LOGINTori** I stared up the grand staircase, not noticing my jaw still hung open as I watched Dylan Palmer, my tormentor. Now apparently, my employer’s son and new master.For a split second, I caught his eyes widened, carrying the same stunned disbelief that had me rooted to the marble floor. “What the hell are you doing in my house?” he demanded, his voice echoing through the entire sitting room as he walked down the stairs, hopping two at a time. “Dylan! That is no way to speak to our guest. Apologize right now.”Mrs. Palmer stepped forward immediately, her warm smile turning instantly into a frown as she turned to face him.Dylan stopped at the bottom of the stairs, his hands crossed firmly across his chest. He looked every bit the spoiled rich kid in his expensive casual clothes, his hair still slightly tousled.“She’s not a guest, Mom. This…she goes to the same college as me. Tori whatever-her-last-name-is. The scholarship girl.”What the—!I flinched at the way he said “scholarsh
Tori**My head is still spinning, and no matter how many times I blink, the person standing in front of me doesn’t change.Out of everyone in this world to blackmail me.It had to be this devil?“What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?” A cold smile slowly spreads across his face as he watches the shock settle into me, like he’s enjoying every second of it. “H…how did you get that video?” I force the words out, my voice unsteady despite my effort to control it.For a moment, he doesn’t utter a word. Then, he tilts his head slightly, as if deciding whether I’m even worth answering. “I went out to have some fun at a club as usual last night,” he begins casually. “But then…I came across something even more fun,” he continues, letting out a faint laugh. “Dancing shamelessly for men who happen to find someone like you…attractive.”Heat rushes to my face instantly the moment he utters those words, humiliation burning through me so quickly it almost makes me dizzy. But I force myself to act com
Tori**I sit at the far end of the class, scrolling endlessly on my phone through different job listings. Yet it feels like I’ve been doing the same thing over and over again— refreshing, scanning, hoping any reasonable job will show up.But nothing ever does.My eyes hurt, but I don’t stop… I can’t.Not when I have only two days left before Mum is going to be taken off dialysis. I force the thought away and begin to scroll faster.Waitress. Sales assistant. Cleaner.All of them pay too little, not even close to the amount of money I need, but just as I’m about to give up, a new job listing appears on the screen.A Live-in Babysitter Needed At A Private Residence. Immediate Start.Responsibilities: Care for an 8-year-old girl, light household dutiesI pause for a moment.Something about it makes me look closer.Then I see the pay.Salary: $4,500/month + bonus upon successful 3-month probation.“…what the?”I blink, thinking maybe I read it wrong. Then I lean closer to my phone and rea
Tori**The cab slows to a stop the moment we stop at the address Mia texted to me earlier. “Here we are, Miss.” the driver says casually.“You can do this, Tori,” I mutter to myself as my fingers tighten around the strap of my bag. I close my eyes and take a shaky breath, then I open the door. The night air hits my face as I step out of the cab, by the time I reach the entrance, my pulse is racing. I swallow hard and push the door open.The moment I step inside, everything changes.Music vibrates through the air—low, deep, vibrating through my chest. Followed by the scent of perfume and alcohol that fills my nose instantly.“Hey girl!”I turn at the sound of a familiar voice to see Mia.She’s walking toward me with a confident stride, dressed like she owns this entire club. “Perfect timing, I was just about calling you.”“Mia… I—” the words get stuck in my throat, but I force them out. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”She waves a hand dismissively.“Girl! Relax. There’s
Tori**“What have you just done, Tori…?”The words slip out of my mouth before I even realize I’d said them out loud. I tighten my grip around the stack of textbooks pressed against my chest as I walk down the long hallway of Riverside College. Students move around me in fast motions, laughing and talking about things that suddenly feel very far away from my world.Classes.Assignments.Football games.Normal college life.But none of it feels normal to me anymore, because I’ve just made a decision that might change everything.“Be ready tonight,” Mia had said before hanging up.How the hell was I supposed to be ready for something I’d never done in my entire life? Could I really go through with it?My fingers tighten around my books as the immense haze of doubt begins to creep in, but then another image appears in my mind. Mum lying in that hospital bed, her pale face and weak smile. The constant beeping of machines beside her.“Well…I don’t have a choice in this,” I whisper under
Tori**“Why the hell are you here?”My Dad’s voice thunders through the living room before I even step fully into the house, and I freeze in the doorway.“D…dad,” my hands tremble as I clutch the hospital envelope against my chest. “Please, I just need you to listen to me—““Don’t you dare call me that!”His eyes rake over me with utter disgust, like I’m something unpleasant he accidentally stepped on. “I told you and your mother never to show up here again. So what the fuck are you doing at my house? Huh?”The words stab deeper than I expected, but I swallow the pain and step forward anyway.“I know,” my voice cracks, “I know I’m not the daughter you always wanted.”That part has never been a secret.My father sighs impatiently, already turning away like I’m wasting his time.“But please, Mum is really sick and I need all the help I can get.”He stops, and for one fragile second, hope sparks in my chest. Then he turns back slowly, and his face quickly turns back to that same cold and







