Inside the White family's villa, the halls breathed a muted, watchful quiet.
Lainey slept in fragile calm, wrapped in the hush of silk and shadow. She jolted awake as the door crashed inward, the echo snapping through the room.
"What did you do to Erin, Lainey?"
Seeing Jeremy charge inside with fury burning in his eyes, Lainey rose slowly from the bed. The satin sheets slid away, and the black robe traced her shape in the pale light.
"Since you already figured it out," she said softly, lifting her chin. "Why pretend you need answers?"
Jeremy closed the distance and seized her wrist.
"Because I care about Erin, you sent her away, is that what this is?"
Disdain flooded his gaze as it cut through Lainey.
Lainey tore free and laughed under her breath, the sound thin and icy.
"She deserved it," she replied, eyes steady.
She only sat there as he said, "Money is the only thing you have. I will never want someone so petty and cruel, and every time I see your fake smile, it turns my stomach."
Her eyes tightened, a quiet storm gathering behind them.
Fifteen years earlier, flames had devoured their home. Her mother vanished in the smoke, while she was carried out by a stranger.
Six years before tonight, she finally found her rescuer, and it was him, the housekeeper's son, Jeremy.
Out of gratitude, she lowered herself to chase him, swallowing pride with every quiet step toward his shadow.
She never imagined that six years of time, effort, and money would end with words of scorn burning in her ears.
"So you're saying the money and gifts I gave you meant nothing?" she asked, voice calm, eyes steady.
"Exactly," he said, jaw tight. "Your self righteous kindness makes my skin crawl, and every gift you handed me for six years felt like an insult I had to swallow."
"Then return every single one," Lainey said, lifting her chin.
Jeremy froze and stared at her. "What are you talking about?"
"I'll write everything down," she replied coolly. "You can give the items back or pay me in full."
Noticing the shock flicker across his face, she tilted her head and said with quiet mockery, "What's wrong, can't let them go? Or are you only pretending to be honorable?"
Jeremy's face hardened, the warmth draining from his eyes.
"Lainey, do you think this will make me care?" he said flatly. "Wake up and stop chasing illusions."
With that, he walked out, the door thudding shut before he returned moments later with several boxes in his arms.
His tone cut through the air, sharp and merciless.
"Take your money and your things back," he said, setting them down. "Don't come crying later."
He turned away, certain that within three seconds she would break and beg him to stay.
One. Two.
"Wait a second," Lainey called after him, voice clear but restrained.
He turned with a confident smile and said, "If you're going to apologize, go ahead. Tonight is Erin's birthday, and if you can make her smile, I might take these back."
Lainey's eye flickered, a sharp tremor betraying how love had once blinded her into choosing someone like him.
"Don't get it twisted," she said, voice even. "Those clothes on your back came from my money."
Jeremy's face shifted, emotions churning before hardening into contempt. He stripped them off in a rush and flung them to the floor and said, "Happy now?"
She watched him storm away, the room turning hollow around her, and remembered that today was her birthday too.
