My Fake Broke Billionaire - Chapter 1: Chapter 1

The moment I discovered my "struggling" boyfriend was actually the wealthy heir to one of New York's elite families, I didn't feel anger. Instead, an eerie calm settled over me.
Kaiden Xavier and I had been together for seven years.
When we first started out, we were both broke—sharing ramen noodles, scraping together rent for a shoebox apartment, and celebrating small wins like finding a dollar on the sidewalk.
But as the years passed, I climbed my way up—promotions, raises, a real career. Kaiden? He stayed exactly where he was.
I begged him to put in more effort, to fight for the future we'd promised each other. His response?
"Do you look down on me because I'm not rich or successful?"
I didn't have an answer.
We'd sworn we'd never let go.
Yet somehow, building a life together had turned into a solo mission—me dragging us forward while he stood still, watching.
I was tired.
Then I heard it.
"Kaiden, you're getting married next month. When do you plan to tell your girlfriend who you really are?"
Silence.
"Why the hesitation? Don't tell me you've actually fallen for her?"
Every word sliced through me.
I froze outside the half-open door, my stomach twisting.
Kaiden? My Kaiden Xavier?
Maybe it was just someone with the same name.
But then his voice—cold, detached—shattered that hope.
"No. I just want her to have a few more good memories before I leave."
A bitter laugh followed. "Honestly, I thought you enjoyed playing poor. An ordinary girl dating the Xavier heir for seven years? Most people wouldn't even dream of that."
"But Kaiden, if you're having second thoughts… I get it. People like us don't often find real emotion. Fiona didn't care that you were broke or going nowhere. She stuck by you. Hell, I heard she even saved up to buy a place so you two could settle down. That's… impressive."
"What a shame."
Kaiden set his glass down with a quiet clink. "There's nothing to feel sorry about. We were never meant to be in the same world."
And just like that, the illusion shattered.
He wasn't some down-on-his-luck guy barely scraping by.
He was a Xavier.
One of those Xaviers—the kind whose name opened doors most people didn't even know existed.
And yet, he'd lived in a basement with me. Split dollar-store pasta. Fought over clearance-rack sweaters like we were starving students.
I couldn't breathe.
There was pain, sure. But more than that?
Relief.
Because suddenly, everything made sense.
Last week, my aunt Elisa had called, her voice dripping with frustration. "Fiona, what do you even see in him? He's broke, he's going nowhere, and let's be honest—other than that face, he's dead weight. You're smart, beautiful, successful. You could have anyone. Why him?"
I'd defended him, of course. "He's a good person, Elisa. He just… hasn't had the right opportunities yet."
She'd sighed, the unspoken words hanging between us.
Seven years is a long time.
And he hadn't changed. Not one bit.
Only two possibilities: Either he was truly incompetent…
Or he just didn't care enough to try.
And I knew Kaiden wasn't incompetent.
Something wet slid down my cheek.
Tears.
I wiped them away, took one last look at that door, and turned.
No more dragging dead weight.
I still had a life to build—a home to buy, a future to chase.
But Kaiden Xavier?
He no longer had a place in it.