Not a Gold Digger, Just Thirsty

I am Layla Sabella, a wage slave earning 0.3 mills a month, when I somehow transmigrate into another world. I wake up as the kept woman of Brexton's most powerful young heir. Tyler Farrell looks at me, his gaze condescending. "Go on, then. What do you want?" His friends immediately start teasing me. "Come on, let's make a bet. I say she'll ask for a designer handbag. That's every gold digger's favorite." “That’s too basic. I’m betting on a mansion. I had a gold digger try to get one out of me once.” Nadia Lachey, the only woman in their group, smiles. “You're all too shallow," she says. “Knowing gold diggers, she'll be aiming for the biggest prize of all. Obviously, she'll want to become Tyler's wife." They all turn to look at me. I feel a little uneasy because I really am hoping to land something big. So, I make an outrageous demand. "I want a glass of lemonade from Starbinks." Chapter 1 The room fell silent. They stared at me with strange expressions, then burst out laughing. "Oh, my God, my stomach hurts from laughing! This woman is much more interesting than the women you've been with before." "Layla, you've got some nerve! Starbinks lemonade? I'm dying. Tyler's offering to keep you, and all you want is a cheap glass of lemonade?" "This woman is something else. I'm laughing so hard I'm tearing up!" They doubled over, laughing so hard that some of them collapsed onto the couch. I was flabbergasted. In my world, lemonade was a symbol of wealth and status. It was outrageously expensive. Our currency system consisted of dollars, dimes, cents, mills, microdollars, and nanodollars. My monthly salary was just 0.3 mills, equivalent to 300 microdollars. A glass of lemonade cost four dollars. I would have had to save for ages without spending a cent to afford one. After all, 1,000 mills were worth only one cent. My boss, Jacob Cavill, was a wealthy CEO who earned 100 dollars a year. Even he had to keep topping up his lemonade with water, and he couldn't bear to throw the empty bottle away. Only the richest person in the world could afford to finish a glass and toss it straight into the trash. For someone like me who earned just 0.3 mills a month, a four-dollar lemonade was an unattainable luxury. This world really was paradise! Even lemonade was cheap here. If I could earn money in this world and spend it back home, wouldn't I be living the high life? I wasn't even sure if I could return. After all, before transmigrating, I'd already been sent flying by a speeding truck. Nadia Lachey looked me up and down, her eyes full of disdain. "I've met plenty of scheming gold diggers like you," she spat. "You start by pretending you don't care about money, then slowly get close to Tyler until you finally get what you're after. I know all the tricks. "If you're going to put on an act, you might as well see it through." She turned to Tyler Farrell. "We'll find out how sincere she is by whether she's willing to do whatever it takes to pray for your safety." Tyler studied me for a long moment before giving a slight nod. "Fine." They took me to the foot of a mountain, and Nadia pointed toward the summit. "The most notable chapel is at the top. There are thousands of steps, and you have to kneel and pray at every single one for your prayers to work. Go on." I looked at the endless staircase and could feel my heart tremble. Then, Nadia sneered. "If you come back with a rosary, I'll have Tyler give you 200 dollars." My eyes lit up. Even Jacob earned only 100 dollars a year. If I could get 200 dollars just by putting up with a little hardship, I was definitely in. I began climbing, dropping to my knees at every step to pray. Nadia rolled her eyes. "I want to see how long she can keep up this act!" Tyler, however, continued watching me closely. The others set up tents near the foot of the mountain and started a barbecue. Nadia scoffed. "Gold diggers never suffer for long. Just wait. She'll come crying back in no time, saying, 'Tyler, my knees hurt so much!'" Her teasing expression made several of the men laugh until they doubled over. They started betting on how many minutes it would take before I begged to quit. But an hour passed, and I was still climbing the steps, kneeling and praying at each one. My vision was filled with stars, and my head was spinning. I was barely holding on through sheer willpower. Tyler stood up and headed up the mountain to carry me down, but Nadia stopped him. "Tyler, don't let your guard down," she chided. One of Tyler's friends, Henry Foster, looked troubled. "It's been an hour. Isn't that enough?" he asked. "Her knees are covered in blood, and her forehead is injured too." "We're both women, so I know gold diggers like her inside out," Nadia said, snickering. "She's pretending to be weak on purpose to make you feel sorry for her. "Women like her are cunning. If you don't teach them how to behave, they'll cause trouble once they're with you. Have you forgotten how spoiled and demanding those other women were?" Tyler decided she had a point and sat back down. … The world spun around me in an endless blur. My knees had gone completely numb, and I could barely feel my arms or legs. Chapter 2 Every time I knelt, my legs felt as though they were sinking into cotton. I kept losing my balance and banging my knees against the sharp edges of the steps. Only three steps remained. Like a walking corpse, I dragged myself forward, one step at a time. A trail of bloody marks followed me up the staircase. At last, I reached the summit. Trembling, I lifted my arms and croaked, "The rosary…" The priests in the chapel stared at me as though I were some kind of monster. "Oh, my God, she actually made it to the top!" "Quick! Ms. Lachey said she has to light a candle and pray before we can give it to her. Get the candle!" "Good grief, she really is stubborn. We told her to climb all the way up, and she actually did it…" They hurried to light a candle for me, then nervously explained, "M-Ms. Sabella, y-you need to make a wish and say a prayer before you can take the rosary." I gritted my teeth and struggled to light the candle. "Make a wish, huh?" I thought. I hoped I'd find someone who would love me wholeheartedly. After living two lives, I still hadn't experienced what it was like to be in love. I knelt on the kneeler, its softness bringing me a little relief. They guided me onto the cable car for the ride down, afraid I might hurt myself trying to descend the stairs. When I got off, I steadied myself on my trembling legs and handed the rosary to Tyler. I was already imagining the 200 dollars and the lemonade I'd finally get to drink. It had all been worth it! Tyler looked at the rosary in my hands, then at my bright, eager eyes. His heart gave an unexpected jolt. None of his previous lovers had ever actually made it to the summit on their knees. Most gave up after just a few steps. He hadn't expected me to be so devoted to him. I had no idea what he was thinking. My whole body ached, and I was silently wondering why Tyler still hadn't taken the rosary. My arms were getting tired from holding it up. Noticing the change in Tyler's expression, Nadia gritted her teeth, snatched the rosary from my hands, and tossed it into the trash. "Disgusting." Then, she began to order me around. "Fine. I'll be generous and forgive you this time," she announced. "Clean everything up, and when we get back, Tyler will buy your lemonade." I looked at the rosary in the trash. "Then… What about the 200 dollars?" "You'll get it once everything's cleaned up and we're back!" Nadia snapped. So was this their idea of delayed gratification? I got it now. Jacob used to make the same kind of empty promises whenever he was managing a project. But Tyler was Brexton's most eligible heir, with a fortune that put any CEO to shame. Surely… he wouldn't make promises he had no intention of keeping. I forced myself to ignore the pain and started cleaning up. My legs hurt so much that I fell twice. Henry was the one who helped me back to my feet. "Look at that," Nadia drawled, letting out a mocking laugh. "The scheming woman is making her move." "No wonder Nadia's so sharp. She saw right through that gold digger from the start." "Exactly. Good thing Tyler has Nadia looking out for him, or those gold diggers would've drained him dry by now." Nadia gave a satisfied snort. "Alright, let's head back. Layla, you're too filthy to come with us. You can walk back on your own." I instinctively looked at Tyler. I was his lover, after all. Was he really going to let them treat me like this? "This is a test," he replied coolly. "You have to pass before you can officially become my lover." "What did you expect?" Nadia laughed. "Being the Farrell heir's lover isn't that easy." Henry pressed his lips together. "I'll stay here and keep an eye on her." "Fine." Nadia gave him a long look. "That way, we can make sure she doesn't cheat." They left without another word. I was so exhausted that I had to sit and rest for a long time, while Henry bought antiseptic and gauze to bandage my wounds. "Why are you so obedient? We told you to climb the mountain on your knees, and you actually did it," he said, incredulous. "Couldn't you have asked for a little mercy?" I smiled sheepishly. "Honestly, putting up with a little pain to get 200 dollars and a cup of lemonade is a pretty good deal." It would've taken a CEO two whole years to earn that much. Henry looked at me with sympathy. "200 dollars isn't worth putting yourself through all that," he said. "Do you really love lemonade that much?" Chapter 3 I nodded eagerly. "I've only ever heard about it, but I've never actually tried it! They say it's delicious." Henry felt even worse for me. He was convinced I'd had a miserable life, like some poor kid who'd never even tasted a four-dollar lemonade. After a moment of silence, he pressed me down into a chair and told me not to get up. "I'll take care of the rest." I scratched my head, feeling a little embarrassed. "Then… when I get the 200 dollars, I'll share some with you." "You don't have to," Henry said. I dropped the subject, then retrieved the rosary I'd worked so hard to pray for from the trash. The wish I'd made was to find someone who would love me wholeheartedly. I hadn't prayed for Tyler, anyway. If he didn't want the rosary, I'd keep it for myself. I hung it from my waist, unaware of Henry's gaze following me. When we were done, Henry offered to call a cab, but I insisted on walking back. "This is Tyler's test. I can't cheat." He looked at me. "Do you really love him that much?" I didn't know how to answer. After all, the person inside this body wasn't the same anymore. I could only give him a sheepish smile and dodge the question. Relying on the body's memories, I limped slowly back. The woman I'd become had been an orphan, with no parents, just like me. We even shared the same name. After she died of an illness, I somehow ended up in her body. We were both unfortunate souls. From what I remembered, Tyler had been attracted to my looks and pursued me, only to let the women in his circle bully me under the guise of testing me. Still, Tyler was Brexton's golden boy, with a fortune most people could only dream of. Thinking about the 200 dollars and the lemonade I'd get when I returned, I perked up and quickened my pace. By the time I reached the mansion, my legs were barely able to hold me up. Henry had to help steady me. As we approached the entrance, I overheard their conversation inside. "This is hilarious!" someone said, laughing. "Does that woman really think this excuse will get her attention?" "Now that's an unusual tactic. Hey, Tyler, you'd better buy her that lemonade before she gets upset." Nadia snickered. "Buy it? As if! We never planned to. She wanted to put on a show, so we just played along." Someone asked, "You don't think she actually walked all the way back, do you?" Nadia scoffed. "Of course not. She probably stopped for coffee and touched up her wounds to make them look worse. Then, she'll walk in looking all pitiful and try to win everyone's sympathy. "The moment Tyler lets his guard down, she'll get what she wants. That lemonade was just an excuse to get his attention." My heart sank. So they'd just been playing me. I wouldn't be getting the 200 dollars or the lemonade. My body was aching so badly that I lost my footing and stumbled through the door. "Look at that!" Nadia exclaimed, pointing at me. "We were just talking about her, and now she's stumbled in right on cue. What a pitiful sight." She even pulled out her phone to record me in my miserable state. "Look at those wounds. They're so convincing." Henry hurried over and helped me up. "Nadia! She really did walk all the way back. Don't be so cruel." Nadia was annoyed that someone had taken my side. "Well, well, Henry," she drawled. "This woman certainly knows how to work her rosary. How long did it take her to turn you against us? Let me remind you, she's a kept woman—a rich man's plaything. "Tyler hasn't even fallen for her, and you're already getting attached." I gritted my teeth and looked at Tyler. "I wasn't pretending…" Nadia cut me off, "Of course you weren't. You're just naturally so indifferent to money." The room erupted in laughter, and Tyler was embarrassed. "That's enough. Go upstairs," he ordered. I'd never been treated like this before, and I didn't know what to do. I went upstairs, feeling miserable. Lying in bed, I felt utterly dejected. There was no money or lemonade, but I was good at cheering myself up. Soon, I managed to feel better. There would always be another chance. After all, Tyler was the most eligible heir in Brexton. When I woke up, my whole body was aching. I went downstairs to rebandage my wounds, and Tyler came back and told me that Nadia was going to stay here for a few days. "Make sure you take good care of her," he said. Chapter 4 Nadia greeted me like she owned the place. "You're supposedly not interested in money, right? Then, you can stay in the maid's room." "I never said I wasn't interested in money," I protested. "Right." Nadia sneered. "You're just more interested in Tyler himself, aren't you? I used that trick ages ago. Couldn't you come up with something new?" "Just move her somewhere else," Tyler said impatiently. Dejected, I carried my bedding into the maid's room. I'd barely put my cup down when Tyler called me into the living room. He sat on the couch, his expression condescending. "I'm giving you one last chance. What is it you really want?" I felt wronged. "You promised me 200 dollars and lemonade." "Layla, enough already." Nadia scoffed. "You're taking this act too far. Do you think we're stupid? What kind of gold digger settles for lemonade? You're after the title of Mrs. Farrell, aren't you?" I looked at Tyler, but his eyes were cold. I lowered my head in disappointment. "If you don't believe me, then I'll leave." Tyler frowned. "That's not what I meant." "Oh, so now she's playing hard to get?" Nadia cut him off. "Tyler, if you actually try to stop her, she'll have you wrapped around her finger. That's how gold diggers operate." A flicker of conflict crossed Tyler's eyes before he said, "Then go." I turned to leave, but Nadia called after me. "Wait." She walked over and grabbed the pendant around my neck. "Tyler bought this for you, didn't he?" I froze. Wasn't this the coming-of-age gift my foster mother at the orphanage had given me? Had it come with me when I transmigrated, too? Nadia yanked at it. "If you're leaving, you should return Tyler's things." "This wasn't from Tyler!" I cried, trying to protect it. "It's my own pendant!" "Don't lie," she gritted out, tightening her grip. "You came here with nothing." She turned to Tyler and said, "Have someone hold her down. She's trying to steal something to sell. No wonder she was so quick to leave—she's already gotten her hands on something valuable." "Tyler, look at it yourself!" I shouted in panic. "It really isn't yours. It's just an ordinary pendant, worth less than a few mills. My foster mother at the orphanage gave it to me as a coming-of-age gift." Tyler hesitated but still ordered his men to pull me away. Nadia smiled triumphantly and raised her hand. "Fine! I don't want it anymore!" I screamed, struggling against the men holding me. "Keep the 200 dollars, and forget the lemonade! Just give me my pendant back!" A sneer played at Nadia's lips. "What an act. It's just some cheap pendant. You'd think it was some priceless keepsake the way you're carrying on." Just as she was about to smash it against the floor, a hand stopped her. It was Henry. He snatched the pendant from her and placed it in my palm, then stood beside me. "Tyler, if you don't like Layla, you can let her go. Why do you have to treat her like this?" Tyler's brows knitted together. "This has nothing to do with you." "I think it does," Henry shot back with a cold laugh. Overjoyed to have my pendant back, I felt my affection for Henry grow. Then, as if by magic, he pulled a cup of lemonade from inside his jacket and placed it in my hands. "Layla, I can give you lemonade," he said gently. "Would you be willing to leave with me?" I touched the pendant in my hand and looked at the lemonade. Tears of gratitude welled in my eyes. "I would!" I cried. What did it matter whose lover I was?