The Kind of Love That Breaks You

Maeve quickly turned to Helga with a flattering gaze and said, "How would that even be possible, Hel? I was just messing with you. You know me. I've never been short on men. I just wanted to see if you're still a lovesick fool, if you'd actually teach some scumbag a lesson."I was speechless. Helga and I had been each other's first and only love. When had I ever been a scumbag to anyone?Still, the customer was always right, so I kept pouring their drinks in silence. My heart stayed calm as I served them like other customers with unusual tastes.Helga looked at me, her expression unreadable."Feel like opening a bottle of wine?" I asked with a faint smile.All I cared about was making the sale. Here I was, kneeling and pouring drinks for a lousy 500 bucks. If they weren't going to order some overpriced wine and give me a decent cut, I couldn't even be bothered to humor them."You!" She paused, then smiled in understanding. "Right. I promised I'd send some business your way. Bring

Helga and Maeve were about to start fighting when some friends jumped in to break it up. Not wanting to escalate things, I decided to find another shower area instead.However, Helga walked over in her heels, cutting me off. She tilted her chin up and said, "Maeve told you she'd give you six figures. That got your heart racing, didn't it?"I nodded. "Who wouldn't be tempted by six figures?"She raised her hand like she was about to slap me again, but I cut in, "Too bad she's the type to write checks she can't cash."Helga sneered. "And what if someone actually does pay you?""Everyone loves money, Ms. Steele," I said with a smirk.She nodded with a mischievous grin and pulled out her phone to make a call. "Mr. Wilder, fire Xavier."The thought of losing tens of thousands of dollars hit me like a punch. That kind of money wouldn't have meant a thing to the old me, but now, it was for Mom's medical bills."You don't even know the whole story about how Rosa got hurt, and you're re

In that case, I'd have to refund Maeve over a million dollars in copyright fees.Helga really wasn't leaving me any way out, was she? She studied finance and jewelry design. Since when did she know anything about music, let alone jump into production?She wouldn't even let me have a moment's peace. She wanted me penniless and trapped. Did she really hate me that much? Did she not trust me at all?When I finished producing those tracks, I told Helga they were for her alone. I never imagined they'd end up being used against me.She even gave them the video where I'd promised the tracks were just for her. In the end, Maeve had no choice but to return them. "I don't mean anything by it, Xavier. I just wanted to remind you to be careful with copyright from now on, even with people you're close to. I heard you've been having a tough time lately. Don't worry about paying me back until you're in a better place."Maeve comforted me over the phone. I was already grateful she didn't deman

"What do you mean?" I asked.Helga gave me a sweet smile. "I paid a fortune to bring in a cardiologist from abroad to treat Fiona. What do you think of that?"Was she about to threaten me with Mom?"If that's true, then of course I'd be grateful," I said, keeping my eyes on her, waiting for the catch.Her grin widened."Then let's give us another chance. When Fiona wakes up, she'd want to see us happy together, wouldn't she? We shouldn't give her any more reasons to worry."So that was her game, using Mom to manipulate me.I met her gaze and asked, "So if I say no to getting back together, you won't hire that doctor for my mom?"Helga stayed silent. She finally released my hand and walked to the window, her back turned to me."Xav, after my mom woke up and told me the truth, I-I looked into everything you went through back then. I knew I had to do this, or you'd never talk to me again. I didn't have a choice."She turned and walked back toward me. "Xav, believe me. I'll treat

Just then, Rosa suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me. "I'm sorry for what Helga did, Xav. This is my fault. I spoiled her, made her reckless and quick-tempered, and now you've gotten hurt because of it."She's my only daughter, Xav. If she ends up in prison, I won't be able to live with myself. Please, just let her go this once. I promise I'll make sure she straightens out."Rosa had always treated me like her own son. Seeing her like this, fresh out of the hospital and on her knees, tore at me.I quickly crouched beside her. "Please, get up, Rosa."But no matter how much I tried, she wouldn't budge."Xav, does that mean you'll…"I could tell she wouldn't move an inch unless I said yes. I gave her a helpless look. "Just keep her away from me, Rosa. That's all I ask.""Go ahead and sue me. Send me to jail," Helga said, yanking Rosa roughly to her feet.Rosa slapped her hard across the face."Have I spoiled you too much these past few years? Well, starting now, I'm cutti