Play Poor? Be One

My temper spiked. I wanted nothing more than to rip that smug smile right off Judy's face.

But Mom's surgery came first. I swallowed the rage. "Let go!"

I shoved her aside—only for someone to yank my arm hard from behind.

"Shiloh, don't be mad! Don't blame Mason. He picked up bottles for me, worked four part-time jobs, even knelt to the hospital director to beg him to give my mom the heart first. You're not jealous of how much he loves me, are you?"

She was stalling on purpose, eating up precious minutes of Mom's rescue. I yanked my arm free. "Love? You seriously have no clue, do you? Do you even know who he really is?"

A flicker of doubt crossed her smug face before she stumbled back, landing on the floor.

"Shiloh, stop talking nonsense! Shut up!"

At his voice, I turned to see Mason coming toward me, glare sharp as a blade. Then he turned to Judy, all concern, fussing over her.

I hopped into the ambulance and shot him a look. "You really don't know? Or just playing dumb?"

His eyes went red. "You shoved Judy for no reason—trying to wreck this marriage? Tell her you're sorry!"

I didn't bother answering. Just as I reached for the door, Mason yanked my ankle, dragging me out.

My head smacked the pavement, pain flashing hot as blood filled my mouth.

The ambulance sped off with Mom, straight to surgery.

I pushed myself up, every move stabbing with pain. Judy clung to Mason's arm, all doe-eyed. "Shiloh didn't mean it. I just asked her to help with my mom, and she called me a poor girl who couldn't even afford a caregiver..."

At the word 'caregiver,' Mason's grip on me tightened. He yanked me up by the wrist. "Judy's mom just had surgery—she needs someone. Go."

Blood and tears blurred together. "We're getting divorced. Whatever you and your side chick do is your business, not mine."

The world tilted, and I blacked out.

When I came to, it was already night. I ignored the throbbing and bolted for the hospital where Mom's surgery was happening.

It had gone well.

***

The next morning, I swung by home, grabbed everything that screamed Mason, and fed it to the flames.

Then I marched the month-old signed divorce papers to the law firm and finally snagged the divorce decree I'd been dying for.

That toxic, drawn-out mess of a marriage? Done.

On the way to work, I was already savoring the thought of Mason's face when he found out.

But the second I stepped out of the car, I ran smack into Judy—human garbage.

"Shiloh, you want to work at our company too? It's not easy. Mason had to beg a manager buddy to get me in. Why would he do all that for me—get me a job, help me earn extra cash, pull strings for my mom—but not lift a finger for you, his wife?"

I gave her my best 'you really are this dumb' smile.

"An intern like him has that kind of power? Doesn't that sound sketchy to you? Come on—let me show you something."

I gave Judy a look so sharp it could've cut glass.

Her eyes twitched, fists clenched, but she stayed quiet.

I yanked her straight to Brighton's bougiest club. The elevator shot us to a top-floor suite dripping in gold.

And there was Mason—half-drunk, tangled in a pack of girls, spraying champagne like some wannabe rockstar.

The place roared.

Brighton's rich boys swarmed him.

"Fifth bottle tonight, Mason! No doubt you're the next Leonhart heir."

"Tomorrow it's official—you'll run Leonhart Group and Harrington Corp. Top of the food chain, man."

I crossed my arms and glanced at Judy. Her face was priceless—eyes bugging, jaw unhinged, riding the line between thrilled and wrecked. Then it hit her. Head down. Reality check: she was just another girl in a rich guy's rotation.

Mason spotted me.

One look at Judy's tear-streaked face and he sobered like someone flipped a switch.

He shoved the girls aside, staggered up.

Silence. Every head turned.

"Mason..." Judy's voice cracked. "Shiloh was right. I'm just a nobody. I'm not even worthy to stand next to you, let alone be anything more."

She shook like she might break—no wonder he kept her around.

"That's not true. Judy, listen to me..." He grabbed her arm, then sliced me a look colder than ice. "Shiloh! Who said you could bring her here? Keep it up and your mom's dead."

My chest locked.

"Mason, that's my mom! Remember your promise to your grandpa? You said you'd protect us."

He sneered. "Threatening me now? Cute. Boys—Eleanor Harrington's done in thirty minutes. Make it happen."

They moved fast.

My phone buzzed. I grinned. "Hold up. Marriage swap announcement—Mason, that Leonhart heir spot? Not yours anymore."

Gasps shot through the room. His goons froze mid-step.

I laughed and smacked the divorce decree against his face. "You wanted this so bad? Congrats."