Chapter 4
I dragged a chair over and sat down, close enough to the hospital bed to be polite but far enough to keep my distance. “Mrs. Price, you should rest,” I said gently.
Cynthia grabbed my hand, her eyes brimming with tears in an instant
“Evie, you’re such a good girl. I knew you had a heart of gold.” Her voice cracked as she pressed on, “Look at my Declan. He may not come from money, but what’s not to love?”
“He’s smart, loyal to his family, and he’s got a bright future ahead. Can’t you just… give him one more shot?”
Before I could answer, Sierra, hovering nearby, jumped in, though a flicker of irritation crossed her face. “Yeah, Evie, Declan’s honestly amazing. It’d be such a waste if you two didn’t make it work!”
Declan kept his head down, his shoulders slumped with a mix of guilt and defeat.
The three of them were
putting
putting on one hell of a show.
I met Cynthia’s gaze and spoke slowly, “Mrs. Price, there are plenty of guys with big dreams out there, but I’m not here to be anyone’s financial crutch.”
My words landed like a punch, silencing the room.
Cynthia’s tears clung to her cheeks, her expression frozen. Sierra’s mouth fell open, her eyes wide with shock. Declan’s head jerked up, his face flushing red, his jaw tightening.
“What did you just say?” he demanded, his voice low but sharp.
“I said I’m not here to be anyone’s financial crutch,” I repeated, holding his furious stare without flinching
“Declan, how much do you make a month? Enough to cover your mom’s meds, your brother’s tuition, and a family to boot?”
I let the question hang, my resolve hardening
“My parents didn’t raise me to tie my life to someone else’s grind. I had my own plans, my own ambitions. They didn’t raise me for over twenty years just to marry someone and scrape by.”
“Evie Hart!” Declan shot to his feet, pointing at me, his voice shaking but determined. “You’re out of line! I’m going to make it big someday–you’ll see!”
“I’m not doubting you,” I cut in, my tone calm but firm. “I’m just stating the truth. And, Declan, I’m not the girl for you.”
My gaze slid to Sierra, who stood frozen, her face a mix of surprise and something else–something unspoken.
“Sisi, haven’t you always said Declan’s a diamond in the rough? That he’s got a heart of gold, and whoever ends up with him will hit the jackpot?”
