Chapter 1

After I Got Sick, He Cried His Eyes Red from Worry and Ran All over Town to Raise Money for Me, But I Still Broke His Heart

I, Elodie Sterling, got sick while working at a club and drinking with guests. The doctor told me to raise money fast.

I begged my mom, Nova Sterling, to lend me some.

Nova shoved me aside and sneered, "Your mouth down there's a mess. What was wrong with the one up here? Still works fine, doesn't it?"

I was so broke I didn't even have pride left. I was scrambling for money anywhere I could. Then my boyfriend, Beckett Hastings, found me, eyes bloodshot. He kept shoving money into my account. "You need cash, right? I'll give you whatever you want! A hundred grand, will that cover it? A million, just say the word!"

I let out a cold laugh. "I've got a gynecological disease. You still wanna send me money?"

Beckett pulled me into his arms, his voice shaking. "I'll send it. I'll send it all..."

I clutched my stomach as I walked out of the hospital.

The doctor told me I had a serious gynecological condition and needed money fast for treatment.

This was all thanks to Nova.

I didn't even know when it started. At some point, my dad got addicted to gambling.

Nova not only didn't stop him, she made me pay off his debts.

She said, "We raised you till you were eighteen. It's time to pay us back."

Nova told me being a prostitute was the fastest way to make money.

Then she hooked me up with a shady club, just like that.

The money did come fast.

But so did the filth.

I was about to call Nova when she beat me to it.

"Your dad lost money again. Send me five thousand dollars now. I heard you've been busy lately. You must've made a lot, right?"

I hesitated, then spoke, "Mom... I'm sick. Didn't I already give you all my money? Can you loan me just a little? I'll pay you back once I get better."

Nova exploded, "Sick? Oh, cut the crap. You just don't wanna pay, huh? You want me to tell the whole school what you've been doing behind closed doors?"

I was choking on tears. "Mom, I'm not lying. I'm really sick. I can show you the diagnosis..."

She interrupted me without mercy, "Quit the damn excuses. Send the money, or you'll regret it."

She hung up on me with a loud snap.

I needed thirty thousand dollars for surgery.

I only had five hundred dollars left to my name.

All the money I'd made at the club had gone straight into Nova's pocket.

I even picked up a part-time job at school to make ends meet.

But I had no choice now. I had to ask him for help.