Chapter 3

“Yes. You said you’d return it once you’d sorted out that contract.”

“Oh, that.” He let out a short laugh, as though the matter were too minor to deserve a serious conversation. “Baby, I’m working on it.”

“I know, but I really need it now.”

“Is something wrong?”

I hesitated. I didn’t want to spend the entire evening talking about our problems, but there was no point hiding them from him. “Maya found an eviction notice on our apartment door. We have seven days to sort out the rent.”

His expression changed. “An eviction notice?”

I nodded. “And her college fees are due soon. Her education fund won’t be accessible until she turns eighteen at the end of the month, and the deadline comes before that. I promised her I’d find a way to pay.”

Ethan shook his head sympathetically. “That’s awful, baby. I’m sorry you’re dealing with all this.”

“That’s why I’m asking about the money. Even if you can return part of it now, it would help.”

He was quiet for a moment, then sighed. “Nadia, I wish I could. Things have been complicated with the contract. The client has delayed the payment again, and I’ve already put so much money into getting this deal across the line.”

I looked at him, trying to hide my disappointment. “But you told me it would be settled last week.”

“I thought it would be.” He reached over and briefly squeezed my hand. “I wouldn’t have promised you if I knew there would be another delay.”

“So when do you think you’ll get paid?”

“Soon, baby. Very soon.” He shook his head again. “Honestly, I hate that I can’t help you the way I want to. You know I don’t like seeing you struggle.”

I wanted to ask why he had accepted the money if he wasn’t sure when he could return it. Instead, I swallowed the question. Ethan had his own ambitions, and I had supported him because I believed in him. I didn’t want a conversation about money to turn into another argument.

Still, the worry in my chest refused to disappear.

When we reached my apartment building, I reached for the door handle, but Ethan caught my hand gently.

“Wait.”

I turned toward him.

He looked at me with an expression so tender that, for a moment, I forgot about the bills waiting for me at home.

“You know I love you, right?”

A small smile touched my lips. “I know.”

“No, Nadia. I mean it.” His thumb brushed over my fingers. “One day, when everything I’m working on falls into place, you won’t have to worry about anything anymore. I’ll make sure you and Maya have everything you need.”

His words warmed something inside me. It was exactly what I wanted to hear, especially after the day I’d had.

“I’ll hold you to that,” I whispered.

“You should.” He smiled, then hesitated. “Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask you.”

My smile faded a little. “What is it?”

“I need a little money to sort something out with the contract. Once I land it, I’ll pay you back immediately. I promise.”

For a moment, I simply stared at him.

He still owed me money, and now he was asking for more.

“Ethan, I haven’t even been paid yet,” I reminded him. “And now we have to deal with the rent and Maya’s fees.”

“I know.”

“I just asked you for money… and I can’t keep giving you money when I don’t know when I’ll get it back.”

“I understand, baby.” He squeezed my hand. “I’m not asking because I don’t care about what you’re going through. You know how important this contract is. If I can get it done, everything will change for us. I’ll be in a position to help you properly, and you won’t have to keep working yourself to exhaustion for that boss of yours.”

I looked down at our joined hands.

Part of me wanted to tell him that I needed him to keep his promises before making new ones. I wanted to ask him to return what he already owed me instead of asking me to sacrifice even more. But I loved him, and I wanted to believe that the future he kept describing was real.

“Please, baby,” he said softly. “Just help me this once.”

I took a slow breath. I didn’t know where I would find the money, and I certainly couldn’t afford to give him anything without making our own situation worse. But I also knew how much this contract meant to him.

“Once i sort out the rent… I’ll see what I can do,” I finally said.

His face immediately brightened.

“I knew I could count on you.” He leaned over and kissed my forehead. “You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me, Nadia.”

I managed a smile, even though my thoughts were already racing through the little money I had left and the bills waiting to swallow it.

“Goodnight, baby,” he said.

“Goodnight.”

I stepped out of the car and watched him drive away before turning toward the apartment building. 

I had seven days to find our rent, a college deadline to meet, and a boyfriend who still hadn’t returned the money he owed me but somehow needed to borrow more.

And tomorrow morning, I would have to return to Loreto Industries and face Lucien Loreto, who would undoubtedly find another way to make my life miserable.