My Gold-Digging Ex Is My Cousin's Third Wife

My uncle, Richard Patton, had invited the whole family to his house for Christmas Eve dinner and to meet my cousin Kevin Patton's wife.

My parents were tied up with work, so I had to do the Christmas shopping myself.

I never expected to run into my ex-girlfriend, Miriam Carson, at the mall. What shocked me even more was discovering that she was the one who had married Kevin and become the stepmother of his two kids.

"I remember your dad works in the public sector—probably at some small-town local office, right?"

She glanced at the items in my cart, and her eyes gleamed with calculation. "If your family gets on my good side, you're set for life. Kevin's uncle is the mayor. I just need to say the word, and your dad's promotion and pay raise are basically a done deal."

She pointed to the gifts in her cart. "Let's start with these gifts. You can cover them for me."

Since this involved my dad's reputation, I didn't want to make a scene, so I lowered my voice and said through gritted teeth, "Get lost."

What rotten luck. How did she end up becoming part of my family?

I looked at the gifts in my cart, wondering whether I should even go to dinner that night.

Suddenly, Miriam grabbed my arm. "This is your only chance. Next time you come begging, it'll cost you a lot more."

I tried to shake her off, but she wouldn't let go. I glared at her. "You're already married to someone else. Let go, or I'm calling the police."

People hurrying to finish their last-minute holiday shopping began to slow down, straining to hear what was going on.

Miriam seemed completely oblivious to the growing audience and continued threatening me. "Finn, you'd better do as I say. Whether your dad gets to keep his job is up to me."

Noticing more and more people gathering around us, I deliberately raised my voice. "We've already broken up! Why are you asking me to pay for the gifts for your future in-laws?

"When we were dating, you told me your family was broke, so you lived off me, and I never complained. Now you're married, and you're still hitting me up for money? That's way out of line!"

The people around us began whispering and pointing at Miriam.

"She's pretty, but what a piece of work. Poor guy."

"No wonder she's got all those expensive gifts. She's making her ex pay for them. She really has no shame."

Miriam's face flushed with embarrassment, but she still refused to let go of my arm.

I figured she was close to maxing out her credit cards on those gifts. If she could get me to pay, she could impress Kevin's family without spending a cent of her own.

When I tried to slip away, she suddenly shouted, "You've all been fooled by him! I'm the victim here!"

Hearing that, I knew I couldn't walk away. If I let her spread lies about me, she could make any accusation she wanted.

I turned around and smiled coldly. "Then tell us how you're the victim. If I catch you lying about even one thing, I'll call the police and report you for spreading false rumors."

"Yes, miss, let's hear it," said an older woman beside me. "We'll help decide who's in the wrong."

Standing in the middle of the crowd, Miriam frowned deeply, looking as though she'd been wronged. "I was going to keep quiet and protect your reputation, but since you've chosen to stoop this low, I'll tell everyone everything."