After a Rocky Valentine

I instinctively took a step back when I saw a few muscular security guards closing in.

"Millia, don't tell me you have something to hide? After all these years, you still haven't changed your shifty ways?" Kelly sneered.

I glared at the security guards as they approached. "You have no right to search me."

"That's enough, Millia. How much longer do you want to embarrass yourself here?" Ivan West snapped. "Are you still hung up on that diamond I gave Kelly three years ago? Fine, I'll transfer you some money now. You can buy yourself something even bigger and better."

Back in high school, I had been the class representative handling the class funds. During a sports meet, Kelly had suggested we use the money to buy drinks for everyone, but when I went to get the funds, they were gone. Rumors had spread, and everyone had assumed I had stolen the money.

Just because I was poor, everyone pointed their fingers at me.

In the end, Ivan had secretly used his own money to make up the missing amount, but I had still lost my class representative position and gotten labeled as a thief for those three years.

That accusation was a thorn in my eye, and hearing it brought up again still made my chest ache.

Ivan lowered his head and started to transfer money. After a moment, he looked up in surprise.

"Your bank card's frozen?" He frowned at me.

"Oh, my God, Millia, are you a deadbeat now?" Kelly gasped in obvious fake shock, covering her mouth.

The moment I heard "bank card frozen", I realized Ivan was trying to send money to the card he had once given me. But ever since I had married Alex, I had only used his card. That old card had no doubt been frozen by now.

But… A deadbeat? Was that really how they saw me?

Maybe they had never truly respected me. In Ivan and Kelly's views, I had always been that girl who needed charity just to get through school.

"I don't need your money, and I don't want your transfer." My voice was calm and steady as I met Ivan's gaze, making myself perfectly clear. I really didn't want to explain anything else to them.

"Millia, why are you still so stubborn? What happened to you? You're just here trying to land a rich guy, aren't you? I'm going to give you some money. Take this money so you can find a proper job. Stop trying to take shortcuts."

That actually made me laugh. "So, in your eyes, I'm the kind of woman who would sleep her way to the top?"

I looked at him coldly. After all the years we had spent together, hearing him insult me like this was something I just couldn't swallow.

"Millia, don't blame Ivan for thinking that," Kelly chimed in, pretending to be reasonable but really just trying to smear my reputation even further. "You graduated from a top university, and you're young and healthy. Finding a decent job shouldn't be hard. But it's hard not to think the worst of you with the way you're acting today.

"And besides, Ivan, didn't Millia have a scholarship in high school? That should have covered her tuition. Yet she still took the extra financial help. Maybe she's just lazy."

"Kelly, it was Ivan's father, Grant, who wanted to support me financially no matter what. I turned him down at first, but he kept insisting, and right when my mom got sick, I had no choice but to accept. Besides…" I turned to Ivan, my voice serious.

"I paid back every cent a long time ago. Would you both please just stay away from me? I never want to see either of you again." As I spoke, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of my eye.

It looked like my husband, Alex. He was also the CEO of Ward Group.

Before I could react, Ivan suddenly grabbed my hand, clearly upset. "Millia, we never expected you to pay us back."

He wanted to keep going, but Kelly cut in quickly. "That's right, Millia. You've really nailed your whole strong independent woman act. Don't let her fool you, Ivan. And don't forget, she broke up with you just because your gift was too cheap. A woman as vain as her isn't worth your sympathy."