Chapter 5
When Jake and Tommy got home, they started selling off all the expensive gifts I’d bought them over the years.
With that cash in hand, they went straight back to Rachel.
Those first few days without me around? Pure bliss for them.
Rachel didn’t even pretend anymore-she just moved right into our house like she owned the place.
Tommy was absolutely thrilled. Before, I’d always limited his screen time, treating video games like they were poison.
Now that gaming console became his whole world. From the moment he woke up until late at night, the house was filled with nothing but gunfire sounds and victory music.
The house got emptier by the day, but Jake kept taking Rachel to fancy spots around town.
Seeing her face light up gave him this power trip he’d never felt before.
But that fake lifestyle got crushed when the bills came at the end of the month.
he mailbox was crammed with bank notices and utility bills, red “PAST DUE” stamps everywhere.
Mortgage, car loan, plus that huge college fund I’d started for Tommy.
ake just stuffed them in his briefcase, pretending they weren’t there.
But shit always goes downhill fast.
hat night, Jake woke up to Tommy coughing his lungs out.
id was burning up, face all red, mumbling “Mommy” in his sleep.
Rachel got woken up and rolled over pissed, yanking the blanket over her head.
ake scooped up his feverish son and tried getting Rachel to help.
But she just shoved him out of the bedroom.
hey ended up at the same private hospital we always used.
ince the staff knew who I was, they treated Jake and Tommy like VIPs and got Tommy admitted right away.
Next day, Rachel finally showed up. Her heels clicking across the floor, clearly annoyed.
Why’d we have to come here? Urgent care would’ve been way cheaper.”
Before Jake could answer, Tommy started bawling harder, grabbing onto Jake’s shirt.
Rachel backed away and whipped out her phone, scrolling TikTok like she was trying to tune out the crying.
When the bill came out, Jake went white as a sheet.
“Rach, I totally forgot my wallet. Think you could spot me…”
Rachel freaked and stepped back like he had the plague.
“Hell no! I’m broke. Don’t look at me.”
With no other choice, Jake went home and sold his precious watch to scrape together Tommy’s medical bills.
Chapter 5
When the card reader spit out the receipt, he heard Rachel sigh loud and clear behind him.
“It’s just a fever. That purse I wanted last month didn’t even cost this much.”
She muttered under her breath, but that bitter tone cut right through him.
In that moment, Jake stood there holding his sick kid, staring at this woman with her perfect makeup and pissed off expression.
Who knows what was going through his head.
Meanwhile, in Europe. The boardroom felt thick as ice.
Across the conference table, a bunch of old-school investors sat stone-faced.
My lawyer was walking through the contract details, his voice like white noise.
My phone started buzzing under the table. “Jake” lighting up the screen.
I put it on silent, but it kept going off like crazy, practically vibrating through my thigh..
The suits across from me shot each other a look.
grabbed my phone and walked over to the huge windows. Answered.
What?”
Claire, hey, it’s me.”
His voice had this desperate, ass-kissing tone I hadn’t heard in ages.
Tommy’s in the hospital and… I’m totally screwed. No money.”
