And most importantly, no one had ever been with him for reasons other than his status as the Sheppard family heir. She was the only one who didn't want his money, the only one who truly cared for him.Ellis didn't want to break up anymore. He wanted to be with Ondine forever.The moment his last exam was over, he called home."Ellis, are you done with your exams?" his mother, Shania, asked."I am," he said, pausing as if steeling himself. "Mom, I have something important to tell you.""Are you finally getting back together with Chantal?" she asked hopefully."No," he said. "I have a girlfriend at school. I'm serious about her, and I want to bring her home for Christmas.""What did you say?""I said I'm in love with a girl, and I want to bring her home to meet you."Shania took a deep breath. "What kind of girl? Where is she from? What does her family do?"Ellis clenched his fist. "She's from Riverdale. An ordinary family. She was raised by a single mother who runs a small restaurant."Shania felt the world spin. "Son, are you joking with me?""I'm serious. She's so good to me, and she doesn't want my money. She's with me because she loves me."Shania let out a bitter laugh. "She says she doesn't want your money, and you believe her? How can you be so naive?""I've been pretending to be poor this whole time. She has no idea about my family."Shania was unconvinced. "Or maybe she's just pretending not to know.""She really doesn't know," Ellis insisted. "No one at Riverdale University knows who I am. I've been playing this game for three years, and she's never found out. We've two yeabeen together fOR OVER Wonand I've been living off her money. She even works three jobs for me. Mom, you don't understand. No one has ever been so purely good to me." ་His voice grew thick with emotion. "In two years, I've never given her a gift worth more than twenty dollars." The more he spoke, the more he felt the weight of his cruelty, his voice trembling. "Mom, I really want to be with her. I've never been this serious about anyone. Please, give us your blessing." Shania's tone was icy. "I will not. If what you're saying is true, it only proves thisgirl is deeply manipulative. Have you ever considered that she knew you werepretending all along and that's why she was so good to you?"noveldrama"That's impossible!" he blurted out."Why is it impossible?" Shania scoffed. "Nothing is impossible. Ellis, listen to me. Break up with that girl and get engaged to Chantal.""No," Ellis said firmly. "I've seen how good Ondine is to me, and I've been deceiving her for two years. can't keep doing this. His voice cracked. "All she wanted was love, and couldn't even give her that honestly. I've failed her." Shania wouldn't budge. "I will never allow her into this family. If you feel so bad, Ican give her some money to compensate her.""Mom, if you won't accept her, then I'm not coming home.""Are you threatening me?" she gritted out. Chapters first released on "No," he said, his voice hoarse. "I just want to be with her."Shania closed her eyes and sighed, offering a compromise. "Marry Chantal, and Iwill allow you to keep that girl on the side.""No. That's not fair to either of them.""That is my final offer,” Shania said coldly. "If you don't accept it, you will never be with that girl."