Chapter 3

I pushed through the crowd and got right in front of them.

My eyes were fixed on that card.

But just as I was about to grab it, Ethan stepped aside.

He closed his hand around the card and turned on me, his face tight with anger.

"Ethan, you can't use that card. That's everything we have saved."

I was almost shaking.

Ethan just looked at me. Calm. Unmoved. Watching me fall apart like it was entertainment.

"So what? You owe Rena that much."

"Holly, how long are you going to keep up this act? From the day we got together, I handed you every paycheck from every gig for seven years. And you still nickel-and-dimed everything. The numbers never added up."

When our eyes met, he felt like a stranger.

Had he forgotten?

He still owed a debt.

"Ethan, that money was for paying off the —"

He cut me off before I could finish.

Without a second's hesitation, he shoved me aside, turned, and pressed the card into Rena's hand.

Then he stepped in front of her like a shield.

He looked at me like I was a threat.

"Holly, don't forget you still owe me for the money you skimmed. I expect that back."

"Rena and I have missed enough time. I'm done wasting more."

He said it like he was reading a verdict, then turned away.

The music came back up. Ethan disappeared into the crowd on the dance floor.

Like nothing had happened.

I was the only one still standing there, frozen.

It was all my fault.

I had protected him too well.

Every time a creditor showed up at the door, I was the one who faced them alone.

I cut back on everything, worked myself down to the bone, all to pay off his debt as fast as I could.

And in the end, I had nothing left.

Not even the one thing I used to be most proud of.

My love.