The Breakup Checks

I made a fortune collecting breakup checks from the mothers of wealthy heirs. My first boyfriend's mother started it, and every mother after her came looking for me. Without exception, they waved enormous checks in my face and told me to leave their sons. I did it to help my father pay off his debts. So, I kept finding wealthy heirs to date until the mother of my fourth wealthy boyfriend handed me an enormous check and told me I absolutely could not leave her son... Chapter 1 "Enough. Spare me the nonsense about true love. You're not worthy of my son!" The woman threw a glass of water in my face. Then, she threw a check at me. "Take the check and leave my son." She clearly did not want to waste any more time talking to me, so she turned and walked away. She left me with a $200,000 check. This was already the third one! I had no idea what kind of curse I was under. Ever since my first boyfriend, every one of their mothers had tried to break us up with a check. All three were exactly the same. Even their lines had barely differed. That was how I tearfully made $600,000. Some people get rich through housing compensation, others through winning the lottery., others through the lottery. Somehow, I got rich through breakups. Despite my heartbreak, I was relieved that there was finally hope of paying off the $1 million debt my deadbeat father had left behind. My best friend, Jojo, said that if we were going to do something, we might as well go all out. So, using her identity as a trust-fund heiress, she smuggled me into an exclusive singles mixer for the wealthy. Among the roomful of sharply dressed elite bachelors, she pointed out one man who was especially handsome and striking. He stood out among the exceptional men around him. His expression was cool and aloof, one hand lazily swirling his wineglass while his legs were crossed. "See him? The one in the black shirt." The black shirt fit him perfectly, outlining his broad shoulders and slim waist while adding to his tall, refined appearance. "His family is incredibly rich. You should give him a try..." My eyes lit up. Before Jojo could finish, I grabbed a glass of wine and headed over. A group of dazzling women surrounded the man in the shirt. They looked eager to approach him, but held their glasses with studied restraint, afraid of being rejected. Instead, they whispered among themselves, subtly showing off their charms and doing their best to stay alluring. I was determined to win him over. But once I got closer, I suddenly lost my nerve. He looked up. He had a high-bridged nose, a sharply defined jawline, and striking, well-proportioned features. The top button of his black shirt was undone, leaving the collar slightly open, while loose strands of hair fell casually over his forehead to either side. He looked somewhat familiar, as if I had seen him somewhere before. Maybe in a financial news report. "Hi." I gave him my most polished smile. He gave a slight nod, but his eyes brightened. "You know me?" "Not yet, but we will soon." Or had I imagined it? The light in his eyes seemed to dim. I sat down in front of him and wondered how to start the conversation. "Isn't this a matchmaking event? Is there anything you'd like to know about me?" He leaned back and studied me. Everyone who could attend this event was financially well-off. If I managed to date any one of them, I would no longer have to worry about my debt. "How many people have you dated?" I asked, my eyes lighting up with curiosity. "None. I've been too busy with work." He took an awkward sip of coffee after he spoke. A handsome guy who was clueless about love? "Perfect!" I slapped the table excitedly. Then I blinked at him and said, "I've dated three men, so I have plenty of relationship experience. We're a perfect match!" He paused, looking slightly surprised. I could clearly feel the intense gazes from those around us. The women who had been showing off their charms had started sneaking glances at us the moment I sat down. Just then, Jojo hurried over and pulled me aside. "Not him, girl! What were you thinking? How did you even dare to go for him?" Jojo discreetly gestured toward the man in the dark-gray shirt beside him. "I meant that one... The guy you approached is way out of our league." I followed her gesture and looked over. He wasn't bad either, but his looks were nowhere near as impressive as the man I had just spoken to. After all that, I had picked the wrong target. Fine. I would start over. I picked up another glass of wine and prepared to try again. The man grabbed his suit jacket and blocked my path. I looked up at him in confusion. "Didn't you say we were a perfect match?" he asked, watching me with amusement. What did he mean? Had I actually succeeded? I only realized what had happened when the two of us went to collect the little gift for successfully finding a match. Was a man with no dating experience really this easy to win over? Was my charm too powerful to resist, or did my dating experience appeal to him? I couldn't figure it out. "All right, look at the camera." Everyone who successfully matched had to take a photo together at the venue. All the guests turned to look at us, and I vaguely heard a few resentful voices. "She succeeded after saying just a few words?" "If I'd known he was this easy to win over, I would have gone for him!" I came back to my senses and looked at the man beside me. He had put on his suit, which made his restrained, seductive appeal even more irresistible. "So, what are we now?" "We successfully matched. What do you think?" "All right, boyfriend. What's your name?" Chapter 2 The man froze for a moment, his expression darkening. He drove me home and told me to wait for him outside. A discreet Maybach slowly pulled up. I eagerly climbed into the car. "Maplewood Gardens." I gave him the address. Then I realized how strange it sounded, as if I were treating him like an Uber driver. So, I raised my voice and repeated it in a sweet tone. "Maplewood Gardens, darling~" The man shuddered. Well, it wasn't my fault when he refused to tell me his name. "Stephen Farr." He reluctantly told me his name. "Great, great. My name is Yuna Smith." He could have said so from the start. I secretly stuck my tongue out at him. The car fell silent, with only the sound of the wind rushing past the windows. My phone buzzed at the worst possible moment. Message after message came in, all from Jojo bombarding me. "Oh my God!!" "You and him actually matched?" "Do you know who he is?" She sent me a link to his résumé. "He only returned to the country recently, and this was his first matchmaking event." "Do you know how much the women around me regretted not going after him once you left? They said that if they'd known he was this easy to win over, they would've rushed over and claimed they'd dated five men. Hahahahahaha." "You lucky brat." I opened the link. It contained Stephen's personal information and an impressive list of achievements. He founded QY in the Meridia at nineteen and acquired several well-known domestic companies at twenty. He was unbelievably rich. If the breakup payment was based on his net worth... I counted on my fingers. The number had to be huge! My hands trembled with excitement. Then I spotted another detail: He returned to the country on November 15. Wasn't November 15 just yesterday?... "Were you this straightforward with the men you dated before?" Stephen suddenly asked. His voice was cold, and I couldn't read his emotions. My previous relationships had felt like free trials. They ended after only a few days with a breakup check. I never got to experience the ups and downs of love, but I had suffered more than enough from the breakups. "Not exactly. Your qualifications are impossible to ignore." I began shamelessly flattering him. "Oh?" He gave a cold laugh, clearly unconvinced. "I mean every word." I widened my eyes sincerely. Stephen was undeniably impressive, so I wasn't lying when I praised him. He said nothing more. When we arrived, I reached out to unfasten my seat belt, but a cold, broad hand pressed down on mine. "In such a hurry?" The car was unlit. Stephen's eyes were pitch-black and especially deep in the faint light, like bottomless wells that could pull people in. "No, no." I quickly waved my hands. Suddenly, everything went dark as a shadow leaned over me. His face stopped just a few inches from mine. His sculpted features loomed before me. He paused for a few seconds. Then Stephen took my phone and sat back down. "Add me on your messaging app." Once I understood his intention, my cheeks flushed. What was that supposed to mean? He tossed my phone back to me. "Good night." I muttered a quick good night and hurried away. I thought I heard him chuckle softly, but I had no time to dwell on it. I returned home, washed up, and got into bed. Everything that happened that day felt like a dream. Still, once I received the breakup check, I could finally pay off my debt. I picked up my phone. There was a friend request, and he had already accepted mine. His profile picture showed nothing but a plain back view of someone. It might have been him. His display name was simply "Farr." I casually browsed through his social feed. Just as I expected, there was almost nothing there—only a few dull business updates. A message appeared. "Go to bed early." I replied, "Okay." I was about to turn off the light and close my eyes when I heard a voice outside the door. "Beep. Incorrect passcode." Chapter 3 A chill ran down my spine when I realized someone was trying to unlock my apartment. This couldn't be happening. I had only taken over the lease from a young woman two days ago. It was in a newly built development, so there weren't many neighbors either. I never expected the security to be this poor. The lock kept beeping to indicate that the password was wrong, and the man outside seemed to grow agitated. "You think changing the lock will keep you safe? Hahaha. I have plenty of ways to make you open the door." The voice of an unfamiliar man came from outside, vicious and threatening. A moment later, something heavy slammed against the door. I trembled and quickly called the police from my phone before dialing my emergency contact. "Jojo, a stranger is trying to break down my door. I'm so scared." The moment I called the police, my composure completely fell apart.. My voice shook with fear, and I spoke through tears. The person on the other end paused before replying quickly. "Lock yourself in the bedroom and grab something to protect yourself. I'll be there soon." It was Stephen's voice. He didn't hang up. I could hear a car speeding through the streets. The police arrived soon after and took away the man who tried to break in. Stephen arrived as well. I curled up under the covers, trembling. He hurried over, pulled me into his arms, and comforted me in a gentle voice. The cold cedar scent surrounded me, and my heartbeat gradually calmed. "It's all right. I'm here," Stephen whispered tenderly. I only learned the truth after giving my statement. The man who tried to break in was the boyfriend of the woman I rented the apartment from. They had a major fight, and she ended the relationship without mentioning that she had already rented out the apartment. He thought she still lived there and wanted to teach her a lesson. I no longer dared to return to the apartment I rented. Stephen took me back to his home. He lived in an apartment too, except his was a luxurious residence in the city center with an enormous living room, a private elevator, and understated, minimalist decor. Stephen handed me a strawberry milkshake. It was my favorite, but I only paused for a moment before accepting it. What a surreal day. I had somehow experienced every possible twist and turn. Stephen led me to the master bedroom. "You sleep here." "What about you?" "I'll sleep on the sofa outside. Call me if you need anything." I closed my eyes, then quickly opened them again. I was still a little frightened. I remembered how, during the first few years after my father fell into debt, debt collectors had constantly shouted and pounded on our door. My mother had covered my ears and hidden with me in a corner, telling me not to make a sound. She said they would leave once they grew tired of knocking. Waiting was the only thing I could do. The scene that night had dragged me back into that nightmare. I grabbed Stephen's arm. "Can you not sleep outside?" I asked in a small voice. "Okay." Without the slightest hesitation, Stephen sat down on the sofa so I could sleep peacefully. I didn't have a single nightmare that night. I slept soundly. The next morning, I woke to warm sunlight shining on me. "Are you awake?" Stephen looked slightly tired, perhaps because he hadn't slept well. He made me breakfast—a sandwich. "How did my call end up reaching you yesterday?" "I used your phone to add my number as your emergency contact." His tone made it sound completely natural. Right. Of course he had. "What? Something like this happened to you? That was so dangerous!" Jojo looked shocked when she heard what had happened. "Where did you stay last night? Why didn't you tell me?" "I called Stephen yesterday and stayed at his place." "I knew it! Did you use the opportunity to make a move on him?" "……"