Chapter 4

I stared up at him.

Forgiven me?

Forgiven me for blasting his fake, wheedling voice over a megaphone?

Or forgiven me for having dared to date Moon in the first place?

My mind was a blur. I could only stare blankly.

Moon suddenly snapped.

"Shawn already forgave you. Aren't you going to apologize?"

Heart-piercing agony—nothing could hurt more than this.

The three words rolled around in my mouth, burning my tongue. I bit down until the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, finally choking them out.

"I'm... I'm sorry..."

Moon tore her gaze away from me, pulled a black card from her coat, and pressed it into Shawn's hand.

"There's forty million in here. You decide whether he gets it or not."

My eyes instantly lit up.

If I got those funds, the company was saved. My family was saved.

I looked at Shawn with desperate hope, only to watch his fingers slowly tighten around the card.

Shawn let out a cold scoff.

"Julian forced me to study abroad and kept me away from you for three whole years. How can we just hand it over that easily?"

Moon chuckled, standing on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek.

"Whatever you want."

Panic seized my chest.

My parents were waiting for this money to survive. Our house and cars had already been auctioned off.

We were holed up in a tiny, decrepit two-bedroom rental, terrorized daily by loan sharks pounding on the door.

My mom had a weak heart; the sheer terror of our daily existence had worn her down to skin and bones.

My dad had run all over the city, calling in every favor he was ever owed, but with Moon's shadow looming over us, not a single soul dared lend him a dime.

Our last thread of hope was dangling right in front of me. I begged, "Shawn, I wronged you in the past. Punish me however you want. Just please... help me."

Shawn pretended to ponder, hesitating for a long moment before suddenly offering a suggestion.

"How about this? Kneel down, say you're sorry, and I'll give you the card. Deal?"

His calm, casual tone carried enough weight to crush me to dust.

"Three words for forty million dollars. Pretty good trade, right?"

Moon remained silent.

She stood straight beside Shawn, an immovable wall backing his every demand.

"Not willing?" Shawn sighed, pretending to slide the card back into his jacket pocket.

Panic tore through me—a wild, suffocating terror.

"I'll do it!"

At those words, Shawn's smile turned radiantly smug.

He squared his shoulders and straightened his suit lapels.

I glanced at the unmoved Moon, and slowly bent my knees.

It was just kneeling, yet it felt as though my soul were being executed a thousand times over.

*Thud.*

My knees hit the icy concrete.

I collapsed onto the ground, my fingernails digging into my palms so hard my hands shook uncontrollably.

"I'm sorry..."

Shawn laughed in pure satisfaction, wrapping his arm around Moon's waist.

"Oh, come on, I was just messing with you. You actually knelt?"

I didn't move. I remained on my knees before them.

"Tsk..." Shawn let out a breath and tossed the black card onto the ground in front of me.

I reached out and picked it up, staring at the gold-embossed plastic.

This could save my family.

Moon, I will never, ever dare to love you again.

I pushed myself up and whispered, "Thank you."

Moon's face darkened instantly. She pushed Shawn's arm away and turned back toward the club.

"Moon..."

Shawn called after her, but she didn't look back.

He glared at me in annoyance. "What are you still standing here for? Get lost."

I turned and walked away from the club.

Behind me, Shawn kicked a nearby trash can in frustration. A classmate who had studied abroad with him in Australia walked out of the venue, grinning in disbelief.

"Dude, Shawn, you're actually Moon's boyfriend! Her family basically runs this entire city!"

Shawn's irritation vanished into thin air.

He lifted his chin proudly. "Told you, but you didn't believe me."

The guy looked thrilled, but then asked curiously, "That guy earlier looked like he had some history with Moon. You just gave him forty million dollars like that? Isn't that letting him off way too easy?"

Shawn's eyes darkened, a vicious smirk playing on his lips.

"Who said it was free? I already had someone send a little video to his dad."

"What video?"

Shawn chuckled softly.

"Nothing much. Just a little clip of Julian at Moon's place today... that's all."

I hurried away from the club, moving as fast as my battered legs could carry me.

With our immediate crisis averted, all I wanted was to run home and share the good news with my dad so he would never have to worry again.

Once all the debts were settled, I would take my mom and dad to another city, far away, to start a fresh life.

As for Moon, we were finished.