Chapter 10

Cold sparklers erupted, and confetti rained from above.

Seeing the tab amount, she finally understood the wealth gap viscerally.

He could spend the cost of a kidney transplant in one night.

Later, Darren got drunk and rested his chin on her shoulder like a child.

His warm breath tickled her neck.

It was her first time being this close to a guy.

Darren existed in a completely different world from hers.

With his eyes closed, he looked peaceful, like a big boy.

Compelled by some impulse, she reached out to touch his eyes.

But Darren suddenly caught her hand. When his eyes opened, they were crystal clear, showing no trace of drunkenness.

Darren placed her hand on his face. "If you want to touch, go ahead."

Her palm against his cheek made her heart race uncontrollably. She quickly stood up. "It's late. I should go."

Darren stood too. "I'll take you home."

This time Darren's car was a four-seater. He'd called a driver.

In the car, Darren acted drunk again, head on her shoulder.

Soon, his hand found hers, fingers interlacing.

Her barely controlled heart lost all restraint when their palms touched.

With Darren holding her hand, she didn't dare look at him, keeping her eyes on the window, occasionally taking deep breaths.

When they arrived, she pulled her hand from Darren's. His eyes suddenly opened, gazing at her tenderly. "Good night."

Looking into his eyes made her feel dazed. She murmured good night back.

The dorm was locked when she returned. She had to wake the resident assistant to let her in.

The resident assistant, grumpy from being woken, made her sign in. But they were nearly graduated—it hardly mattered.

Her roommates were still awake when she entered.

Quincy asked, "I saw Darren drop you off. What's going on between you two?"

Jessie asked out of pure curiosity. She'd answer when she felt like it.

But Quincy's tone sounded accusatory.

Hannah pushed past Quincy irritably. "What's between us is none of your business."

Quincy looked down at Hannah's pushing hand, annoyed. "Stop pretending. You've hooked a rich guy—you must be thrilled. Try to get pregnant. With the Lansworth wealth, you'd get at least three hundred thousand a month."

She didn't want to engage with Quincy, whose values she found repulsive.

She had her thesis defense in two days and no patience for Quincy's passive-aggressive comments.

Getting ready to shower, she pulled toiletries from her bag—samples she'd taken from the hotel.

With Laura in the city, expenses had increased. After basic food costs, she had no money left for toiletries.

Jean, the housekeeping manager at the hotel where she worked, knew her situation and gave her expired toiletries and leftovers from guest rooms.

Five-star hotel amenities were always quality.

Sharp-eyed Quincy spotted Hannah's toiletries and exclaimed, "Hannah, did you get a hotel room?"

Jessie, sensing gossip, leaned in. "Have you and Darren gone that far?"

Hannah's face turned cold as she headed to the bathroom. "There's nothing like that between Darren and me."

He had needs, he paid, she did what he asked.

Whether Darren pitied her or was just a bored rich kid throwing money around, she'd find a way to pay him back someday.

But a hotel room? Never.

Someone like Darren, born with a silver spoon, would never truly want someone like her.

Jessie muttered about Hannah's words, "Not that kind of relationship? So they're just hooking up? I thought she was too conservative for that."

Quincy stared at the closed bathroom door, hatred hidden in her eyes, yet spoke casually. "If she's not getting a hotel with Darren, then it's with other guys. Her family's dirt poor—how else would she survive without extra income?"

Jessie covered her mouth, eyes wide. "You mean Hannah's... selling herself for money?"

Quincy shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe she has a sugar daddy, maybe several. She has no father, her mom's had kidney failure for years. Where's she getting money for tuition and medical bills? Thin air?"

Jessie thought carefully. "That can't be right. Her part-time jobs are brutal. I've even worked shifts with her."

Quincy asked, "How much does your part-time pay?"

Jessie replied, "Fifteen an hour, meals included."

Quincy raised an eyebrow. "Still don't get it? She has to support herself and her sick mother. Dialysis is expensive. Where's the money coming from? What can fifteen an hour cover?"

Jessie still doubted. "But she tutors too. With all those jobs, she wouldn't need to sell herself."

Quincy looked at Jessie like she was naive. "Your parents have regular jobs to afford your college life. She's a student working part-time, supporting herself and a terminally ill mother. If students made that kind of money, why would we struggle after graduation?"

Jessie had to admit it made sense.

When Hannah emerged from the bathroom, she sensed tension in the room but had no energy for dorm drama.

She hadn't studied all day. With finals approaching, she needed her evenings for books.

Before bed, she saw Darren had sent another money transfer—five thousand this time.

Darren: Want me to set up a joint account for you?

He'd originally tried to transfer fifty thousand but hit the app limit.

Thinking it too much, he'd removed two zeros before sending.

Hannah hesitated, then accepted it.

The joint account offer—she assumed Darren was joking.

She wouldn't pretend to refuse the money when she desperately needed it.

Their house might not sell, and even if it did, it would barely cover the transplant. Post-surgery medications and ongoing care all cost money.

Hannah sent Darren a grateful emoji.

She recorded it in her expense notebook.

Their four-person dorm had Lisa as the unofficial leader.

Lisa messaged her: What keeps you so busy all the time?

Hannah: Just hustling. Making ends meet.

Lisa: Doing what exactly?

Hannah: Whatever pays. Just trying to survive.

Quincy, from Hannah's hometown, knew her situation best. She'd told their roommates early freshman year. Hannah saw no point in hiding her circumstances, but she refused to wallow in self-pity.

Lisa screenshot her conversation with Hannah and sent it to their group chat—just Lisa, Quincy, and Jessie.

Lisa: Didn't want to be too direct, but I don't think Hannah's that type of person.

Quincy: I trust Hannah's character too, but when people can't afford basic necessities, morals become a luxury.

Lisa: Hannah's struggling so hard. Should we chip in to help?

Jessie: You know I'm tight on money. Sometimes I barely cover my own expenses.

Quincy: Same. I'm broke.