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Chapter 2
Before leaving, I added Marcus on Instagram.[]
[My stand’s right here. We’re all friends now–when you want good food, come find me.]]
After Marcus left, I scrolled through his feed.[]
This guy had also gone abroad and become some fancy overseas graduate.]]
His latest post was from a reunion after coming back.[]
I spotted River in the group photo, and next to him–Lily.[]
I stared at River in his custom–tailored suit in that Instagram post.[]
My heart felt like shit.]]
I knew River would make it big eventually, but I never expected it to happen so fast.[]
It’s not scary when your ex finds someone new–it’s scary when your ex gets a Benz and a mansion.[]
He used to have the looks and the brain’s, now he had money too.
3
God, come on, throw the guy a curveball for once!
Maybe it was running into someone familiar.]
That night I randomly started thinking about the past.[]
Back then, River and I did have some really happy times together.
Like our first time at that hotel, or on my family’s yacht deck, or at our hot spring villa, or those three intense rounds before we broke
up…
River never lacked admirers.]
His craziest stalker once cornered me and tore me down completely.
“Besides having dirty money, what makes you worthy of River?“]
I just laughed my ass off: “Yeah, I’ve got dirty money. Do YOU?“]
Then I asked if she wanted to work at my dad’s company after graduation–thirty grand a month.
She hesitantly asked: “Really?“]
I replied: “Just kidding–can’t believe you actually fell for that.”
She turned green with rage.]
Maybe River and I really weren’t right for each other.[]
Chapter 3
Besides having money, I honestly couldn’t find any other redeeming qualities about myself. And the money wasn’t even mine.[]
More than a normal relationship, we were like a sugar mama and her kept boy.
Actually, after getting together with him, I did try my ass off to study.
Then I discovered some things just don’t reward hard work.[]
Like my math grades.
After all that effort, I lived up to expectations by getting into a shit–tier community college.
Honestly, I thought about retaking the SATs.[]
But my dad said, “Sweetie, why don’t you go abroad and get a degree there?“]
I thought about my painful French scores, then about those bland–ass European meals I’d seen online.[]
)
Hard pass.
If I’d known we’d go bankrupt, I would’ve studied abroad.]
With that international degree, I probably wouldn’t be this unemployable now, right?[]
Thinking about this made my throat tight.[]
I quickly opened TikTok to start streaming.]]
No choice–I owed way too much to ever pay it back.]]
The second I started streaming, a viewer came in.[]
“Welcome, Boss Tyler.”
“Everyone give the host some hearts–if we hit ten thousand, I’ll do the griddy for you guys.“]
Boss Tyler: [Girl, why you starting so early today?]]
Tyler–some wannabe gangster.]
His profile was full of liked videos of hand dances, rap battles, and tough–guy quotes.[]
Tyler was my loyal fan, the non–paying kind.[]
Mainly just provided company.[]
My college roommate got me into streaming. She said with all the debt your family owes, you’ll never pay it off with regular jobs. Try some risqué streaming–I heard that shit pays bank.
I gritted my teeth and went for it.[]
Then I found out risqué streaming wasn’t as easy as it looked.]
The few viewers in my stream roasted me:
Chapter 2
“This is supposed to be risqué? I thought you were applying to join the church.”
“Doesn’t look risqué–more like an honest person having a breakdown.“[]
“…”0
I got so pissed I hit them with a hand dance routine on the spot.
That dance went mini–viral and got me like a hundred thousand followers.]]
Boss Tyler followed me during that period.[]
He never missed a single stream.[]
He DMed asking why I did this stuff. I said: “Crazy grandma, gambling dad, sick mom–where else am I gonna get money if not this?“[]
He said: “You’re working so hard. Just hang in there–when I go home and inherit the family business, I’ll take care of you so you don’t have to stream anymore.“[]
I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly fell out.
Drawing me such a big–ass pie–wasn’t he afraid I’d choke on it?]
2 AM.]]
After ending the stream, Tyler sent me a DM.[]
[Girl, I’m back in the country. Let me show off to my dad a bit and scam some money
Here we go again.
In streams he never spent a dime, but he drew bigger pies the “e.
Since he usually helped me deal, with haters, I’d play along with his
from him to take care of you.]]
I replied halfheartedly: OMG babe are you serious? I’m so touched I could marry you.]]
He replied almost instantly: [Don’t get too emotional–this little thing is nothing to your boy.
[When are you free? Let me take you to dinner.]]
I laughed. So that’s what this was about.]
This dude was actually funny–did I really look that gullible?
I closed the DMs without replying.
