Chapter 4 - My Poor Boyfriend Was Actually a Billionaire

Cecilia's POV

I quickly adjusted my expression, taking a deep breath.

"Cecilia? You're still up?" Adrian asked softly.

"Yeah, just got back." I tried to sound normal. "Your business dinner over?"

Adrian walked toward me, still wearing that expensive suit. Looking at him made me nauseous.

"Yeah, boring business dinner." He sat beside me.

What a practiced lie.

"Anything special happen today?" Adrian suddenly asked, scanning the room. "Something feels... different here."

"Not really, just cleaned up a bit." I forced a smile.

"The photos on the wall... are some missing?"

"I reorganized them, put away some blurry ones."

Adrian studied me, complex emotions flickering in his eyes.

"Cecilia..." he started, then stopped.

"What?"

"Nothing." He shook his head. "I'll shower."

When the bathroom door closed, I exhaled deeply.

Sitting on the sofa, I had one clear thought:

I had to leave him.

I couldn't keep being an experimental subject.

I couldn't keep being treated like a joke.

Water sounds came from the bathroom—Adrian washing away tonight's Wall Street club luxury, preparing to resume playing the poor construction worker.

And I sat on this worn sofa, silently planning my escape.

I'd leave clean, giving him no chance for recovery.

The week after learning the truth, I performed like the perfect girlfriend.

Every morning I prepared Adrian's breakfast, evenings I gently asked about work, even volunteered to buy him new work boots. Everything was the same as before, maybe even better.

Adrian seemed to sense something but couldn't pinpoint what. He watched me carefully, like observing a bomb ready to explode.

And I just waited for the right moment.

That moment came Wednesday.

"Cecilia!" Richard burst into my office excitedly. "Mr. Hamilton officially signed the contract! Your cloud security system landed the company a ten-million-dollar deal!"

I feigned surprise, mouth agape. "Really?"

"Not only that, the company's promoting you with a hefty project bonus." Richard patted my shoulder. "You're our new tech director!"

Good news, but more importantly, it gave me the perfect excuse.

"Richard, I'd like to request a transfer to the LA office." I volunteered. "I want a change of scenery, bigger challenges."

Richard looked surprised. "LA? Why the sudden interest?"

"I need a fresh start." I said sincerely. "Plus LA's developing new systems I want to join."

"What about... your boyfriend?"

"I'll handle that myself." I smiled. "Career's important to me too."

After consideration, Richard agreed: "If you're sure, I can arrange it. But you'd start next month—need to finish current project handovers first."

"No problem."

Sunday afternoon, I suddenly wanted to visit Central Park.

"Adrian, let's walk in Central Park."

Light snow was falling, temperature near freezing. Adrian frowned at the window. "This weather? Baby, it's freezing out there."

"I want to go." I hugged his arm, gently coaxing. "We haven't been out together in forever."

A flash of unnaturalness crossed Adrian's eyes. He'd been "working late" frequently lately.

"Alright."

Central Park was quiet, snowflakes dusting bare branches. I pulled Adrian toward the bench where we'd had our first date.

"Remember our first time here?" I pointed at the snow-covered bench nostalgically. "You said you only had twenty dollars. We bought two hot dogs to share, sat by the lake feeding ducks."

Adrian stared at the bench, his expression growing complex. His eyes held emotions I couldn't read—pain mixed with guilt.

We brushed off the snow and sat down.

"My mom said you had no future then." I continued my reminiscing, each word piercing him like needles. "Said a construction worker couldn't support her daughter. But I told her true love doesn't consider those things."

Adrian's breathing became noticeably unstable.

"I believed if we worked hard, we'd have good days eventually." I held his hand. "These five years, I never regretted it. Even when times were tough, even eating ramen... I felt happy."

"Cecilia..."

"What?" I looked at him with feigned concern. "You've seemed troubled lately."

"No, I just..." He paused long, guilt growing in his eyes. "I just feel... you've suffered because of me."

If I didn't know the truth, I might have been moved by this.

"Silly, being with you was never suffering." I stroked his cheek. "You work so hard for our future. How could I feel it's suffering?"

Adrian closed his eyes, as if enduring tremendous pain.

"Cecilia." He suddenly gripped my hand tight.

"What?"

"I'll give you the life you want, I promise." He looked directly into my eyes, saying seriously, "I'll give you a good life."

I stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips.

"You're all I need."

In that instant, I saw tears glisten in Adrian's eyes.