The 99th Rejection

"On the day I planned to propose, my girlfriend, Evelyn Johnson, stood me up for the 99th time to hang out with Andrew Langley, her newly hired assistant. I didn't make a scene. I just wanted an explanation when I found her. But I accidentally overheard their conversation. "Ms. Johnson, aren't you worried Christopher might get jealous and leave you since we've been spending so much time together?" Evelyn sneered, "Christopher Clark? That loser has no money and no family connections! Even his job came from me. He couldn't survive without me. Like I told you, he's just a plaything. You didn't actually think I was going to marry him, did you?" I smiled coolly, tossed the engagement ring I'd prepared into the trash, and posted on Instagram: [Feeling down. Does anyone want to hang out? Limited time offer.] Everyone thought I was just acting jealous and sulking. Little did they know that after being rejected 99 times, I could finally go back to being the carefree heir to my family fortune. Chapter 1 When Evelyn called, I was lounging in a luxury suite at the high-end spa, the steam rising so thick I could barely keep my eyes open. I answered lazily, "What's up?" "What's the deal with that Instagram post you made this afternoon?" Through the phone, Evelyn's voice was icy, maintaining her usual air of superiority. It was her typical tone when dealing with me. I always thought Evelyn was just that kind of person, serious and cold as an iceberg. So I acted like a lowly servant, carefully replying to her messages and taking care not to upset her. But then Andrew joined the company as Evelyn's assistant, and every time he handed her documents, her eyes would soften, and she'd break into the warmest smile. That was when I realized that Evelyn wasn't incapable of smiling. She just didn't smile at me. Just then, I heard the sweet voice of the staff member, "Good afternoon, sir." I answered with a smile, "Let's begin. Don't hold back, I can take it." Evelyn noticed something off about the background noise and paused before saying disapprovingly, "Christopher, you never used to go to places like this." My life used to revolve around three places—my home, the office, and Evelyn. Not only did I handle all the housework, but I also took care of Evelyn's every need. Evelyn said she loved my cooking, so I'd whip up something different for her every night after work. She raved about the pastries from that bakery downtown, so I'd wake up at the crack of dawn and drive three hours round trip so that she could have them before work. One evening, after Evelyn came home from a work dinner, I excitedly presented her with a steaming bowl of oatmeal. "Have some. It'll be good for your stomach," I said. But she just scoffed. "You're such a loser! Can you stop fussing around the kitchen all day? It's embarrassing! And for God's sake, get a life! Stop hovering around me like a fly. It's annoying!" Remembering this, I let out a small lau...