Chapter 3

“Don’t forget who helped me when I was drowning in debt. Don’t forget who’s paying for Mom’s treatment.”

“You need to apologize to Adrian.”

“I didn’t cheat on him. He cheated on me.”

“You should be grateful, Claire. Adrian has done enough for our family. Vanessa is just—”

He stops.

“You knew?”

Ryan says nothing.

“You knew about Vanessa this whole time?”

For one second, I desperately want him to say no.

I need one person in my life who hasn’t been lying to me.

Instead, my own brother says, “If you already know, then why aren’t you trying harder to keep Adrian happy?”

I grip the phone.

“People are already talking about you. Who else do you think is going to marry you now?”

I can barely believe I’m hearing this from him.

“Listen to me,” Ryan says. “Adrian just got me a job. Mom’s treatment costs more every month. Just let it go.”

I don’t answer.

After the call ends, I cancel the ticket I bought to visit Mom.

When I first met Adrian, his family’s foundation paid for my tuition.

Later, he helped my family too.

At first, it felt like love.

Then every favor started coming with a price.

After Adrian helped Ryan out of serious financial trouble, he sent me out as his friend’s fake girlfriend for the first time.

The same week he started helping with Mom’s medical bills, Vanessa began spending more and more time in his house.

Maybe Adrian and I were never equal.

My phone buzzes again.

This time, it is Adrian.

“Heard from your brother?”

I laugh without humor.

“So getting Ryan that job comes with another price too?”

There is a short silence.

Then his voice cools.

“Mason needs you this afternoon. Don’t embarrass me.”

By three, Mason is waiting outside.

He takes me to dinner with his family.

They barely hide what they think of me, but at least no one throws anything this time.

When dinner ends, I follow Mason toward his car.

Someone grabs my hair from behind and yanks me backward.

“You bitch!”

I barely have time to turn before a slap cracks across my face.

My vision blurs.

“I’m Mason’s girlfriend!”

“Maya, what are you doing here?” Mason asks.

“What am I doing here? You’re having dinner with another woman.”

Mason doesn’t explain.

He doesn’t tell her I’m only here because Adrian sent me.

He just lets her hit me again.

Then again.

A kick catches my side, and I go down.

The cut on my forehead tears open.

Blood runs into my eye.

Through the blur, I see Adrian standing across the parking lot.

For one second, his face changes.

He looks shocked.

Worried.

He starts toward me.

Then Vanessa grabs his arm and says something in his ear.

Adrian stops.

He just stands there watching me.

So it isn’t my imagination.

If it were, Adrian would have come to me.

Maya finally leaves with Mason.

Only then does Adrian walk over.

He says nothing as he lifts me into his arms.

Back at the house, he calls a private doctor to clean my wounds.

I lie down and close my eyes.

At some point, I hear Mason’s voice downstairs.

“Adrian, Maya didn’t mean for it to go that far. Tell me what I owe you.”

Adrian sounds almost amused.

“Forget it. I’m the one who sent Claire with you.”

He pauses.

“If you guys didn’t keep taking her out, I wouldn’t get to bring Vanessa home.”

Mason laughs.

“Fair enough. Anything for you two.”

I pull the blanket over my head.

When I wake again, Adrian is sitting beside the bed.

His voice is soft.

“Don’t worry. I won’t send you anywhere until you’re better.”

Then he leans closer.

“When you recover, we’ll get married.”

I look at him.

I don’t ask who he means.

Me?

Or Vanessa?

Because before any wedding happens, Julian walks through the door.