school sweetheart, his 'first love,' the girl he was supposed to marry before his family' s old money fortune evaporated overnight. When the Dors

grand estate on the verge of foreclosure. They had called Amber' s family first, of course, but had been met with col

ement that I kept locked away in my safe deposit box. I paid off their debts, saved their estate from being carved up, and provided a soft landing for his parents and sister. Jackson was grateful, profoundly so. I believed, naively,

ber, the woman who abandoned them, it was clea

avish sorority life at a prestigious university. When she expressed envy over her friends' designer bags, I bought her the latest Chanel. When

health declined, I paid for the best specialists and experimental treatments, flying them privately to clinics across the globe. Our main house, the one I owned outright, cost a fortune to maintain – property taxes, utilities, the domestic staff, the landscaping. I paid for it all. I was th

drown, into my home, into my trip, and then sacrificing m

th fake sweetness. "I'm so sorry about your flight. Jackson told me. It's such a shame, but you know,

us. You're always so... serious." She looked at Amber with adoration, like a puppy finding its

ed, confirming their complicity in this humiliation. They didn't care that I was being sent o

, it's just a couple of hours. When you get there, I'll buy you

. Tell me something. Do you have five milli

at? Hailey, what are

on. Can you just

g. The sudden demand for tangible cash, for my money, shook him. He was u

w much it takes to keep your parents in their 'annex,' to fund Jordan's lifestyle, to keep you in designer clothes and a 'bouti

They all knew his meager income barely covered his personal expenses, let alone supported an entire family. His c

my mind. What if Amber had to s

ruffle pasta you cook? Amber's always loved it." She said it as if I were her personal chef, not the owner of the house and the sole provider

a, I believe you are perfectly capable of making truffle pasta. Or perhaps Amber, sinc

I'd imported from France, the kind that cost more than Jackson's monthly 'boutique' gym membership. I soaked, letting the warmth slowly seep into my bones, trying to wash away the feeling of being tainted. I thou

at are you doing? Dinner isn't ready!" Jack

ctly capable of cooking, Jackson. Or perhaps Amber can

-law is not well!" he h

er favorite truffle pasta and planning a first-class vacation? Funn

so difficult! Just

rm. "I'm not cooking

pots and pans clanking reluctantly from the kitchen confirmed that Cornelia, for t

thick with tension and the smell of badly cooked pasta. Jordan was about to plop down

snapped, pointing to a lonely chair at the

bland pasta. "No, thank

Other plans? What other p

ed a disposable asset. Enjoy your meal. Don't worry, the bill for you

forks echoing in my ears. The front door clicked shut behind me,