Chapter 1

1: 1

My boyfriend, Maxwell Dickerson, was about as ordinary a programmer as they came.

But today he suddenly wired me a hundred thousand and told me to go buy myself a few designer bags.

This was a man who used my discount coupons just to save on food delivery. Since when was he this generous?

I was about to ask where the money came from when a line of colorful text drifted across my vision.

【Poor naive thing. That's a predatory loan taken out in your name.】

A predatory loan?

When had I ever taken out a loan?

【Your boyfriend did it while you were asleep. Used your phone, scanned your face.】

【Two million so far, all told. This hundred thousand is your hush money.】

【The rest went to the down payment for his ex, the one who just got back into the country.】

【If you don't freeze the accounts and call the police first thing tomorrow, the collectors will come break your legs.】

【And your boyfriend is getting ready to slip back to his hometown with his ex and register their marriage.】

......

"Baby, take this hundred thousand and enjoy yourself. If you see that Chanel bag you like, just walk up to the counter and put it on the card."

Maxwell was smiling at me, soft and doting.

I stared at the transfer notification on my phone.

A second ago, those lines of color had drifted past my eyes like ghost light.

Two million in predatory loans, my face scanned off my phone, a down payment for his ex, my legs broken.

I forced down the tremor in my fingers.

"Maxwell, where did you get this kind of money?"

"I picked up some freelance work lately. Generous client, paid the whole thing up front."

"You've had it rough sticking with me all this time. You deserve to enjoy yourself a little."

If I hadn't watched him yesterday spend ten minutes arguing with a delivery driver over a three-dollar delivery fee, I might have almost believed him.

Seeing me stay quiet, Maxwell reached out to put an arm around my shoulder.

Right then, two more lines drifted past.

【Don't bother guessing. That face of yours was worth two million last night.】

【Friendly tip: check the credit app. You're in for a surprise.】

"What's wrong, baby? Too happy to speak?"

I pulled back from him.

"I... my stomach suddenly hurts."

"Might be that ramen I had at lunch, wasn't clean. I need the bathroom."

Before he could react, I grabbed my phone, rushed into the bathroom, and locked the door behind me.

Outside, Maxwell knocked.

"Baby, you okay? Want me to grab you some medicine?"

"No! I just need to sit a minute!"

I opened the credit app and my online banking, the ones I never bothered to look at.

The instant the page loaded, my vision went black. Seven zeros.

Time of disbursement: three-thirty yesterday morning, plain as day.

The captions hadn't lied to me.

Outside the door, Maxwell's footsteps started up again.

"Baby, you done yet? I've got to go put in some overtime at the office. Might be an all-nighter."

Overtime?

More like off to pick out wedding dresses with that ex of his.

I slapped my own cheeks hard in the mirror.

I had to keep him calm.

"Coming, coming!"

I pulled the door open, my face already arranged into delighted surprise.

"Honey, you're too good to me!"

I threw my arms around Maxwell's.

"I just looked up that bag in there. A hundred thousand is exactly enough! Go on to work, don't worry. I'll go to the counter first thing tomorrow!"

Maxwell patted the back of my hand.

"Go ahead, buy a few outfits too. Don't go pinching pennies for me."

"I'm heading out. Lock up tonight."

Watching him hurry out the door, I felt the smile drain off my face completely.