Chapter 3

3

I thought he would just be a bittersweet memory from my youth.

But then, life fell apart for him.

After graduation, his family's business went bankrupt. He was drowning in debt.

Seraphina's parents were well-off, and they didn't want their daughter tied to a man with no future.

They forced her to leave him and move abroad.

One night, Thatcher called me, sobbing.

I dropped everything and drove to his place, letting him vent for hours.

Later that night, he climbed into my bed and told me he was mine.

But there was a catch. He needed money to save his family.

I was so blinded by my love for him that I didn't care if it was a transaction.

I paid his debts. I supported him.

I thought that over time, he would truly grow to love me.

And for a while, it felt like he did.

Then Seraphina came back.

Her parents had died in an accident overseas, leaving her with nothing but her freedom.

The obstacle keeping them apart was gone.

The second they saw each other again, it was like a wildfire.

I tried to ignore it, but the hotel photo was the final straw.

I commented on the post: "Using your ex-fiancée's money to buy rings for your mistress? Real classy."

The comment was deleted within seconds.

Thatcher sent me a direct message, dripping with arrogance.

"It was an honor for you to spend money on me. And for the record, Seraphina was always my first choice. You were just a temporary fix. Don't get it twisted."

"Oh, and thanks for the hotel room. It was great."

I put my phone down, my knuckles white from gripping it too hard.

I couldn't believe I had spent five years on a man this cold.

I could almost hear them laughing at me through the screen.

I replied with three words: "Hope it's worth it."

Then I blocked him on everything.

I drove back to the house we shared to pack my things. When I walked in, the sight made my stomach turn.

Thatcher and Seraphina were curled up on my sofa, eating snacks and laughing.

They looked like they owned the place.

I didn't even stop to talk. I walked over and kicked the snacks off the coffee table.

"Thatcher, get this trash out of my house. I don't care who you sleep with, but you aren't doing it here."

Thatcher didn't even look guilty.

"Don't be so dramatic. Seraphina just got back to the States and has nowhere to go. It's just for a few days. We're just friends, Gwen. Don't be gross."

I laughed. It was a cold, sharp sound.

I'm the gross one?

They're posting hotel selfies and they want to talk about "just friends"?

"I'm not arguing with you," I said. "I bought this house. If you love her so much, go find a place together. I'm done."

"We'll meet at the lawyer's office to finalize the separation. After that, stay out of my life."

I turned to leave, but Thatcher finally looked panicked.

He realized that if I left, his free ride was over.

For the first time in five years, he tried to sound soft.

"Fine! I'm sorry, okay? I'll make it up to you."

His apology sounded like a chore.

I shook my head. I had enabled him for too long.

He had forgotten that he only had a life because of me.

When he saw I wasn't moving, his true colors came back out.

"Gwen Sinclair! Who do you think you are? You think I'd be with you if you weren't rich?"

"Without me, you're just a pathetic loser who had to buy a boyfriend!"

He actually believed he was doing me a favor by letting me pay his bills.

I didn't say a word. I just walked out.