Chapter 1"Got the money! Hundred million! Finally gonna marry the girl I love and give her everything!"
My boyfriend's scratch-off win went viral.
I'm waiting for the proposal. What I get? He tells me he's going to his ex's for Thanksgiving.
"You gotta marry someone in your league," he says. "Now that I'm loaded? Only someone like Josie Whitmore makes sense."
I don't cry. Don't yell. Just nod.
"Yeah. You're right. We don't match."
What he doesn't know? The Whitmores just found their real daughter.
Me.
And that Thanksgiving dinner he's crashing? MY parents welcoming ME home.
---
"Mom, go back and get dinner ready. I wanna tell Zach myself—that I found you."
"God, I can't wait to bring you home. If he's good to you, pick anything you want from my stuff."
Mom just left and Zach walks in with a bag of smashed strawberries. My favorite.
I hug him but he's cold. And he smells like perfume. Not mine.
Something's off.
"Riley, that two hundred grand we saved? I need it. It's urgent."
"Huh?" I look up at him. He won't meet my eyes.
Before, I was about to call him and ask where he was. But accidentally opened TikTok instead.
Some random video pops up. Zach's jumping around like crazy, strawberries everywhere.
His face is red. His voice cracks.
"I made it. I can finally marry her. Give her everything..."
We lock eyes for two seconds. My heart's pounding.
I don't say anything. He freaks out.
"We said we'd use that money for a wedding and a house, right? We're not getting married tomorrow anyway."
I can't believe this. Try to speak but nothing comes out.
Just then, his phone buzzes. He runs into the bedroom.
He's so excited he forgot he's logged into the laptop. I open his messages.
[finally texting me back huh? now that im rich will u marry me princess]
My head's spinning. Zach never calls me princess. Never calls me anything.
Just Riley.
She doesn't answer. He keeps texting.
[i literally came to see u the second i won lol what else u want from me?? that LV bag?]
[cant cash it till tmrw but ill grab the 200k n get it for u right after i swear]
I'm shaking. Bite my lip to stay quiet.
Finally she texts back.
[u actually like me tho? what abt that orphan girl]
He answers right away.
[ive always liked u ok i just didnt wanna make u suffer w me. rileys literally nobody she doesnt matter]
[ngl ive been into u since college but my parents were like u gotta marry someone in ur league or wtv]
[i get it i get it. gonna give u everything now ur gonna be so happy i promise]
[omg perfect. tmrws thanksgiving n my familys doing this huge dinner. my moms saying theres gonna be important ppl there u should def come n impress them]
[100% ill bring smth nice gotta win ur parents over lol]
I feel sick. Like I'm gonna throw up.
Guess "princess" is Josie Whitmore—the girl the Whitmores raised after they lost me.
Back at NYU everyone said her and Zach were like the perfect couple. He was top of his class and whatever.
Right after graduation she left for grad school in London.
Zach barely made it through on scholarships and money from my hot dog cart. Got a job at Whitmore Corp after.
Whenever I brought her up he'd get cold. "Josie's stuck-up. Not girlfriend material."
Turns out they've been talking this whole time. Behind my back.
He doesn't know I'm the real Whitmore daughter. And tomorrow my family's throwing that Thanksgiving dinner for ME.
My head's spinning. Make myself eat the smashed strawberries. One by one.
They're freezing cold. My tears are hot.
Six years together. Zach's bought me like nothing. I never said anything cause he was broke.
First time he gets me strawberries. Knows they're my favorite. Knows they're ruined. About to have a hundred million.
Still didn't get me a fresh bag. But he'll blow my savings on Josie's purse.
To him, I'm not a "good wife." I'm just cheap. Useful. Trash.
Not good enough.
Chapter 2
Zach walks out and starts ripping through drawers. Doesn't even see I was crying.
"Looking for the card? You just won a hundred million. Still need two hundred grand?"
He freezes. Stares at me.
"You... you know?"
His fists ball up. He's deciding something. Then just gives up.
"Me winning's my thing. That money? I earned it. You just had it. I'm taking it now."
I look at him like he's trash.
"I dropped out so you could go to college. You started working and blew your checks on drinks with your boys. Now you want my money? Seriously?"
His face goes red. Then white. Then he snaps. Rips the tablecloth off. Strawberries everywhere.
"You didn't wanna go to school! That's on you! You're too dumb to finish anyway!"
"I went to a top school. Wasted years on you. Two hundred grand doesn't even cover it!"
I thought after six years we could at least talk. End it right.
But I don't wanna talk anymore. Grab my coat and walk to the door in my slippers.
He runs after me. Grabs the card from my hand.
I stare at him.
"Give it back. I worked for that. You're not spending it on her."
He freezes for a second. Then flips.
"What her?! You got with me cause you knew I'd make it! You're just using me!"
I'm so mad I can't talk. If I was using him I would've left last night and gone to the Whitmores!
I jump for the card. He holds it up, smirking.
I snap. "You think you're better than me?! If I didn't save you those guys would've left you in the snow—"
SLAP.
Zach—who's always acted so calm and polite—hits me across the face.
I'm holding my cheek. Can't even process what just happened.
He's standing over me, staring me down like he wants me dead.
He raises his hand again. But then a group of older ladies from the building start walking toward us.
Before I can even react, Zach drops to his knees in front of me.
"Riley please! Give me the money back! I gotta save my friend! He's dying!"
"I gave you the ticket! You're getting a hundred million! You can't leave me two hundred grand?!"
Ladies crowd around. Pointing. Talking.
"She's so greedy."
"That's the TikTok guy. The one who said he'd marry his girl."
"Yeah. Guys like him don't exist. She doesn't even appreciate it."
Zach keeps his head down. But I see his mouth twitch. A smirk.
Cold sweat breaks out on my feet. My spine. I'm freaking out.
They keep talking. I try to speak but Zach hugs me.
"Babe stop. You're not a kid. Stop running away."
"I'll take you tomorrow. It's cold. Let's go home. I'll warm your feet."
His arms crush me. I can't breathe. Can't talk.
The ladies think we're playing. Giggling. Hands over mouths.
Zach drags me back. Toward the apartment.
I fight but I'm getting farther from people. Can't breathe. Panicking.
That's when my phone rings.
The screen says "Mom."
Chapter 3
My heart jumps. Without thinking, I scream.
"MOM!"
Zach's face twists. Then he laughs.
"Your mom? Give me a break. You're just like me—nobody wanted us. You don't have a mom. You never did."
He doesn't let me talk. He's shaking me by the collar. My phone hits the snow.
The screen goes black. The ringing stops.
It's a six-year-old used iPhone. The only gift he ever gave me after he started working.
Everything just hits me all at once. I swing at him as hard as I can.
He catches my wrist. Slams me into the snow.
He's done pretending. Grabs my collar, slams me down, over and over.
Every time I hit the snow, my coat gets more soaked. I'm so cold I can't even feel the pain anymore.
"We're both kids nobody wanted! Why can't you just let me be happy?!"
"Why'd you make me look stupid?! Why'd you make me kneel?! You bitch! Why?! WHY?!"
I'm kicking. Fighting. But he's too strong. The more I fight the harder he slams me.
Watching him now—his face all twisted up—I remember that night. When those guys had him pinned in the snow, beating the crap out of him.
I get it now. He's so desperate to get rid of me because I saw him like that.
I'm losing feeling. Taste blood. Everything just goes dark.
When I wake up, I'm back in the apartment. In bed. Everything hurts.
I hear footsteps. Close my eyes and pretend I'm still out.
"Josie you think Riley's okay? She's been out ten hours."
"She's a street kid. She's been through worse. She's faking it cause she knows you're leaving."
Zach's voice shakes a little. Sounds unsure.
"But—"
Josie cuts him off. Her voice is sharp.
"Cash that ticket and buy me some houses. My parents will respect you more."
"If you let her go and she runs to my parents, you can kiss this goodbye."
That's it. Whatever doubt Zach had is gone. He looks cold now.
They leave and close the door.
I'm burning up with fever, drifting in and out.
In my head I'm back in that snowstorm.
I'm on my knees, slamming my head into the frozen ground over and over. Blood's running down my face.
"Please let him go. Take this pendant. You can sell it."
They laugh and take it. One of them pisses on Zach before they leave.
Zach looks at me with soft eyes.
"That was from your parents. You might never find them now."
I take off my coat and wipe him clean, smiling.
"It's fine. You're my home."
Back then, he was seventeen. It was our second year together after the orphanage shut down.
He said he'd get into college. Make money. Marry me.
There's noise in the living room. Moaning. Panting.
Snaps me back.
"I can't... stop..."
"I've been waiting too long. Not stopping."
I force my eyes open. Worst nightmare ever.
The door cracks open. Light comes through.
Some hands touch my face. Wipe my tears.
"Riley stop crying. I finally made it. You should be happy for me. You didn't do anything with your life. You're not good enough anymore."
"Josie's sweet though. She said we'd leave you two grand for Thanksgiving. That'll last you forever if you're smart."
I stare at him.
"Cool. Hope you and Miss Whitmore are happy."
