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I woke the next morning with a splitting headache, the fragments of the night before slowly piecing themselves back together.What had I said?Oh, right. I'd told her I'd never loved her.I sat up and rubbed at my temples. Strangely, there was no panic in me, no fear at all.I wasn't that same Anders anymore—the one who'd once had nothing, with nowhere left to turn. Over the years, I'd built up a company of my own, and it was running well. Even if I divorced Celeste right now, this instant, I'd still walk away comfortably wealthy.If anything, I felt almost light.The door opened. Celeste walked in. Faint shadows had settled under her eyes—clearly, she hadn't slept.I met her gaze and raised an eyebrow."What, are we getting a divorce? You can keep our son. But whatever's under my name, I'm taking with me."My words seemed to cut into her. Her jaw tightened."Is money all you ever see? Anders, did you know who I was from the very start? Is that why you jumped into the sea, wh
After that, none of them ever showed up in front of me again.I heard the debt collectors did their job well—the whole family had to keep moving, hiding from place to place, barely scraping by.Whenever I thought about what they'd done to me, whatever sympathy I had left evaporated completely. I wasn't giving them another cent.These days, I slept until I woke up naturally. My closet overflowed with the newest arrivals every season. Cars and watches I'd once been afraid to even look at, I could pick out however I pleased, like they cost nothing at all.It was the kind of life I'd never even let myself dream about before.When I had free time, I built blocks with our son or teased Celeste's ragdoll cat. On clear days, we took the helicopter out to an island getaway and sunbathed on our own private beach.I gradually worked my way into high society—charity dinners, hosting art exhibitions, and investing in a gallery with a few partners. I built my own network, my own career.Celes
The next time I saw Dylan was at a charity gala."Well, would you look who it is. If it isn't my dear brother."He was on the arm of a heavyset woman somewhere in her fifties, and he strutted up to me with a challenge already written on his face."Didn't expect you to talk your way in here too. What, dumped the blind girl and landed yourself a new sugar mommy?"I looked at the "sugar mommy" hanging off his arm and felt nothing but bafflement. Was this the thief calling someone else a thief?The heavyset woman beside him glanced over too, sweeping her eyes across me once, something greedy and interested flickering behind them.Before she could get a word out, Celeste walked up.The woman went rigid, as if someone had grabbed her by the throat. Her eyes went wide, and every trace of color drained from her face."M-Ms. Ross?" Her voice shook. Her knees buckled, and she nearly dropped to the floor right there.Dylan, oblivious to the woman's sudden panic, jabbed a finger at Celest
At the mention of my girlfriend, something eager flickered across Dylan's eyes. He smoothed his hair, straightened up, and put on what he clearly thought was a charming smile as he looked past me.The instant he recognized Celeste, that expression curdled into open contempt and disgust."Celeste, why won't you just leave me alone? You're still hounding me even now?"She was dressed simply that day, in a plain shirtdress with no visible label. Dylan clearly still thought she was the same poor, blind girl from before."Let me make this clear, Celeste, I wouldn't get back with a broke nobody like you even if I dropped dead first. Although..."His eyes rolled, and his tone turned magnanimous, like he was doing her a favor."If you still want to grovel for my attention, I suppose I could allow it. I'm a little short on cash right now. Transfer me twenty thousand dollars, and I'll consider giving you a few more minutes of my time."He lifted his chin, waiting for Celeste to fall in li
That afternoon, Celeste told me she had to go out alone and that I shouldn't follow her.I let her think I had no idea what she was up to.Not long after, my phone rang."Anders Marsh?" a voice said. "People who don't pay their debts have to pay some other way. Celeste Ross is in my hands right now. If you don't want her dead, get to this address."By the time I got there, breathless, I could see Celeste's back. She was tied to the railing of an abandoned cargo ship, her hands bound behind her.The kidnapper flashed me a nasty grin."I gave you twenty minutes. You're too late. She's out of chances."She cut the rope right in front of me.Celeste, wrists still bound, dropped straight into the sea.My eyes went wide. A second later, I was moving without thinking and threw myself in after her.The water was ice, a cold that cut straight to the bone, and everything went dark and hazy in front of me. Through the murk, I caught a glimpse of "Celeste's" shape wriggling free of the r
When I got back, the debt collectors who'd been circling around downstairs were gone.My stomach dropped. So it really had been Celeste who'd sent them.I shut the door behind me and slid down against it, exhausted.I hadn't actually been drunk, of course. I'd only meant to scrape together some sympathy from Celeste, get her to go easy on me. I hadn't expected her to react the way she had—dragging me through an entire night of it.I smiled.Celeste had lost her sight in a car accident, hurt while saving Dylan's life. But once she became "disabled," he hadn't wanted to look at her twice. He never answered her texts. He left her standing out in the rain for three hours one winter night while he video-chatted with some other girl upstairs. He called her gifts cheap and threw them in the trash right in front of her.I used to think she deserved better than that.Now, I figured it was all just a rich girl's little game.[I don't see anything wrong with what Dylan did. Who wants a bl







