Chapter 4

But in the end, what did I get?

Back then, I was the Howell family's precious daughter—everyone treated me like a princess.

But Marcus pointed at my sallow face and called me ugly.

A sob hitched in my throat. Tears spilled over before I could stop them.

I scrubbed them away furiously.

So this was the power of blood.

Marcus was just like Derek—always chasing after something new, never satisfied.

Well, fine. They were jerks.

I was done with them both.

Katelyn said she'd planned an exciting way for me to "die."

"Hogtied and executed by kidnappers," Katelyn said.

I rubbed my temples. "Do you even remember? Derek's got connections in Jour—he's got connections everywhere, legal and otherwise."

"So you think he'll come to your rescue?" Katelyn asked.

I went quiet for a moment. "What a way to die."

I started transferring my assets, just like Katelyn told me.

After the Howell family went bankrupt, I was left with just 3 million dollars. Over the years, raising Marcus had cost 600 thousand dollars of that.

I used to worry it wouldn't be enough for him.

Now?

Turns out, without having to support a kid, I've got more than enough money to live comfortably for the rest of my life.

Right when I was in the middle of something, my phone suddenly rang.

Marcus yelled at me in a childish tone. "The nanny here cooks awfully. Why aren't you here to make my food?"

I froze.

Marcus had always been picky about food. As a child, he'd been scrawny and sickly.

I practically lived in the kitchen, making the same dish a dozen times to get it right for him.

Honestly, looking back, it was kind of sad and ridiculous.

"Marcus, if you're hungry, go ask your mom. I'm not your mom," I said coldly.

"Just because you're not my mom doesn't mean you can't cook for me," Marcus ordered.

Marcus barked out the order like he was the king.

He added, "I want you to come over and be my nanny."

I froze again.

That's when it truly sank in. How cheaply Marcus valued everything I had done for him.

How utterly he took it for granted.

My voice was shaking.

"Marcus, listen up. I'm done cooking for you, and I never want to see a brat like you again. If you call me again, I'll have you arrested," I said.

Marcus was shocked, and he burst into tears.

I hung up on him.

But I never expected that later that night, Derek came looking for me.

He came alone.

His car was parked under a streetlight, and for once, he was patiently waiting for me—something he rarely did.

I hadn't seen Derek like this in ages. The last time was when he confessed his feelings to me.

Derek was always so aloof and composed—except for that night, when his cheeks had flushed.

This time, his gaze lifted and settled on me. He said, "Bethany, it's not like Garrett's household doesn't have a spare room for you."

I was so angry I laughed.

"Seriously? One after another, you all want me to be your family's nanny now?" I shot back.

Derek's eyes lingered on my face, and his voice suddenly softened. "What I mean is, if you want to see Marcus, you can come back—"

"No," I cut him off. "You said it yourself—he's a Garrett now. He's your son, not mine."

Derek was lost for words.

I turned to leave, but before I could take another step, he towered over me, all dominance and aggression. His hand clamped around my waist, yanking me right back into his arms.

"Bethany," he said.

Derek gritted his teeth, his breath brushing hot against my ear.

"Would it kill you to just swallow your pride for once?" he asked.

For a moment, I was stunned. Memories flooded in, that familiar suffocating pressure tightening around my chest.

I fought desperately to wrench myself out of his arms, then smacked him hard across the face.

"Derek, what the hell is wrong with you?" I shouted.

His face darkened.

I figured he'd do what he always did—call me worthless or leave me behind like I didn't matter.

But the next second, he dragged me into the car and pinned me hard against the seat cushions.

Derek gritted his teeth, his voice trembling.

He said, "Bethany, do you have any idea how many years I waited? Waited for you to come to me? To care?

"Didn't you feel anything when you saw Celeste with me? If you had ever told me you were jealous, even once, I would've been over the moon.

"But no—you were cold as a fucking statue!"

I bit down hard on my lip.

What was this?

Was this supposed to be some kind of love, finally showing up when it's too late?'

I forced out a laugh, but the longer I laughed, the more my eyes burned with tears.

Derek's cheating wasn't exactly subtle—it was right there in the open for anyone to see.

At first, he tried to cover it up, claiming those girls were just business contacts he couldn't avoid.

But after a while, he slipped up so many times it was impossible to ignore.

Bras left on the bed, used condoms he didn't even bother to throw out, and sometimes he'd stumble home drunk with some girl, completely forgetting I was even there.

I never made a scene.