Chapter 2

At first, I almost understood. Or I told myself I did.

Holden had always been frugal, always talking about saving every penny for his startup. I was the one who managed our finances, who saw the account balance dwindle, who picked up extra design projects to keep us afloat. I believed in his dream. I believed in him.

The truth came by accident.

I was in the hallway outside our home office, on my way to the hospital, when I heard him on the phone. His voice was different-not the strained, weary tone of a struggling founder, but the easy, arrogant cadence of someone used to power.

"Yeah, Mark, the deal is closed. The Porsche is mine."

A pause.

"What do you mean, when am I going to drop the act? The Herrera family wants me back in the fold, but they want me on their terms. I need to play this out."

Herrera. The name hit me like a physical blow. Herrera Tech. The global giant.

"Betsy's back. You know that. I can't just dump the placeholder until I'm secure. She's served her purpose."

Placeholder. That's what I was. A five-year-long human shield to keep his family off his back while he waited for his real love to return.

"Don't worry," Holden laughed. "The old man can't cut me off. The trust is ironclad. But I need the CEO seat, not just a board position. Another year, maybe. Then I'm done with this whole charade."

The world tilted. The floor felt like it was falling away beneath me.

Five years of my life, my love, my money-all a lie.

He was a billionaire playing poor. And the fifty thousand dollars that could have saved my brother? To him, it was less than pocket change. He just didn't want to spend it on me. Or on my family.

He bought the Porsche to impress Betsy.

When I finally confronted them, after they returned from their joyride, I walked into our bedroom to find it in disarray. Her clothes were on the floor, tangled with his.

Betsy emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in my robe, a smug smile on her face.

"Oh, sorry," she said, not sounding sorry at all. "We got a little carried away. The new car, you know? It's very... stimulating."

She ran a hand through her hair. "Holden and I, we just have this connection. It's electric."

I felt a cold rage build inside me. "You're disgusting," I said, my voice low. "Both of you."

Betsy's face crumpled into a mask of theatrical hurt. She scurried behind Holden, who had just entered the room.

"Holden," she whimpered, "did you tell her something bad about me? She's being so mean."

She called him "Holden," but it sounded like an accusation aimed at me.

He turned his cold eyes on me. "Elaine, speak to her properly."

"She was in our bed!" I yelled, the dam of my composure finally breaking. "In my robe!"

"She's my guest," Holden said, his voice dangerously quiet. "And frankly, a little fooling around is not a big deal. Your brother dying wasn't a big deal. Why is this?"

I felt the air leave my lungs. I was tired, so bone-tired. I closed my eyes.

"Get on your knees and apologize to Betsy," Holden commanded, stepping toward me. He grabbed my arm, his grip like steel. "Apologize, and maybe I'll forgive you for this scene."

He pushed me down. My knees hit the hardwood floor with a painful crack.

"Do it," he hissed. "Or you'll regret it. You know you can't live without me."

I remembered the last time he'd gotten this angry. He'd thrown a laptop, and it had caught the edge of my brow, leaving a scar I had to cover with makeup. He'd been so sorry afterward, so gentle. It was always followed by gentleness.

Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. This man standing before me was a stranger. The man who had once promised to protect me was the one hurting me the most.

He was the one who had killed my brother.

He eventually let me go, leaving with Betsy.

I stayed on the floor for a long time. Then I got up, went to my computer, and began deleting every photo I had of him. Five years of memories, gone in a few clicks.

Then I picked up my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in years.

"Grandpa," I said, my voice shaking.

"Elaine? What's wrong, sweetheart?"

"That pact you made," I said, the words coming out in a rush. "With your protégés. The one where they would... take care of me. Is it still valid?"