wire transfer from Victoria Sterl

fferent, half a

fifty thousand, a sum I'd grown accustome

500,000, wasn't just an apol

ed, slightly naive boyfriend well

her affairs, the potential

ts, I was financially independ

she' d showered me with, designer watches, a spo

message from Dylan Price, a g

he seemed to enjoy stirring the pot, e

rty, her arms wrapped around a

like me, a younger, per

r childhood flame. Estate manager's son. Her par

le

y C," and her online handles, like "Fo

" for Ethan. I

it my chest, a

met Vicky in college, how

Appalachia, out of my depth

y believed she cared fo

lifeline, someone who

bout me, the charity ca

Ethan's with me," silencing th

she was pr

aw it al

nt, a placeholder unti

t just guilt payments, they were to keep

felt like a pu

uickly turned

substitute, I was

rance, it was a bonus fo