson’s handsome face darkened, revealing the familiar expression of irritation I knew all too well. Just then, someone knocked on the door. He shot me an annoyed glance before turning to open it. The next second, his voice suddenly rose in surprise. “What are you doing here?” I turned my head. Standing at the doorway was Lara, wearing a matching couple’s down jacket, the same style as Hudson’s. She lightly punched his chest and laughed brightly. “My prince, my girlfriends are visiting today. They’d like to see what my husband looks like. Come spend another day with me.” Then, she looked past Hudson at me, blinking her large innocent eyes in open provocation. “Sophie, you won’t be angry about it, will you? You weren’t angry the other day either. Hudson and I are just best friends. You know that.” As she spoke, she deliberately shivered, as if to complain it was cold, and intertwined her fingers with Hudson’s. The pair of matching wedding rings on their hands was impossible to miss. Hudson looked at her with affection and, with practiced ease, slipped her hand into his pocket to warm it. “What would she be angry about? Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you look good in front of your girlfriends.” As he spoke, Hudson grabbed his car keys and turned to leave. After taking two steps, he seemed to remember me. He released Lara’s hand, walked over, cupped my face, and kissed the corner of my lips. “Don’t worry. This will be the last time. After this, I’ll spend every day with you.” Unfortunately, for Hudson, there would be no “after this” for us anymore. I wiped my lips hard, watching as the two of them laughed and walked away together. Then, I turned around and picked up the resignation letter that had been prepared on the table. … As it was a week since the New Year, my coworkers had returned to work. When I arrived late, they all covered their mouths and laughed knowingly. “How dare Sophie show herself at the company? She must be crazy for money. She caused a scene on the day Mr. Hudson got married. She even begged him for money. She has no shame at all!” Chapter 3 “She usually comes across as rather stuck-up, acting all high and mighty just because she's been with Mr. Hudson for seven years, but she's more obsequious when demanding money than my dog is when begging for food. Serves her right!” I ignored the mockery and walked into the HR office, my expression the same. The HR manager smirked and said, “Your application has been submitted. Once Mr. Hudson approves it, you can pack up and leave. In your situation, the company won’t be giving you any compensation.” I nodded, said nothing, and turned to leave the company. The sun was setting, and the streets were full of couples or families of three. I, on the other hand, was alone. Loneliness weighed on my chest. The only family I had left, the career I had fought for all these years, and the man I loved… all of them were gone. As I walked along the road I had taken for seven years, the road between my home and the company, memories began to flood my mind. My parents died in a car accident when I was seven years old. The compensation money was divided up by cruel relatives, leaving only my grandma and me to rely on each other. Later, by sheer coincidence, my grandma saved Hudson, who had fallen off a cliff while traveling in a mountain village, and cared for him as if he were her own grandson. That was how I first crossed paths with him. At the time, I was just a university student, working several part-time jobs every day just to survive. As such, Hudson volunteered to visit my grandma for me and would often send me updates about her. Whenever I felt like I couldn’t go on anymore, he would hold me while I broke down and softly comfort me, promising that he would always stay by my side and never abandon me. Back then, he really loved me, so much so that he wanted to be with me every day. Even though I dressed simply, he would lace his fingers through mine and proudly introduce me to everyone. “This is my girlfriend. Isn’t she beautiful? She’s the best girlfriend in the world!” Gradually, however, he started looking at me with suspicion, afraid I was after his family’s wealth. That was when he demanded that I hand over all of my salary so he could manage it. After that, his need for control only grew stronger. Even when I asked for five dollars to buy a cup of coffee, he would become suspicious and question me endlessly. Then, three months ago, on the very day Lara returned to the country, he happily bought her a priceless gemstone ring. He even spent a fortune to display a message on giant screens across the city. It read, “Welcome home, Lara!” That night was the first time he didn’t come home. When I brought the police to look for him, he was drunk, his eyes red as he grabbed Lara’s arm and demanded hoarsely, “When we were five years old, you said you were the princess and I was the prince. You said you would marry me. So why did you leave without a word?” A chill ran down my spine. After he sobered up, we had a huge fight. I asked him who exactly had his heart, but he said I was overthinking things. He told me I knew the answer, that if Lara had never left back then, I would never have had the chance to cross paths with him at all. It wasn’t until the day Lara posted on social media saying she wanted to get married that Hudson finally ended our fight by going down on one knee and asking if I would marry him. Ridiculously, I was overjoyed. I thought that in the end, he had chosen me. So, with tears in my eyes, I said yes, and now, this absurd relationship was finally coming to an end. When I came back to my senses, I realized I had walked much farther than I intended. Suddenly, loud voices reached my ears. “Hudson! You can’t back out of Truth or Dare! Lara is getting impatient!” At the entrance of a nearby karaoke bar, Hudson was surrounded by a group of people. He was gripping Lara’s hand tightly as he shouted at the top of his lungs, “Lara is the only person I love!” He shouted it three times, each time louder than the last and more certain than before. Soon, passersby all along the street had stopped to watch. Chapter 4 The tip of the ears of that usually arrogant man suddenly turned red. Lara naturally slipped her arm through his and smiled sweetly. The crowd immediately began to cheer. “Come on, the mood is perfect now! Why don’t you two kiss?” Hudson froze for a moment, and Lara quickly tried to smooth things over. “Let’s not take things too far. Hudson here is a little shy–” Before she could finish speaking, Hudson suddenly cupped her face and lowered his head, giving her a deep, affectionate kiss. It was brief—just a touch before they parted. Hudson hadn’t even closed his eyes. He stared at Lara the entire time, trying to carve that moment into his memories. He looked so happy and content, as if that one kiss alone was enough for him. The next second, worried that Lara might misunderstand, his ears flushed red. He forced himself to sound calm. “I… I lost my balance.” Before Lara could say anything, he hurriedly added, “It’s late. We should head home. If I’m any later, my dad will start talking about family rules again.” In this world, there was nothing rarer than the small bit of sincerity from a former playboy. Love was a touch and yet not a touch. He and I were only a dozen meters apart. The cold wind whipped against my body, grinding the heart that had shattered into pieces into even finer dust. Hudson was walking with his head down when he suddenly bumped straight into me. The moment he looked up and saw my face, his eyes widened. “Sorry, I–” I cut him off. “It’s fine.” Then, I turned and walked away, pulling out my phone to open a ride-hailing app. Behind me, I heard confused voices from the crowd. “Hey, she looks familiar. Hudson, isn’t that the gold digger who begged you for money during your engagement party?” “Did she just try to steal something from you? You should check your wallet!” Hudson said nothing to refute their slander. By the time I got home, I pulled out my phone and paid for the ride. Just then, a notification popped up. “Your booking for the international flight from Ocean City to Hosten has been confirmed. The departure time will be 3:00 p.m. tomorrow.” I took a screenshot and sent it to the HR representative from the overseas company who had been coordinating with me. Before I could say anything, the HR representative replied excitedly, “Sophie, I’ve been looking forward to this! We’ll be ready to welcome you tomorrow!” My expression softened. If I couldn’t have love, then I could at least pursue my career. After that, I picked up the suitcase I had packed and headed for the door. I didn’t want to stay in this house for even a second longer. However, just as I opened the door, I ran straight into Hudson. He frowned and slammed the door shut with a loud bang. In a low voice, he asked, “Sophie, where are you going?” Lara, who was following behind him, spoke in a falsely concerned tone. “Sophie, please don’t misunderstand. Hudson and I are just good friends. He only did it so as not to embarrass me tonight. Please don’t fight because of me… and don’t run away.” I couldn’t be bothered to listen any longer. Calmly, I said, “Hudson, let’s break up.” Hudson had been about to scold me for being jealous, but my words froze him for a second. Then, his eyes widened in shock. “Break up? Just because Lara and I put on a little show together, you want to break up with me? Sophie, do you want a wedding or not?” he said, all choked up. In his mind, he probably still believed I was madly in love with him, and that was why he was using the wedding to threaten me. In the past, I would have lowered myself for him because of that and begged him to stay with me forever. Now, I simply sneered. “Hudson, you and I have nothing to do with each other anymore. What wedding would we be having?” “Nothing to do with each other?” A layer of frost spread across Hudson’s face, and he said in a low voice, “That’s not what you said a month ago when you accepted my proposal. You said your dream was to marry me. And the ring you’re wearing–” As he spoke, he frowned and began rummaging through drawers and cabinets, clearly trying to find the ring so he could throw it in my face. Chapter 5 I said calmly, “You don’t have to look for it. You already took that ring back. You refunded it for ten thousand dollars, then used the money to buy Lara a hair tie as a gift.” When I said it out loud, the irony suddenly felt unbearable. We had dated for seven years, yet I had never received anything from him. Meanwhile, the gifts I saved up to buy for him were considered cheap in his eyes, and he had sold them all secondhand. As for the only diamond ring he ever gave me, it was taken back right after the proposal. He said there was no need to waste money on unnecessary extravagance and that it would be better to save it for the wedding. Shocked, Hudson looked around the apartment as he stubbornly tried to argue. “Well, even if there’s no ring, what about everything else you bought for me… and everything else I bought for you…” Before he could finish his sentence, his expression turned awkward and ugly. It was because he suddenly realized that in this entire apartment, there wasn’t a single item that could prove we had ever been a couple. Lara watched smugly. Then, she deliberately stirred the pot. “Alright, Sophie, stop making a scene. Everything you eat, wear, and use comes from Hudson. At the very least, you can look past it and help ease his burdens. He’s at a critical stage taking over the company right now, so you shouldn’t kick up a fuss.” Once she said it, Hudson immediately regained his confidence. Crossing his arms, he sneered coldly. “Lara is right. Sophie, can you stop being so shortsighted? Once I inherit the company, I can buy you anything you want. Now, put your suitcase down and behave. Otherwise, don’t blame me for cutting off your living expenses.” I slowly removed my hand from the suitcase. Then, I turned around and carried out a box filled with IOU slips. My voice was calm and distant. “Hudson, for the past seven years, you gave me two hundred dollars a month for living expenses. For every extra cost, you made me write an IOU. There are five hundred of them here, totaling twenty thousand dollars.” I paused briefly before continuing, “My grandma’s surgeries and medical treatments over the years cost three hundred thousand. “My bank card with my salary has been kept with you this whole time. Seven years of income—that’s at least a million dollars. Now, please return the remaining six hundred and eighty thousand to me.” Furious, Hudson flipped the box out of my hands, and countless IOU slips scattered through the air like falling snow. “Sophie! We’ve been together for seven years, and to you, am I only worth as much as this measly amount of money? How can you be so shallow?” The disgust and contempt in his voice made my voice catch in my throat. “Hudson, that money is the result of my own hard work.” However, the moment I said that, he became even angrier. He kicked the coffee table violently, and the loud crash echoed through the room. “Money, money, money! Sophie, all you think about is money! Why can’t you be more like Lara? She doesn’t care about fame or fortune. She’s straightforward and easygoing. She’s never once asked me for anything! My dad was right. Dating someone poor like you is a waste of time. We’re not even from the same social class. “Your hard-earned money? Are you kidding me? Without me, you’d still be starving out there! That’s the salary I paid you!” I let out a quiet, self-mocking laugh. Lara didn’t fight for anything because she already had everything. All she had to do was stand there, and Hudson would willingly hand over the best things in the world, along with his sincere heart. Seeing that I remained silent, Hudson’s expression turned vicious. “Fine, Sophie. Take the money back. I’ll never save it for you again!” The next second, he hurled the bank card straight at my face. The edge of the card scraped across my cheek. When I reached up to wipe it, my fingers came away stained bright red. Hudson immediately panicked. He reached out toward my face, his voice suddenly soft. “Soph… are you okay?” I let out a bitter laugh and raised my hand, knocking his away. Looking at the panic in his eyes, I spoke in a quiet, exhausted tone. “Hudson… aren’t you tired of playing house in this game of Cinderella and her prince yet?” Chapter 6 “I don’t want to play this game anymore.” I picked up the bank card from the floor, stood up, and grabbed my suitcase. Then, I stepped right over the IOU slips scattered across the ground—the last things that proved there had ever been any connection between Hudson and me. For a moment, Hudson looked stunned. When he saw my hand resting on the doorknob, he snapped out of it and quickly stepped forward to stop me. “Soph, don’t be mad. Couples argue all the time. I just didn’t think before I spoke…” I twisted the handle, opened the door, and walked out, never looking back. At the hotel front desk, I took out my bank card to pay, but the receptionist informed me that my balance was insufficient. Embarrassed, I apologized and then used the twenty thousand dollars the overseas company had sent me as a travel allowance to cover the bill. After tossing my luggage into the hotel room, I checked my bank account history. That was when I realized the money in my card had been gone for a long time. The transaction records showed payments to couples’ restaurants, romantic hotel suites, and luxury brand counters. Hudson had never spent money with me at any couple’s places, nor had he ever bought me gifts. It didn’t take much thinking to know who he had spent that money with. Just then, the HR manager sent me a message. [Sophie, if you’re in a hurry, see Mr. Hudson yourself tomorrow morning to get his signature.] I replied with a simple okay. That night, I slept well. Early the next morning, as I passed by the HR department, I saw Hudson’s tall figure standing there. The HR manager was busy processing Lara’s onboarding paperwork while flattering her enthusiastically. “Ms. Lara, Mr. Hudson treats you so well! The two of you are such a perfect match!” Lara looked pleased with herself. Hanging prominently on her chest was a badge that read Vice President. “Hudson, you’re making me dive straight into the company as a vice president. Won’t people say I got the job through connections? If I remember correctly, Sophie has been with you for seven years, and she’s only a manager of a department.” Hudson didn’t care at all. He casually tucked a loose strand of hair behind Lara’s ear. “You’re my wife. Who would dare gossip? Or… are you saying you don’t want to rely on my connections?” The two of them looked exactly like a loving newlywed couple. Since I had run into Hudson anyway, I figured it would save me another trip. So, I handed him my resignation letter. “Mr. Hudson, please sign this.” Hudson’s eyes lit up the moment he saw me. He slowly took the letter from my hand. After glancing over it, he let out a disappointed, mocking laugh. “Resigning? Trying to act all proud, are you? Don’t forget your grandma’s poor health. With all her medical conditions, how long do you think your little bit of savings will last? You’ll be starving in no time.” Lara smirked. “That’s right, Sophie. Don’t let a moment of stubborn pride affect your grandmother’s health.” The HR manager, who had no idea what was going on, added, “But, Mr. Hudson, Sophie’s grandmother has passed on. She took a leave of absence from me just recently.” Hudson froze. His fingers gripping my resignation letter were trembling slightly. He looked at my calm expression, and suddenly, guilt flashed in his eyes. “You… Why didn’t you tell me?” Seeing his evasive gaze, I suddenly remembered years ago, back when Hudson would chop firewood and cook for my grandma. His handsome face would be smudged black with soot, yet he would grin at me with bright white teeth, laughing happily. Then, I remembered my grandma, tears in her eyes before she died, holding my hand as she said, “Sweetheart, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you and Hudson to be together back then…” With the piercing pain still lingering in my chest, I replied coldly, “Mr. Hudson, it was a private matter. Do I have to report it to you as well?” Lara frowned and was about to scold me when Hudson suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of the HR department. His grip was so tight that my wrist turned red, and I could feel him trembling. Only when I hissed in pain did he abruptly let go. He placed the resignation letter back into my palm, and for once, his tone softened. Chapter 7 “Soph, don’t act impulsively. Just wait for me. After work, we’ll sit down and talk, okay?” At that moment, Lara burst in, saying, “Hudson, your dad just called. He said he needs to talk to you. You should take the call.” Hudson immediately turned around and hurried off, looking almost as if he were fleeing the scene. I shook my head and was about to leave when Lara suddenly stretched out her leg and blocked my path. “Sophie, clear out your office now. I’m moving in.” The Vice President’s office and a department manager’s office weren’t even the same thing, so I knew she was deliberately kicking me out. However, it didn’t matter anymore. I was leaving anyway. There were things I needed to take with me. I had just finished packing up my belongings when someone knocked on the office door. When I opened it, an employee from an auction house stood there, holding an exquisite gift box, smiling obsequiously. “You must be Mr. Hudson’s partner. This is the bracelet Mr. Hudson purchased for you at a recent auction. Please try it on.” I froze where I stood. What was this supposed to be? A breakup gift? The people around us hadn’t heard what the employee said clearly. However, they recognized the logo on the gift box and immediately began whispering among themselves. “That’s Bvlgari. Even the cheapest one costs over thirty thousand dollars!” “No wonder Sophie is quitting. She found herself a rich man!” Before I could respond, the auction house employee had taken out the bracelet and gestured for me to hold out my hand. Just as the clasp was about to close around my wrist… “Sophie! I know your family is poor, but I never expected you to steal my bracelet and pretend it’s yours!” Lara’s sharp voice suddenly cut through the room. “I’m Hudson’s partner. Don’t you think you’ve gone too far?” At some point, she had appeared behind us. She grabbed the bracelet off my wrist in one swift motion and looked at me with open contempt. The sudden accusation terrified the auction house employee, who quickly began apologizing. Lara waved her hand dismissively, signaling that it was fine. Then, she turned to me with a falsely gentle smile. “Forget it. Sophie, you come from such a poor background. Maybe you’ve never seen something this valuable before. It’s understandable if you got a little tempted…” She paused deliberately before adding, “But a company can’t tolerate this kind of petty theft.” I touched the red mark on my wrist where the bracelet had been yanked off and sneered. Of course. There was no way Hudson would ever be this generous to me. Seeing the situation, the surrounding colleagues began urging Lara to put the bracelet on. “Ms. Lara, Mr. Hudson treats you so well. He’s obsessed with spoiling his wife!” “Sophie sure has thick skin. To think she had the nerve to pretend to be you. Honestly, we shouldn’t even show her mercy. Let’s just throw her out!” I gave another self-deprecating smile. Just as I picked up my cardboard box to leave, a familiar voice sounded beside me. “Soph, what’s going on?” It was Hudson. The crowd immediately began speaking up for Lara. “Mr. Hudson! Sophie’s a thief. She tried to steal Ms. Lara’s bracelet right in front of her. That thing is worth tens of thousands of dollars, at least. Should we call the police?” “Exactly. A vain gold digger like Sophie doesn’t deserve to stay in our company.” Lara smiled sweetly and deliberately raised her hand, showing off the bracelet. “Don’t listen to them, Hudson,” she said softly. “I really like the gift you bought me.” Hudson’s expression immediately darkened. I lowered my gaze, already waiting for him to scold me—call me vain, greedy, a shameless gold digger. Instead, he turned to Lara and said sharply, “Take it off.”