Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“What are you watching?”

Pax slipped his arms around me from behind, his breath warm against my skin. A featherlight kiss landed on my earlobe, sending a shiver down my spine.

His gaze shifted to my phone screen.

For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, with a low chuckle, he reached up and covered my eyes. “Don’t watch that… it’s embarrassing.”

The video kept playing.

On the screen, Pax was in a ballet dress, balancing on tiptoes, spinning in wobbly circles. His movements were clumsy, awkward. But his expression–so focused, so serious–made my chest tighten.

My throat felt dry.

“Was it worth it?” I asked softly.

He had gone this far–putting on a dress, performing ballet, throwing away his pride–all to earn enough to buy me a measly $10 apple cake.

Was it really worth it?

“Of course it was.”

He answered without hesitation, his voice lazy, as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

“This is nothing.”

“When I make real money one day, I’ll buy you designer bags. The kind that cost a hundred grand.”

that, as if something had

on my face, there was still only a soft smile.

“Alright,” I said.

rundown apartment in the heart of the

bed was in, there was barely

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Chapter 1

A hundred grand.

like a figure from another world,

yet, today–I had

that night, watching his performance from

Claus suit, my face hidden beneath a tangled mess of cheap synthetic white hair. The glue used to stick it on must have been

me and told me to head backstage to clean up.

was when I passed by a room with its

heard

I’m kind of over it. Never in my life have I lived in a place that shitty,” Pax said casually. His tone was light, unfamiliar–nothing like the man I

right downstairs. If you don’t close the window, the whole room reeks of rotting fish

through the room. Someone chimed in, voice full

Dressing up

she’ll probably be

had her birthday, you

Laughter erupted again.

“$100,000.”

rang in my head, over and

“So, Pax, how long are you

back in seven days. If she finds out you’ve been fooling around with some random girl, you’re screwed.”

clingy as hell. You

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Chapter 1

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