After my socalled best friend, Asher, "tested" my twentieth girlfriend and exposed her as a gold digger, I finally caved to my family’s demands.

I agreed to an arranged marriage for the sake of business, flashmarrying the wealthy heiress Bianca Blackwell.

At a party not long after, Asher snatched the halfeaten piece of cake from Bianca's hand. "Bianca, this is way too sweet," he said, his voice dripping with faux concern, a perfect imitation of a caring boyfriend. "It's bad for you.

I'll finish it." When I stepped in, he didn't see anything wrong with his actions. In fact, he looked personally offended. "What's the big deal? I was just testing your wife's character for you. We've been brothers for over a decade.

You don't actually think I'm interested in your wife, do you?" Before, I might have believed him. But I've been reborn.

I grabbed the cake from the table and shoved it right in his face. "What kind of character do you have that gives you the right to test anyone else's?!" I snarled. "You're nothing but my family's chauffeur's son, so stop playing the prince!

I bet you've not only got your eye on my wife, but you've already figured out how to climb into her bed!" … My outburst silenced the room. Friends stared, their mouths agape.

Asher’s face cycled through shades of red and white before he finally sputtered, frantically wiping cream from his eyes. "Caleb!

How could you say that?" "For all these years, if I hadn't filtered out those twenty gold diggers for you, do you think you'd be married to Bianca right now?" Just as he'd planned, Bianca’s brow furrowed.

She knew I had exes, but she clearly had no idea the number was so staggering. I laughed, my eyes locked on Asher. "Let's see. Every time I got a new girlfriend, you couldn't wait to play the concerned best friend and 'test' her for me.

So, me changing girlfriends every two months seems pretty normal, doesn't it?" I leaned in, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The real question is, I never even touched any of them.

But you, Asher… you probably slept with quite a few, didn't you?" The truth was, Asher was the son of my family's driver. When I was a kid, his father died saving my dad in a car crash.

His only dying wish was that the Thorne family would take care of his son. My father, a man of gratitude, not only funded Asher's entire life but let him live in our home. We grew up together, inseparable.

He loved posting photos of my designer clothes and our lavish lifestyle online, cultivating a rich heir persona for himself. I never said a word. I treated him like a brother. I never imagined he couldn't stand to see me happy.

In my past life, he was consumed with jealousy when I married Bianca. He spread rumors about my promiscuity, and those twenty exgirlfriends he’d seduced, eager to please their "true heir," ganged up on me.

They drugged me, took humiliating photos, and leaked them. The public shame was too much. I jumped from a building and died. It was only in my final moments that I understood.

He had used my identity—the real heir of the Thorne family—to lure away my girlfriends, only to play the innocent victim afterward. "Caleb, I honestly don't know how it happened," he would say, his face a mask of concern. "I just said a few words to her, and she showed her true colors.

But it's for the best. At least now you see what a gold digger she is. You're better off without her." He would then step back, as if he had nothing to do with it, as if it was all their fault. The memory made my stomach churn with nausea.

Asher, his eyes redrimmed, glanced at Bianca and said pitifully, "I didn't. I was raised very strictly. I'm always home before 10 PM. How could I possibly do something like that? I've… I've never even had a girlfriend." The same act as my last life.

The innocent, purehearted young master. I couldn't stand to look at his disgusting performance a moment longer. I stood up to leave. But Bianca grabbed my arm, pulling me back down. "Caleb, Asher meant well. Let's just drop it.

It was just a joke, and it's not like I fell for it. Don't worry, I'm not some trashy girl, and I'm certainly not a gold digger." Her words were painfully familiar. Every one of my twenty exes had sworn the exact same thing.

It seemed Asher’s test was, once again, a success.

2 Bianca was the sole heiress to the Blackwell fortune. Naturally, our friends were quick to take her side. "Yeah, Caleb, you married the Bianca Blackwell.

Are you really worried she's going to run off?" "Seriously, I think Asher was just looking out for you." "Hasn't Asher always been the brother you were so proud of?

Why would he ever try to hurt you?" "You've got a beautiful heiress for a wife and a loyal brother. We're all jealous. You should be grateful." I clenched my fists so hard my knuckles turned white, grinding my teeth to swallow the rage.

I sat back down. Asher shot me a triumphant smirk and slid into the seat next to me, ostentatiously fiddling with the limitededition watch on his wrist. Our friends' eyes widened. "Asher! You actually got that watch!" "Oh my god!

There are only three of those in the entire world!

One of them belongs to the richest man in the city, Harrison Thorne… Don't tell me you're…" Asher, likely unaware of the watch's true rarity, immediately puffed up his chest. "It's nothing," he said with practiced arrogance. "We have plenty of these at home." I almost laughed out loud.

That watch belonged to my father. How did it end up on his wrist? In my past life, he used to steal my father's luxury goods and rent them out to other posers trying to fake a wealthy lifestyle. This watch was probably part of his little side hustle.

A friend looked from me to Asher, a flicker of confusion on his face. "But wait… didn't the Blackwells arrange a marriage with the Thorne family?

If you're Harrison Thorne's son, then Caleb is…" He trailed off, his tone shifting. "Could the rumors be true? Is Caleb just the family's adopted son?" Another chimed in instantly. "That's what I heard.

They took in their chauffeur's son to repay a debt and raised him like their own.

That must be Caleb." "To sacrifice their own son's marital happiness for a debt of gratitude… it's a bit much, don't you think?" "Honestly, what was the Thorne family thinking? Using an adopted son for a merger marriage.

It's so disrespectful to the Blackwells!" "If you ask me, Asher and Bianca make a much better couple!" Asher's expression faltered. Our marriage had been a whirlwind, and he clearly didn't know it was a strategic business alliance.

Bianca's face, however, had turned to stone. Her pride was visibly wounded. I pulled out my phone and casually started scrolling through a local social app. "Hmm, that's funny.

I think I've seen that watch on a few local influencers…" I paused, looking directly at Asher. "Their profiles all claim they're heirs to some fortune… Don't tell me you guys are all just renting it in shifts?" Asher’s face flushed a furious red.

He glared at me, his eyes promising murder. It was no wonder. The old, foolish me would have never exposed him like this. I would have thanked him for "testing" another gold digger for me.

Seeing the doubt creep into our friends' faces, Asher flew into a rage. He ripped the watch from his wrist and slammed it on the floor, stomping on it with his heel. "This is mine!" he shrieked. "How dare you accuse me?

I'll smash it to pieces, and then you'll have nothing to say!" The room gasped. A watch worth millions, crushed under his foot. I clicked my tongue, a mocking smile on my face. "That felt good, didn't it?

Have you figured out how you're going to explain this to my dad yet?" The moment my words registered, panic flooded Asher’s face. He stumbled, falling hard.

He looked up at me, a pathetic mess, his hand bleeding from a shard of the crystal. "Are you happy now, Caleb?" Bianca rushed to his side, grabbing his hand and, to my disgust, sucking at the wound.

She wrapped it clumsily with a napkin and pulled him to his feet. "We're going to the hospital." Seeing me still sitting there, she rounded on me, furious. "Caleb, Asher is not just your friend, he's like your brother!

How could you do this to him?" "You are a Blackwell soninlaw now! I am doing this for the Blackwell family's reputation! I'm telling my father about this. You'd better do some serious selfreflection!"

3 By the time I calmly walked outside, Bianca had already settled Asher into the passenger seat of her car. She didn't even glance at me before flooring the accelerator and speeding away.

I took a leisurely stroll through the mall before heading back to the Thorne villa—the one designated for us as a married couple. The first thing I saw when I walked in was Asher, lounging on the living room sofa like he owned the place.

He saw me and rubbed his temples. "Caleb. Bianca said I could stay here for a while.

You don't mind, do you?" I set down my shopping bags, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "I thought you had a 10 PM curfew." Bianca's cold voice came from behind me. "Caleb Thorne! What's with the snide remarks?!

If you hadn't scared Asher, would he have gotten hurt?" "He'll be recovering here for the time being. You're the one to blame, so you will personally take care of him!" I got it.

She wanted me, the true heir of the Thorne family, to serve tea and cater to the chauffeur's son. I picked my car keys back up. "Fine. Don't want to disturb you two. I'll just go stay with my parents." "You!" Bianca was speechless.

Behind her, Asher put on a pained expression. "Caleb, forget it. It's not a big deal. I don't need your apology. Bianca is a good woman.

I just hope you'll cherish her." A flicker of tenderness crossed Bianca's face, a softness I hadn't seen since we married. She took Asher's hand and then ordered our housekeeper, "Mrs. Gable! Prepare the guest room on the second floor.

Get Asher whatever he needs." Then she turned back to me, her voice sharp with impatience. "You. Wait here. I'll deal with you when I get back!" I burst out laughing. "Right. I'll be waiting. Let's see who's going to be dealing with whom.

Since you're so in love with my family's chauffeur's son, I'll have my parents make your dream come true!" Asher staggered, his face a mask of wounded pride. "Caleb, I know you're still mad at me, but I really did it because I see you as a brother.

Even if you can't understand, you shouldn't slander me like this…" If I hadn't been reborn, I might have actually been fooled by his performance. I stood up and looked at Bianca, who was protectively shielding Asher.

A slow, cruel smile spread across my face. "You just said Bianca is a good woman? She's practically wrapped in your arms right now. How is she still a 'good woman'?

Or does a girl only count as a gold digger after she's slept with you, like the others?" "Caleb Thorne!" Bianca pointed a trembling finger at me, her face contorted with rage. "Asher just showed me the chat logs! He did nothing with your exes!

He just talked to them for a few minutes, realized their intentions weren't pure, and kindly warned you! And what about you? All those exes! Just how desperate are you?!" Asher murmured from the side, "Bianca, don't blame Caleb.

I shouldn't have interfered so much." Bianca placed a gentle hand on Asher's shoulder, her tone dripping with contempt as she looked at me. "He's just a charity case living in your home. He has none of the class of a true heir.

The Thornes have some nerve, disrespecting my family by having a classless piece of trash like him marry me!" There it was. The twentyfirst gold digger Asher had successfully tested for me. And this time, I was genuinely grateful.

I sat back down, crossed my legs, and asked casually, "So, you want to call off the marriage?" Both Bianca and Asher froze. In the past, Asher only dared to impersonate me to ruin my relationships. Annuling a businessalliance marriage?

That was far beyond his courage. Bianca recovered quickly. "It's good you have some selfawareness! The position of a Blackwell soninlaw was never meant for a promiscuous man like you! If you know what's good for you, get out.

Don't dirty my family's home!" "How dare you!" Just as her words fell, a furious roar came from the doorway. "Call off the marriage?! That's not your call to make!" We all turned. My father, Harrison Thorne, strode in, his face dark as a thundercloud.

My mother was right behind him, her expression furious, and flanking them were Bianca's parents, looking deeply uncomfortable.

4 The moment she saw them, Bianca pointed at me. "Dad! The Thornes used an adopted son to marry into our family! This is outrageous! Since when do I, Bianca Blackwell, have to marry a charity case?" My fatherinlaw, Walter Blackwell, turned green.

He pointed a trembling finger at his daughter. "You! Bianca! What nonsense are you spouting!" He then turned to my father with an apologetic smile. "Harrison, the kids are just being foolish.

Don't take it to heart." My mother pulled me behind her, her eyes scanning me with worry. "Caleb, if you hadn't said something today, I would have never known you've been suffering so much…" My father's rage boiled over.

He jabbed a finger at Walter. "Who was just talking about calling off the marriage? Fine! Let's do it! Do you think my son gives a damn about being a Blackwell soninlaw? You should take a good look at yourselves!

When did a Thorne heir become someone you people have the right to look down on?!" Bianca finally realized she'd stirred a hornet's nest. She instantly dropped Asher's hand, her face panicked. "Dad, no, it's not like that! You misunderstood!

I just…" Asher kept his head down, wishing the floor would swallow him whole. "I didn't say anything…" he muttered. My mother grabbed him by the arm, her hand clutching her chest. "Asher! How has our family treated you all these years?

You eat our food, you live in our house, and this is how you bully Caleb?! Do you have a conscience?" For years, my parents had treated him like their own son, giving him generous allowances and gifts. To see this betrayal, my mother was heartbroken.

Asher knew he was in the wrong, but he remained defiant. "If it weren't for my dad, could Mr. Thorne be where he is today? You should be grateful! Instead, you're all ganging up on me!

What did I do wrong?" My mother rubbed her temples, exasperated. "Was there anything you ever wanted that our family didn't give you?

But you just had to covet what belongs to Caleb… Have you no shame?!" Then her eyes fell on the mangled watch on the floor, and her hands began to tremble. "You…! I went through so much trouble to buy that watch for your Uncle Harrison!

And you destroyed it!" Asher flinched. "So… so what… You owe my dad. This stupid watch isn't enough to repay that debt!" It was as if something in my mother died in that moment.

Her voice went cold. "Either you pay for it, or I call the police." Pay for it? The watch was currently valued at five million dollars. That would force him to cough up every cent he'd earned from his fake heir scam.

At the mention of the police, Asher shot a desperate look at Bianca, but she was too busy dealing with her own mess to care. As my mother pulled out her phone, he finally stammered, "Fine, I'll pay! You're just fake philanthropists!

You give me things only to take them back! It's disgusting!" My father took a deep breath, ignoring Asher's antics. He turned to Walter, his voice like ice. "It's come to this. The Thorne family will not accept Bianca Blackwell as a daughterinlaw.

They will file for divorce tomorrow." Walter paled. While the Blackwells were wealthy, their company had been under immense pressure from competitors lately, their stock plummeting.

He had begged my father for six months to secure this marriage alliance to save his company. Now, it was all ruined by Asher and Bianca.

He wiped the sweat from his brow and turned to me with a sycophantic smile. "Caleb, my boy, Bianca was just confused for a moment. Please, forgive her.

The Blackwell family only recognizes you as our soninlaw!" My motherinlaw, her face flushed with anger, marched over and slapped Asher across the face. "It's all your fault, you lowlife!

Seducing my Bianca!" She then turned to me, her face wreathed in a saccharine smile. "That's right, Caleb. It's clear this shameless boy is to blame. Please don't be angry!" I turned my head away in disgust. "What are you talking about?

Asher was doing me a favor, testing my wife's loyalty. And now the test results are in: my wife is a highsociety gold digger. Why would I want to stay with her?" Asher clutched his face, looking like he was about to faint. "I… I didn't do anything!

I just said a few words, and those women threw themselves at me! Is that my fault? If you want to blame someone, blame him for his own bad luck!" Still acting, even now. I smiled and held up my phone. "Are you sure you just said a few words?

Did you think deleting a few messages from your chat history would hide everything?" My father took the phone. His face turned ashen as he read. On the screen was a group chat with twentyone members—all of my exes.

At that very moment, they were enthusiastically spamming the chat with their unedited, Xrated conversation histories with Asher.