I had always wondered why the handsome and wealthy Archer fell for me at first sight and pursued me so aggressively. I felt insecure, so I instinctively tried my best to be nice to them.

Now, I realize this approach was a mistake; the more you try to please, the less respect you receive.

After the gathering, I drove Archer back to his place. The night was calm and serene, and I felt like nothing more than a free nanny, errand runner, and driver.

Why should I tolerate this?

Returning to his upscale apartment, Archer took off his coat, intending to shower, but I stopped him, holding up the shopping receipt. "Archer, the money for the cake and cigarettes we bought today, give it to me."

I wanted to grab the money and leave quickly to gather my thoughts.

Archer responded indifferently, "In a bit."

He brushed past me towards the bathroom. I blocked his path again, insisting, "Give it to me, it's late, I need to go home."

Archer raised an eyebrow in annoyance. "Can you stop being such a downer every time? Always asking for money, it's embarrassing and tacky!"

I was bewildered and shocked. He and his friends had me buy things, and I always paid upfront.

In his eyes, my asking for my own money back was tacky and shameful.

"It's just a few hundred dollars," he said sternly. "You really have the nerve to ask me for it?"

He pushed past me into the bathroom, and as I listened to the running water, I felt a chill.

After sitting for a while, I picked up my purse and left the apartment to return to my rental.

My mind was in turmoil.

After finally falling asleep, I had a dream. In the dream, I was the villainous supporting character in a Mary Sue novel. The heroine was Sienna, and I was her substitute after she left, scheming to marry into wealth.

Everyone loved Sienna, including the main and supporting male characters. Because I resembled Sienna, I received their attention and gradually grew ambitious, losing sight of who I was.

When Sienna returned, I tried every trick to sabotage her but ended up disfigured and disabled by her suitors.

"No!"

I woke from the nightmare, sitting up and gasping for air.

The dream felt so real. If I hadn't heard Archer and the others demeaning me today, I might have believed I'd really transformed and indulged in that sweet dream.

Now that I knew the plot, I decided to give up.

3

For an entire week, I hadn't contacted Archer.