Chapter 2

• Scarlett's POV
• Getting buttered up like that, Titus smiled, his superiority complex kicking right back in.
• He held a still-sobbing Marcella and looked at me like he was tossing scraps to a stray.
• “Scarlett, knock it off.”
• He shrugged. “I know you’re just trying to get my attention, but this is a pretty cheap stunt.”
• “Get on your knees and apologize right now," he said, "and I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said.”
• “After all, we’ve been together for years." His smile sharpened. "I’m not some heartless guy.”
• I almost laughed, pissed as hell.
• “Titus, are you deaf or just dense?”
• “I said I’m calling off the wedding," I restated. "We’re done. For good. Got it?”
• Titus’s face went dark.
• “Fine, Scarlett. Real tough.”
• He seemed nonchalant. “We can break up.”
• He stuck out a hand, palm up.
• “But first, pay me back.”
• I frowned. “Pay you back what?”
• Titus let out a cold little laugh.
• “Don’t play dumb.”
• “Your mom couldn’t afford treatment," he pointed out. "Out of the goodness of my heart, I fronted two million for her medical bills!”
• He scowled. “If it hadn’t been for saving your mother, my company wouldn’t have been delayed getting off the ground.”
• “You wanna break up? Then we settle the tab," he continued.
• “Two million." Titus's tone was firm. "Not a penny less. Pay up, then go wherever the hell you want.”
• I almost laughed again.
• Back when my mom was diagnosed with kidney failure and needed a transplant, Titus thought I was broke and insisted on acting rich, selling his place and shoving the money right into my hands.
• And that two million? I’d already paid him back ten, which was five times over, through different channels.
• Even that big Omega account he’s so proud of? I got it for him with one word to the butler.
• And he had the balls to ask me for that two million?
• This was why you should never take a broke guy’s money.
• Marcella poked her head out of Titus’s arms, righteously indignant.
• “Titus, you’re too nice.”
• She pouted. “You can’t go easy on a gold digger like her.”
• “Two million? That’s enough to keep a bottom-rung nobody like her working for several lifetimes," she pointed out.
• She pointed at me accusingly. “I bet she never planned to pay you back!”
• She suddenly covered her mouth like she’d just uncovered some earth-shattering secret.
• “Oh my God, I just remembered!”
• “A couple nights ago on Bar Street, I saw her with my own eyes getting into some old guy’s luxury car!” she revealed.
• Marcella gasped dramatically. “No wonder she’s calling off the wedding—she’s landed herself a sugar daddy!”
• “Unbelievable!" his friends said. "How dare you betray Titus!”
• The room erupted.
• The trust-fund brats looked at me with open disgust.
• “For real?" One of them shook his head. "What a faker!”
• “Titus, you gonna let that slide?" another asked Titus. "Make her pay for emotional damages!”
• Titus stared daggers at me, eyes blazing.
• “Is what Marcella said true?”
• His jaw tightened. “Scarlett, you’ve got some nerve!”
• I frowned. “Bullshit. Watch it, or I’ll sue you for slander.”
• What, just because I got in my dad's car, I was supposed to file a report with this crowd?
• Titus’s face flushed red. He glared like he wanted to burn a hole through me.
• “No wonder you kept dodging and wouldn’t let me meet your parents."
• He rubbed his face in disbelief. “So you’re just some sugar baby bitch!”
• “Hand over the two million!" Titus held his palm to me again. "I feel dirty just looking at you!”
• I wasn’t wasting breath on an idiot like him.
• “Fine.”
• “I’ll pay you back right now," I declared.
• I walked closer to him. “But Titus, hear me loud and clear.”
• “From this moment on," I said slowly, so he could heart every word, "we’re even.”
• I turned around and walked into the bedroom.
• Behind me, Marcella’s gloating voice rang out.
• “Quit the act. She’s definitely calling that old man to beg for cash.”
• I ignored her.
• I snapped open my suitcase and packed my things.
• Then I pulled out my phone and typed in Titus’s card number.
• With that, I hit 'transfer.'
• Right after that, I called my butler.
• “Mike, cancel every single Omega deal with Titus. Now.”