Chapter 3

Joseph's POV

The news hit me like a bolt of lightning. My entire body went numb, a cold sweat breaking out across my back.

I couldn't believe Stella had gone so far just to indulge Gatlin's little game of playing master of the house. She had even cut off the money for Mom's medical care.

Seeing my expression, Mom tugged weakly at my sleeve. "Joseph… Don't go begging her again because of me…"

I shook my head desperately, barely able to speak through my tears. "Mom, you're the only family I have left. I promise I'm going to get you through this."

My vision blurred with tears, so I didn't see Mom's eyes redden with heartache, nor did I see the lingering look she gave me as I hurried away.

By the time I rushed back home, Stella was coaxing Gatlin into eating breakfast. The entire table was covered with food. There was everything from coffee and pastries to caviar and filet mignon on the table.

The stark contrast made my blood boil. Thinking of how frail Mom had looked in that hospital bed, I stormed over. "Stella, why did you stop paying my mother's medical bills?"

Stella looked genuinely startled. "When did I—"

"I had the payments stopped." Gatlin dabbed his mouth with a napkin and looked at me arrogantly. "Mr. Hawke, your daily spending allowance is ten dollars. If your mother needs money for her medical bills, you'll have to go out and earn it yourself."

I was trembling with rage as I stared at Stella in disbelief. "You're really going to stand there and let him do whatever he wants?"

"Gatlin." Stella finally spoke. "Maybe we could—"

He cut her off before she could finish. "You're going to give in to him again, aren't you?"

Gatlin shot to his feet, his chair scraping harshly across the floor. "When you brought me here, you promised everyone in the Budzyn family would follow my rules! If your husband can break them whenever he feels like it, then what's the point of me staying? I'm leaving!"

Stella quickly grabbed his arm. "Alright, alright. We'll do it your way."

I stared at them, feeling as though my heart were being torn apart. This was the woman I'd loved for ten years. To her, my mother and I were nothing more than tools to keep her lover happy.

My gaze fell on the lavish breakfast spread, and I laughed bitterly. "Gatlin, you keep preaching about living frugally, so why are you allowed to spend whatever you want? If I remember correctly, that suit you're wearing is from a runway collection and is worth millions."

Gatlin shrugged dismissively. "Those rules are for the Budzyn family. I'm not a Budzyn…"

"Do you have any idea how hard it is for people struggling to make ends meet? What you've spent on breakfast alone could cover someone's expenses for an entire month."

The sight of him dressed head to toe in designer clothes made my anger boil over. I lunged at him and grabbed him by the throat.

The next second, a searing pain exploded across my face. Stella had slapped me with all her strength, knocking me to the floor. Then she turned to Gatlin and gently rubbed his neck.

She looked down at me, her expression dark. "I told you. No one gets to hurt Gatlin."

Gatlin lifted his chin defiantly. "If you want money, go earn it yourself!"

With that, he grabbed my arm and dragged me out to the car. "I'll make an exception tonight. You can come home after eight."

He took me to an exclusive club where Aurelium's wealthy young heirs spent their time.

Seeing how pale I was, Gatlin smiled smugly. "People should earn their own keep in life. Go serve drinks, polish a few shoes, or do whatever. Maybe the guests will tip you. When you've scraped together enough money, you can go save your mother."

Before I could protest, he had his men throw me into the club's main lounge.

I needed the money for Mom's surgery, so I had no choice but to swallow my humiliation and kneel on the floor, polishing shoes for tips.