Chapter 1

My phone buzzed with yet another message from Clarence Fraser. "Let's do it tomorrow. It's your birthday anyway. Let's meet up."

I looked down at my phone and typed a quick response, rejecting him once more. "No can do. I haven't got anyone to man the store."

Without waiting for his reply, I turned off the screen and slipped my phone into my pocket. My fingers curled slightly, tracing the scar on my wrist.

It had been so long that I almost thought I had forgotten he existed. But right now, I finally saw that I hadn't. Those rotten, bloodstained memories had long since seeped into my bones.

Just then, footsteps sounded at the entrance.

Carrying a crate of fruits in my arms, I instinctively called out, "Hey there, welcome! Feel free to take a look at what we have. You should check out the cherries—they're fresh. And we've also got blueberries, melons, and a bunch of other options. They're really great quality at great prices—"

"Bethany Holmes."

I paused at the deep, low voice and looked up, just to meet Clarence's intense gaze.

He walked in carrying a birthday cake, his eyes fixed on me with a complicated expression. "Long time no see. Happy birthday."

I stood stunned for a moment before smiling. "It's been long indeed. Is there anything you need, sir?"

He set the cake down and stared at me for a long while. "Well, why don't you tell me what you have?"

I immediately wiped my hands on my apron and beamed. "Sure thing, sir. The cherries came in fresh this morning, and we've got some really sweet oranges, and the peaches are pretty good—"

"Bethany," he said, his voice low, his gaze never leaving me. "Do you have anything good for pregnant women?"

I was talking a mile a minute and hurriedly wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

Then, I quickly answered, "Yes, we do. We've got plenty. The oranges would make a good choice. They're sweet and tart, so that makes them good for stimulating the appetite. The grapefruits are excellent too, as they're rich in vitamin C. What do you think?"

The corner of his lips twitched, and he pointed at random. "I'll take all of them. Just weigh them out as you see fit."

"Coming right up!"

As I bent down to pack them, Clarence suddenly placed his hand over mine. "Bethany, don't you have anything to ask me?"

My hands paused. There was nothing to ask. His grand wedding with Lynette Wyndham had made headlines. It was only natural for her to be pregnant and have a child.

All of a sudden, a shrill voice rang out as a woman stormed in, dragging her child behind her as she complained loudly.

"Hey! What's the deal with your fruits? They went bad after just two days at home! My son ended up in the hospital after eating some! And to think that you sold them at such an expensive price! You're a real rip-off!"

"Ma'am, it's been really hot lately. I should have warned you that the fruits will go bad if left out in the open. The fault's all mine.

"But how's your child doing now? Is he okay? Tell you what, I'll cover the medical bills. I'm just running a small business here, but next time you come, everything's on me. How does that sound?"

"Ugh, that sounds more like it. I'll let things slide for your sake," she grumbled.

After slipping a few apples to the kid, I finally turned my focus back on Clarence. I nodded at him and said, "Sorry about that, sir. These come to 68 dollars. Just give me 60."

Clarence stared at me blankly, his lips parting as if to speak, but in the end, he looked away. "Bethany, you weren't like this before."

My smile stiffened a little. Before, when I was with him, I wore the best clothes, used the most expensive skincare, and even the wine I casually gave away started at five figures.

But times had changed. Now, I worried over just a few dollars.

I handed him the packed fruit with a calm expression. "People change. Just like you have."

He seemed to want to say something, but ultimately held back. Then, he took the fruit, scanned the payment, and stared at me for a long time before finally turning to leave.

"A deposit of 143,000 dollars has been credited to your account."

A faint smile tugged on my lips as the voice notification sounded, and I sent the excess money back.

He was still the same as ever. Money seemed to be his solution to everything.