Chapter 2

"Eleanor, don't push your luck past three times. After that, it's just greed," Brody said.

"If you owe too much, you'll never pay it back. If you ask for too much, you'll ruin what we have," I added.

He paused, a flicker of respect in his eyes, and finally nodded.

I made my first wish. I wanted him to host a lavish birthday celebration for me.

But my heart was still full of longing. I couldn't help but want more.

I'd never been in love, and I yearned for someone to make a passionate, unforgettable confession to me, even if it was just pretend.

When the electronic billboard flashed "Happy Birthday, Eleanor" and fireworks lit up the night sky, I couldn't hold back my tears.

My second wish was totally impulsive. When I found out he was about to get engaged to Evie, I made him swear he wouldn't marry her for three years.

He was so mad, his face darkened with rage, but in the end, he nodded in front of everyone, agreeing to it, and he stuck to his word.

Now, there was just one last wish left.

From this moment on, there'd be nothing left between us, no debts, no obligations.

With my trip to the Frostholm coming up soon, I pulled my friend Abby Simpson along for a shopping spree.

I spotted a puffer jacket I liked, when suddenly, a familiar voice called out from behind me.

"Well, well, if it isn't Brody's little pet sparrow he keeps on the side," Evie said with a mocking sneer.

She looked me up and down, her eyes screaming disdain, like I was nothing but garbage.

I stiffened, wanting to slip past her.

But she stepped right into my path, her voice going up a notch.

"What's this? Did Brody give you enough pocket money to shop somewhere like this? Oh, wait. I almost forgot. You sold your ear for a free ride, didn't you?" Evie sneered.

I clenched my fists.

"Evie, show some respect. I'm not the other woman!" I shot back.

"Respect? You? Please," Evie scoffed.

She suddenly swung her hand, and with a loud smack, slapped me hard across the face.

"You think just because you saved his life, you can leech off him and make Brody dump me? Like anyone can't see through your pathetic little tricks. Isn't it obvious? You're just desperate to worm your way into the Dorsey family!" Evie shouted.

I wanted to slap her back, but Brody's warning flashed through my mind.

"I'll grant you three wishes, but there's one condition: you can't hurt Evie," he'd said.

So I forced myself to hold back.

"Yeah, maybe I'm not good enough for the Dorsey family! But you? With that nasty attitude, do you really think you deserve it?" I shot back.

Evie's face twisted, the words clearly striking a nerve. She turned sharply to the flustered sales assistant and barked.

Evie said, "Seriously, what kind of place is this now? Even nobodies like her can just walk in? I wouldn't touch anything she's laid a finger on. It's probably crawling with germs! Get her to take that off and kick her out! Don't let her drag down the standards here!"

The sales assistant looked uneasy, clearly recognizing Evie as a regular, and reluctantly approached me.

"I'm sorry, miss, but we mainly serve VIP clients here. Could you please remove that jacket?" she said.

Abby was so mad her face turned bright red, and she yanked me behind her.

"What's your problem? Who do you think you are, acting like snobs? We saw this jacket first!" Abby shot back.

I gently shook my head at Abby, holding onto her arm.

"Abby, it's not worth it," I said softly.

"But they..." Abby protested.

"Really, let it go," I said.

I just didn't have the energy to fight anymore. I was so tired.

As I was taking off my jacket, a sudden fit of coughing hit me, and I coughed up blood all over the inside of the puffer.

The sales assistant shrieked when she saw it.

"Oh my god! This jacket is ruined! How can we sell this now? I'm calling the cops!" she yelled.

Just then, the door swung open and Brody walked in, looking seriously annoyed.

Evie instantly rushed over and latched onto his arm, putting on the waterworks.

"Brody! Look at her! She messed up the jacket on purpose just to fight with me, and she even called me names! I was just trying to be nice and let her leave, but she wouldn't even appreciate it!" Evie cried, playing the victim.

Brody's eyes landed on the bloodstained puffer jacket, his expression growing complicated for a moment.

"Eleanor, you shouldn't be competing with Evie for stuff. If you want something, just tell me. Why do this?" he said.

He didn't even glance at me anymore. Instead, he wrapped his arm around Evie and slipped a black card into her hand.

"Alright, don't get worked up over this. Just buy whatever you want. It's on me," he said softly.

Abby was shaking with rage and burst out.

Abby said, "Brody, are you seriously not seeing this? Evie started it! She slapped Eleanor first! And Eleanor's literally coughing up blood..."

I grabbed Abby's hand, shook my head, and shot her a look that said 'drop it'.

To him, I was always the girl holding his debt over his head, and even my sickness just looked like another way to milk him for pity.

Abby could only bite her tongue, her eyes rimmed with angry tears.

I handed over my credit card.

"I'm buying this jacket," I said.