Chapter 3

With over 50 classmates in the room, the total came out to nearly five million dollars. Everyone knew the amount was nothing to me, but not a single person had expected Lacey to have "earned" that much and then some during her time with Brandon.

Most people wouldn't see a million dollars in their entire lives.

So even though I was the one offering to buy everyone cars, the rest of the dinner turned into the Lacey Kemp show. Classmates lined up to toast her, gushing with compliments and nosy questions.

"Lacey, how much did you actually make at Brandon's company?"

"Oh, my God, five million dollars in spending money, and you didn't even flinch! You've officially moved up in the world!"

"You just finished high school, and you're already set for life!"

Lacey soaked up every ounce of it and turned to Mr. Coleman with her best dutiful-student expression. "Mr. Coleman, don't worry. Nicole might've forgotten about you, but I'll make sure you get a car too—something in the six figures. It's the least I can do after everything you've done for me."

Mr. Coleman got visibly emotional and stood up to take her hand. "Lacey, I've been teaching for years, and you're the student I'm most proud of!"

"You're too kind."

All the praise was going straight to Lacey's head. She turned and flagged down a waiter. "Excuse me. Can we get two more bottles of Dom Pérignon? And add a few more lobsters and king crabs to the order. It's not every day everyone's together like this, so let's make sure we eat and drink well!"

Another round of cheering erupted.

I was the one buying them all cars, and they couldn't have cared less. They'd completely sidelined me.

Brandon didn't so much as glance my way either, too busy doting on Lacey hand and foot. When the king crab arrived, he put a piece right on her plate.

Lacey shook her head with a smile, practically pouting. "No, I want Bran to shell it for me."

Brandon reached over and gave her nose a playful tap.

Half the room saw it. A few people snuck glances at me, their eyes gleaming with the thrill of watching drama unfold.

"See? They say they're not a couple, but it's so obvious at this point."

"Don't piss off our big spender over there, though. She's still buying us cars!"

"Big spender? She probably treats five million dollars the way the rest of us treat a five-dollar bill, like she's tossing change at beggars."

"Well, the Dixon family's been rich since her grandfather's generation. This kind of money is probably pocket change to her."

Ungrateful leeches, every single one of them.

I took a sip of coffee and kept my expression ice cold.

Lacey noticed the looks and jumped in quickly. "You guys, don't get the wrong idea. I only think of Bran as an older brother, really! It's nothing like that!"

I ignored her innocent little act and just kept my head down, eating. They could say whatever they wanted. There was still a show to come, and I wasn't about to watch it on an empty stomach.