Chapter 55 The Black Card Goodbye
That night after deleting Ethan's number, I immediately regretted it. Not because I missed him, but because I was terrified. What if Ethan decided to message me on a whim and discovered I'd deleted his contact? I couldn't even imagine how angry he would be.
When Ethan got angry, he didn't yell or scream. He didn't need to. The chill in his gaze was enough to make me shiver.
But worst of all, whenever he was angry, he found other ways to release that anger on me. Ways that left me physically afraid of him.
I pulled the thin motel blanket tighter around my shoulders, staring at the water stain on the ceiling. The heater rattled and coughed like an old man with pneumonia. The entire winter break stretched before me, a vast empty space with nothing but my thoughts and fears for company.
By the time I returned to UCLA two weeks later, I'd lost nearly fifteen pounds. My cheeks were hollow, my clothes hung loose on my frame. Emma stared at me when I walked into our dorm room, her eyes widening in shock.
"Holy shit, Liv," she exclaimed, setting down her coffee mug. "What diet plan did you follow? The apocalypse?"
I forced a laugh, dropping my suitcase by the bed. "Just stress."
After a week back at school, I made a decision. I needed to return the money Ethan had given me. I hadn't spent much during my brief stay at the motel before returning home, so the amount was still nearly intact - over two million dollars sitting in that black card.
It wasn't that I was too proud or didn't like money. God knows I loved money. But I understood perfectly well that nothing came without strings attached, especially from someone like Ethan Bennett. I didn't have the courage to keep his money. I feared what he might do if I did.
Besides, Ethan had already helped me when I first agreed to be with him. He'd arranged the best hospital and doctors for my grandfather, paid tens of thousands in medical bills. I couldn't in good conscience keep this money too.
Friday afternoon, I took advantage of my light class schedule and caught a ride-share to Oakwood Estate. My heart hammered against my ribs as we approached the familiar gates. I asked the driver to let me out before we reached the entrance.
I walked the rest of the way, each step heavier than the last. At the gate, I asked the security guard to call Walter out. When the elderly man appeared, his kind eyes lit up with recognition.
"Miss Reed! What a pleasant surprise." He smiled warmly. "Mr. Bennett isn't home at the moment, but you're welcome to wait inside."
"No, thank you," I said quickly, reaching into my purse. I pulled out the black card, extending it toward him. "I just came to return this. Could you please give it to Mr. Bennett?"
Walter didn't take the card, his smile fading. "What are you doing? Mr. Bennett gave this to you. He wants you to have it."
"Please, Walter," I insisted, forcing a gentle smile. "Just give this to him."
When he still hesitated, I stepped forward and placed it firmly in his hand, closing his fingers around it. "Thank you for everything," I said softly.
I turned and walked away before he could protest further. Instead of taking another ride all the way back to campus, I walked to the nearest metro station.
That evening, I felt something I hadn't experienced in months: lightness. The weight of Ethan's money and expectations no longer pressed down on my shoulders. I was just Olivia Reed again – broke, struggling, but free.
"Let's go out tonight," I suggested to Emma and Grace as they lounged in our dorm room. "My treat."
Emma looked up from her textbook, eyebrows raised. "Who are you and what have you done with the hermit formerly known as Olivia?"
"I'm serious," I laughed. "Let's go to The Boiling Crab in Westwood."
Two hours later, we were cracking crab legs and slurping garlic butter sauce, laughing about the new semester. The restaurant was noisy and crowded, nothing like the exclusive places Ethan took me, but it felt more genuine somehow.
"We should go dancing after this," Grace suggested, wiping sauce from her chin. "San Francisco Street has some cool spots, and we're nearly juniors now. We haven't experienced any of that nightlife."
I glanced at the bill I'd just paid. "I've already blown my budget for the night."
"My cousin works at this place called Crescent. He gave me some free entry passes," Grace said, waving her phone. "It's on me."
"Let's do it," I agreed.
The club was smaller than Elevation, with flashing blue lights and a pulsing bass that vibrated through my chest. We found a small table in the corner and ordered drinks – vodka sodas for them, cranberry juice for me.
Grace poured herself a drink and gave it a flirtatious swirl. "Cheers," she said, raising her glass.
I lifted my cranberry juice, about to clink glasses with my friends, when I felt a tap on my shoulder.
All three of us froze.
I turned to see a handsome man in his early thirties, wearing a Gucci print shirt. He smiled, revealing perfect teeth, and extended a glass toward me.
"For the beautiful lady in red," he said, nodding at my burgundy top. "I'd be honored if you'd join me in the VIP section."
My mouth opened to decline when a familiar voice cut through the music.
"Mr. Winters? What a surprise."
Jackson had appeared beside us. He clapped the man on the back with false camaraderie.
The man frowned slightly. "I'm just offering this lovely lady a drink, Hayes. Not your business, is it?"