Chapter 18

After taking photos, Asher handed back her phone, his expression carefully neutral. “You have a message”

“Ohp”

Thalia opened it, her face stiffening at Drake’s words. She knew message previews appeared automatically–Asher must have seen it.

She glanced back at him nervously, explaining, “My ex. We’ve broken up.”

“I see.” Asher’s expression remained impassive, his eyes unreadable.

“I’ve blocked him on everything else–forgot about his number.”

Thalia felt oddly flustered. She was twenty–five; having an ex–boyfriend was perfectly normal. Besides, she’d dated Drake before agreeing to the arrangement with Asher. She had nothing to feel guilty about.

Realizing this, she calmed herself. “I’ll block him now.”

She did so immediately, with Asher watching.

“Trust me,” she added, “once I agreed to our arrangement, any past relationships became exactly

that–past.”

Asher nodded, his dark eyes still inscrutable. But as Thalia turned away, the faintest smile played at his

lips.

After several days of exploring the city together, it was time to return to London.

She hadn’t told her family she was coming home, so no one from the Winters household was at the

airport.

Instead, Asher’s assistant met them with a black Rolls–Royce Cullinan.

“Shall I come in with you?” Asher asked as they pulled up to the Winters estate.

Thalia shook her head. “No need.”

“Alright.”

gates, hesitating. Sensing her reluctance, Asher didn’t

his car disappeared did Thalia ring the bell. Three years ago, she’d left without her keys. Now she needed to be buzzed into her own home–the

the

home?”

voice cracked with emotion.

throat tightened as she

call your father right away.”

“He’s not here?”

He’s at the office. Your stepmother’s at Lucy’s school for a parent

exhaled in

facing them all–her stepmother, half–sister, and the father she’d been at odds with for

exactly as she’d left it,

daily.

Clarke’s knock.

dinner?”

door with a slight smile. “The

Mrs. Clarke

her like a daughter. She’d been the one to carry young Thalia

daughter, Mrs. Clarke had stayed at

Thalia refused food in her grief, it was Mrs. Clarke who coaxed her to eat, who held

not have survived

15:55

Gold Digger is Actually

17.6%

Chapter 18

to her father

her a beautifully wrapped package. “The finest tea from New York’s best shop.”

some for you

“This is for you. I’ve had plenty. I wanted you to try

“I couldn’t possibly-”

“Please. After everything you’ve done for me, it’s the

offer.”

welled up.

small

so much!” Eight–year–old Lucy Winters looked up at her

remained distant. She couldn’t help associating Lucy with

couldn’t bring herself to be cruel to such a sweet child who

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