Chapter 1

I'd just deposited my prize money when the hospital called.

Mom's condition had gotten worse. She needed surgery right away.

Surgery and follow-up treatment would cost about $30,000.

I kept checking the math. The $20,000 prize plus the $10,000 I'd quietly saved over the years would just cover it.

But that night, Alvin said he was in trouble too. He needed $20,000 to get by.

For the first time, I didn't send it right away.

Clutching Mom's test results, I asked quietly, "Can I keep this money for now?

"My mom needs surgery. The doctor said she can't wait any longer."

Alvin stared at me, then scoffed. "Callie was right. You're a gold digger. You only gave me money before because the amounts were so small.

"So twenty grand was all it took to show your true colors."

I had no idea what he meant.

Then the door opened.

A woman in a designer suit walked in and glanced at me.

"Alvin, I told you. Girls from families like hers always care about money."

That was when I learned Alvin wasn't some broke delivery guy paying off his e-bike.

He was the only son of the Danfords, the richest family in the city.

He'd started dating me on a bet with his friends. Could a girl from an ordinary family really love a broke guy?

All my "good luck" had been rigged.

The free meals? He'd prepaid.

The phone I'd won? He'd had someone slip it into the prize pool.

$1,600, $4,000, $6,000...

Every cash prize had been another test.

His bad luck after each win was fake too.

He just wanted to see if I'd spend every dollar on him.

Callie Mercer stepped up beside Alvin and looked down her nose at me.

"Alvin's done more than enough for you. This was the last test.

"If you'd handed over the money, he would've told you everything, taken you home to the Danford estate, and gone public with you.

"But twenty grand? That's where your little act fell apart. Way to embarrass him."

Alvin apparently agreed.

He wouldn't even look at me. "You failed. Pay back every cash prize I rigged for you."

I stared at him. "Pay you back? I spent it all on you!"

He smirked. "On me?

"Got proof?

"Because that money went straight into your account."

I froze.

He was right. I had no proof.

I'd always paid his rent or medical bills directly. He'd never touched the money.

But Mom couldn't wait. I begged, "Alvin, my mom needs surgery now.

"Please, let me use the twenty grand first. I'll work off what I owe you. I promise..."

His brow twitched. His eyes seemed to soften.

Then Callie laughed. "Alvin, seriously? You're buying this?

"It's the gold digger starter pack. Gambling dad, sick mom, little brother in school. Pay up once, and she'll never stop."

Just like that, his doubt was gone. He pulled out his phone and called the bank right in front of me.

"Hi, my money was fraudulently transferred to someone else's account.

"I need that account frozen immediately."

My head snapped up.

Minutes later, a bank text lit up my phone.

My account was frozen.

Before I could lower my phone, the hospital called again.

"Ms. Hart, we can't put off surgery any longer. If you still haven't paid in full..."

My mind went blank. I grabbed the test results and rushed out. I'd beg the doctor to operate first.

But when I got there, Mom lay under a white sheet.

The doctor looked grim. "Ms. Hart, I'm so sorry.

"Your mother went into sudden heart failure. We couldn't save her."

Every sound faded.

My knees buckled. I scrambled to Mom's side, sobbing so hard I could barely breathe.

My phone kept buzzing.

I looked down, numb.

Alvin had sent an itemized bill.

Every cash prize he'd "arranged" was on it. Total: $46,000.

Then came two more texts.

[Report to Danford Corp tomorrow. Your pay goes toward your debt.]

[Pay it off and learn your lesson, and I might take you back.]

Tears blurred the screen.

Some rich guys' bet had stuck me with $46,000 in debt.

It had cost Mom her life and me five years of love.

I just wanted to pay off the $46,000 and never see Alvin again.