My Cheating Girlfriend Didn't Know Who I Really Was

Kayleigh took out a handkerchief from her chest, her face full of concern. She used to use that same handkerchief to gently wipe my sweat. Now, it belonged to someone else.

After making sure Gerald was fine, she looked up at me and barked, "Jeremy Johnson, have you lost your mind? How could you hit Gerald? What if something serious happened to him?"

At that moment, the last glimmer of hope in my heart vanished.

When Gerald poured wine over my head, Kayleigh hadn't said a word. But I had punched him to defend her reputation, and all she cared about was him.

My expression turned cold. She wasn't being forced. She had truly fallen for someone else.

In that case, I wouldn't humiliate myself further.

Kayleigh continued to complain. "I've already told you. Gerald's father owns a gold mine. He's been supporting the Richards family all these years. Without him, where would my dad have gotten the startup capital for his company? Do you even know? Every New Year, Gerald's family sends us a lot of gold."

My heart skipped. I was the one who sent Kayleigh gold every year.

"Kayleigh, besides the gold, haven't you received anything else all these years?"

"No," she answered without hesitation.

Every year, along with the gold, I wrote her a letter by hand, telling her how much I missed her, and the truth about who I really was.

I was the son of the richest man in Kingsville. But when I was ten years old, a fortune teller predicted a calamity in my fate, and the only way to avoid it was to live in a mountain village in a specific location.

So, I was sent away alone to a small village in the mountains. Back then, I didn't know anyone. I was just a child. I couldn't understand why my parents had abandoned me in a strange place. I cried endlessly.

Until Kayleigh appeared, like a ball of sunshine, and warmed my world.

Unfortunately, people changed.

Looking at the unfamiliar woman in front of me, I spoke calmly. "Don't worry. From now on, no one will be sending you gold anymore. As for breaking off the engagement, I agree. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other."

Standing beside Gerald, Kayleigh's pupils shrank. For a moment, there was even a trace of shock and reluctance.

What was that supposed to mean? She was the one who called off the engagement. So, what was with her expression now?

But I had no interest in finding out. I slung my woven sack over my shoulder and turned to leave.

Suddenly, an arm blocked my path. Gerald pressed his tongue against his swollen cheek, looking down at me like I was an ant. "Who said you could leave?"

As he spoke, the doors slammed shut. A group of thugs with brightly dyed hair surrounded me.

A sinister smile spread across Gerald's face. "You just hit me. You think you can walk away that easily?"

Kayleigh stood behind him the whole time, silent.

"If I don't teach you a lesson today, you'll really think I'm a pushover!!"

I looked at him coldly. "What do you want?"

He stared down at me, eyes full of disdain. "What do you think I want? I want you to get down on your knees and apologize to me! Also, in front of everyone, you must lick my shoes and say you're a worthless dog. Then, I'll let you go."

Around us, Gerald's lackeys started shouting, "On your knees! On your knees!"

The chants grew louder and louder.

I let out a cold laugh. "You're the worthless dog!"

Gerald's face twisted in fury at being humiliated in front of so many people. Forgetting all about the banquet, he lunged at me.

Too bad for him, he was a weakling. How could he do any damage to me?

After several swings and kicks, he didn't even manage to touch the shirt on my back. Instead, I landed a few hard punches on him, leaving his eye swollen and bruised.

From outside the crowd, Kayleigh shouted anxiously, "Jeremy, stop right now! Do you even know what will happen if you make Gerald angry?"

Gerald completely lost it, shouting at the people around him, "Hurry up and grab this bastard! Mr. Johnson is coming tonight. He's the heir of the most powerful family in Kingsville. We don't want him to see this piece of trash here."

"Mr. Johnson from Kingsville is coming to the same banquet as us?"

"As expected of Gerald. He can even invite someone like that. When Mr. Johnson arrives, I'll be sure to flatter him. If he throws me even a small project, my family will be set for life."