Properly.
For the first time in weeks, she slept deeply—without jolting awake, without nightmares clawing at her chest, without exhaustion dragging at her bones. At Sawyer’s house, she sank into the soft, familiar pillows and blankets, her body releasing the tension she hadn’t even realized she was holding.
At breakfast that morning, Liana greeted her with a warm smile, the sunlight streaming through the kitchen windows casting a soft glow over the table.
“You look so much better, Mia,” she said, gently placing crab scrambled eggs onto her plate. Her eyes softened with care. “Your face is bright again. There’s no darkness under your eyes.”
Mia blinked, startled, the compliment warming her chest.
Liana continued, her tone gentle, but her brow furrowed slightly as concern crept in. “Is work very stressful? Haven’t you been sleeping properly?”
Something clicked.
Liana’s gaze snapped sharply toward Sawyer, her expression tightening. “Why is Mia working so hard?” she demanded, voice edged with anger. “Didn’t you give her money?”
Mia straightened instinctively in her chair, surprise and shock flashing across her face. She opened her mouth to speak, but Sawyer cut her off before she could say a word.
He adjusted his suit impatiently, the movement precise but tense, and pulled out his wallet. His brows drew together as worry crept into his eyes, making his usually composed face seem taut with concern.
“I gave her a card, didn’t I?” he said, glancing around the table. “Was there not enough money on it? Was there a limit on the card?”
His gaze snapped back to Mia, searching her face. “Why are you working? Why do you have a job at all?”
“No, I have money,” Mia tried to say, her voice rising, but the conversation around her drowned her out. Everyone was talking at once.
“My God, how can you be so careless?” Ellie frowned at Sawyer, shaking her head. Without missing a beat, she pulled out her phone and began tapping rapidly. “I’m sending you some money right now. Actually, you know what? I’ll send you some money every day. Don’t work so hard, Mia.”
Sawyer suddenly stood, and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a sleek black card and pressed it firmly into Mia’s hand. His fingers wrapped around hers.
“Keep this,” he said seriously, eyes fixed on hers. “It has no limit. If you ever face any problem, call me. I’ll handle it. The password is 7812.”
“I really don’t need it,” Mia said desperately, trying to push the card back. Her palms pressed against his, but he didn’t budge. “I already have money. I still have the old card you gave me—”
Just then, her phone chimed.
Mia glanced down and froze.
A message flashed across the screen: $1,000,000 transferred to your bank account. Sender: Ellie Stark.
Her mouth fell open. She looked up, eyes wide, staring at Ellie in disbelief.
“No—I have money,” Mia said quickly, holding her phone in one hand, gesturing toward Ellie, while trying with the other to return Sawyer’s card. “I don’t need—”
But they didn’t listen. Voices continued to overlap.
Liana leaned forward, unlocking her phone with a calm efficiency. “Ellie, you sent money to her number? I will also send her some. Can you transfer it for me? I’ll send you the amount.” She smiled warmly at Ellie.
“Of course, Mom,” Ellie replied easily, tapping at her screen. “Don’t worry. I’ll send her two hundred thousand every day.”
Mia froze completely. Her lips parted, but no sound came out at first. She stared at all three of them, shock written across her pale face.
Finally, she raised her voice, trembling slightly but firm.
“Enough!”
The table fell silent. All three of them turned to look at her.
Mia drew in a deep breath, chest rising and falling rapidly. “Guys, I donotneed more money! I already have a lot!”
