Chapter 3

Looking back, I should've just focused on making bank.

Feelings? Whatever. Money doesn't stab you in the back.

With that mindset, I walked out of the office, already planning my next move.

Then my phone buzzed—twice.

Eric had just dropped twenty grand on my card.

***

Everyone thought I married Eric for his money.

Funny, since he was the one draining me dry, holding all my cards.

He always said his cash was "tied up in the company," so every bill, every splurge, came out of my paycheck and side hustles.

I figured marriage was a team effort, not some scoreboard of who paid what. So I kept quiet.

Until the math stopped adding up. I made good money—but my account was always gasping for air.

So I checked the statements.

And there it was. Eric had been using my card to spoil Vivien.

Hundred-dollar lipsticks. Designer bags over a grand. On her birthday? He blew tens of thousands renting out a five-star hotel.

Meanwhile, I was still rocking the same outfits from two years ago. Anything over a hundred bucks? "Too pricey," he'd say, handing me a card with some bargain-bin excuse about "saving for our future."

When I called him out, he flipped it on me. Accused me of being paranoid. Gave me the cold shoulder like always. Swore he'd never touch my money again.

So yeah, thinking about all that—I called him.

Had to hit redial like ten times. Nothing.

So I walked straight into the bank and reported the card lost.

Not even sixty seconds later, Eric finally called.

"Sorry, I was busy and didn't see your calls. What's up?" Like we were just catching up or something.

"It's fine now," I said, keeping it cool.

"Oh. Weird. Your card's frozen."

"I know," I said. "I froze it."

"What'd you do that for?" he snapped. "You bored or something?"

"Take it however you want. But didn't you promise not to touch my card again?"

Silence.

I'd never picked a fight over money before.

Back when the company was just starting, I got seriously sick. Surgery ran $10,000, and Eric had already dumped all his money into some flop of a project.

He thought I'd lose it. Came to me crying, all apologies.

But I just hugged him and said money didn't matter—he could use mine. No questions asked.

I thought giving him my heart would bring us closer.

Turns out, I was just making it easier for him to take more.

Eric went quiet for two seconds, then sighed.

Still playing the victim.

"Alright, I get it. You're still mad I skipped the honeymoon. This is your way of punishing me," he said. "Honestly, Hayley, I thought you were more mature. Guess not.

"Fine. I'll drop everything and take you on that honeymoon, happy now?

"I didn't bring my card. Just unlock yours and stop making this harder than it needs to be. Tonight's event matters."