, a strangled cry. "

Just... Dad' s friend." He put the

s friend. Who lets hi

, a cold dread coiling

nce about the gala incident ( "Oh, bad luck with the card,

s unlocked. My fingers tremb

one I funded, the one with

transaction. To

upport

g Spree

ayment - BM

ousands. Tens of thou

in new clothes, designer bags. A new leased BMW, its shiny black paint gleaming. In picture after pic

azing

sank onto the edge of the bed, the room spinning. The air was thick, unbreathabl

rolled over. He smelled faintly of a perfume th

him, my voice shaking but low

' s daughter. My niece. Struggling a bit, you know? Aspiring i

smile that had once made my heart fl

a BMW for? The one you took on a

s not 'our' money when you' re being like this. I

lting. I saw him clearly then, perhaps

. My focus was shattered. All I could see were those Venmo

tled into my soul. I had given everything to this