Her Love, My Transaction

aya, my kid sister, had leuke

, professional, but the wor

reatment. Astr

m of being an architect, all o

ongshoreman he used to be before the a

he table next to him

eyes clouded with

"Jonathan Hayes. He... he owes m

sounded di

a job. For you, Liam

suffocating. For M

My life was over

ett H

d. A walking, t

personal assistant. H

social media disaster. Silent

t. I was just a fixture, like

, tantrums, and fleeting, chil

overlooking Central Park, cold

e h

e y

my life, tra

was wrecked, crying over some figh

vulnerable. She

mployee. I

suite smelled of expensi

ame... expected. P

asked. She

Maya. Each time,

rd knot in my stomach. Self-loa

etter. That was the on

ssion. Hard-won, fra

ical bills lessened, though the debt to t

ittle. Enough to want m

ure, more prominent than ever.

ours, her eyes shining, a

sprawled on her chaise lounge, oblivious to the di

y face a mask. Insi

as my

my voice even. "I'

of si

e... I think it's

a flicker of sur

d like to request a transfer. To the development wing of Hayes C

h night classes and sheer will,

to keep me

a pout forming. "And Maya still needs check-ups, righ

d with the old, easy con

d Maya's past treatments, Scarlett. A

ul, firm. Trying to leave w

make the break clean, bu

ta take this! Ethan's pla

in her world, leavi

i

my small office nook in

re of Maya smiling. A worn copy

r calendars, her security

s a small act

rang. M

Hayes. A bit extra this month, even! God

voice cold. "Tha

king about? Don't be st

r your pills. I'm do

ike that! I'm your father! I

e. "You did this for you

! After you

The Hayes money hadn't saved her, hadn't even bought her much comfort in the end, not with Dad siphoning off so mu

no leverage left over

ung

HR department the next day. My resig

man named Ms. Albrig

relies on you so he

he'll manag

town with Ethan, s

aperwork before she left. My resignat

ithout looking.

wasn't l