Chapter 3

"Harper, hurry up and find a reason to stall Lewis. Whatever you do, don't let him go to that reunion!"

The comments raced across my vision, and I smiled.

"You're right, I really should buy you some nicer things. After all, your status is different now."

I looped my arm through Lewis's and went with him to the mall.

Inside the store, whatever Lewis wanted, I bought, until I'd maxed out my credit card.

The comments were all cursing me.

"This Harper's got a serious illness—throwing money at a man will ruin her whole life!"

"Let's just wait and watch her get burned alive by that scumbag. Serves her right!"

"Die, you lovesick idiot!"

"……"

I ignored the venom. I understood them, too.

Once the shopping was done, Lewis left satisfied.

I got home and had just settled in to rest when a call came in from Abigail Gilbert, Lewis's sister.

"Do not pick up. The second you do, Abigail's going to latch onto you. She'll move in here with her mom and make you wait on the two of them hand and foot!"

"Relax. Harper already can't stand this future sister-in-law and her mother-in-law-to-be, and she knows they're trying to freeload off her. There's no way she'll answer."

Reading that, I pressed the accept button without a moment's hesitation.

"Harper, I'm planning to bring Mom over to your place for a few days. Get the house tidied up—we're coming tomorrow."

"But Lewis has been busy with a project lately. If you come now, I'm afraid it'll be a distraction for him."

"Then you just host us yourself and don't tell him. That solves it, right? Harper, don't tell me you don't want us to come."

"Of course not. What time does your flight get in? I'll pick you and your mom up at the airport."

The comments went back to calling me a doormat throwing herself at them. I chose to ignore it.

The next day, I picked up Abigail and Tracey Finch at the airport.

Abigail spotted the gold necklace at my throat in an instant.

"My brother bought you this, didn't he?"

She yanked it right off.

"You really know how to spend my brother's money."

"Harper, this necklace doesn't suit you anyway. Abigail wears it much better. Consider it a welcome gift from you, her future sister-in-law. Abigail, you keep it."

Abigail had already fastened the necklace around her own neck.

Then she grabbed my wrist and shoved my sleeve up, checking every inch.

"Didn't my brother buy you a big gold bracelet? Did you hide it so I wouldn't see?"

"Your brother only ever bought me one necklace, and it's on your neck right now."

Abigail pouted but said nothing more.

At my place, Abigail immediately started her snide remarks.

"You live in a place this big all by yourself? My brother really spoils you, buying you a house this size. Mom and I have never lived somewhere like this."

"I rent it myself."

"You rent it? Then my brother's obviously the one paying your rent."

She stormed into my bedroom and started tearing through everything, dragging out all my clothes and accessories.

She put every ring, bracelet, and necklace on herself. "Harper, you've got it so cushy. How much of my brother's money did all this cost?"

Tracey's face went long the moment she saw it. "Harper, don't take this the wrong way, but my son's money doesn't grow on trees. How's it supposed to hold up against spending like yours?"

"You're going to marry into my family and share a life with my son. If you keep throwing money around like this, I won't stand for it!"