My Fiancé’s Love Was Just a Test?! Too Bad I Passed by Leaving Chapter 01

My Fiancé’s Love Was Just a Test?! Too Bad I Passed by Leaving Chapter 01

My boyfriend Spencer Vaughn proposed with a necklace.

I’d barely clasped it around my neck when every light in the room flipped on.

His best friend, a girl named Vanessa Keaton, waltzed in with a whole crew behind her, her voice dripping with contempt.

“Told you she was a gold digger. A girl like her has no business touching something that expensive.”

“Hate to break it to you, future bride, but that necklace? Spencer got it for my birthday.”

I tore the necklace off and hurled it to the floor. Then I broke up with Spencer on the spot.

Two years later, an Ashford heir named Graham started pursuing me. He was patient, persistent, and gentle. I finally said yes.

The night before we were supposed to sign the marriage license, Graham told me he had a surprise.

The same faces from two years ago were waiting inside.

Vanessa was doubled over, cackling like she’d won something.

“See? What did I tell you?”

“Some girls put on the whole sweet-and-innocent act just to land a rich guy.”

“It’s always about the payday.”

Spencer’s eyes found mine, and the disappointment in them was heavy enough to feel.

“Elise, I actually believed you loved me.”

“Turns out you’ll run to whoever has the deepest pockets.”

I turned to Graham. He threw his hands up with a grin.

“Hey, don’t look at me. The whole thing was a game. Not my fault you bought it.”

I scanned their faces, every single one of them grinning. The whole thing was a joke. And I was the punchline.

I was done. Done proving myself to people who’d already made up their minds.

…

I pulled off the ring Graham had given me and dropped it on the floor.

It hit the tile with a sharp ping, rolled past my feet, and disappeared into the dark.

“Graham, we’re done.”

Silence for about half a second. Then the whole room burst out laughing.

Vanessa was clutching her stomach, laughing so hard she was crying.

“Graham, oh my God, she said she’s done with you. I can’t breathe.”

“Since when were you two even a thing? How come nobody told us?”

Spencer stepped close and brushed my hair back, like he was comforting a child.

“You’re so clueless. You and Graham were never real.”

“Every text you got? Me. Every gift? Me. I even picked out the ring he gave you.”

“Every sweet thing you thought Graham did was all me.”

Vanessa shot her hand up, beaming like a kid claiming credit.

“We helped too! We totally helped!”

“We brainstormed all the moves he used to reel you in.”

“Surprise, future bride. Spencer planned the whole thing just to test you.”

The others joined in, their mocking eyes roaming over me from head to toe.

“Wow, she actually fell for it. That’s almost sad.”

“Vanessa called it from day one. Elise doesn’t care who the guy is, as long as he’s loaded.”

“Gotta hand it to the future bride. She’ll do whatever it takes. Landing two rich heirs in a row? I couldn’t pull that off.”

My nails bit into my palms.

Every late-night conversation. Every secret I’d trusted him with.

Every real thing I’d felt. It was all just content for their little group chat.

Something on my face must have cracked, because Spencer grabbed my wrist.

“Elise, you’ve really let me down.”

“You didn’t pass the test two years ago, and you’re still the same person.”

“But I can’t stop wanting you. And I know you want to marry me.”

“Sign this prenup, and I’ll marry you.”

I looked at the document he held out. The terms were simple: after marriage, all of his assets would remain his. None of it would ever be mine.

Household expenses would be split fifty-fifty.

Every purchase I made would need his approval first, with receipts submitted afterward to make sure I hadn’t touched a cent of his money.

Five years together, and I’d always known the gap between us.

I’d never let myself accept anything expensive from him.

But five years meant nothing next to one word from Vanessa.

I ripped the prenup in half and threw the pieces in Spencer’s face.

“Don’t ever come near me again. Any of you. You make me sick.”

I turned to leave. Spencer’s face went blank.

His voice followed me to the door.

“Elise, quit the act. If you want something, say it. I hate games.”

“This is the only time I’ll offer. Take it or leave it.”

I didn’t slow down.

Once I was outside, I called my boss.

“Malcolm, I’ll take the Harboridge transfer.”