L noticed Ste wasn''t answering, so she changed the subject.


    "So, do you want it or not?"


    "Want what?"


    "Money, Ste. The Larkin family''s money. I can split it with you."


    Ste stared at her for a second.


    Was this really happening?


    She took a deep breath. "Do I look like I need money right now?"


    L shrugged. "No, but Larkin money is different. Think of it as payback from them. You''ve earned it."


    Back when Ste worked at Nocturne Hues, she''d heard Jaxon defending Urs nonstop, always calling her his precious little sister. Ste had wondered then- what kind of people was she dealing with?


    She asked, “So tell me, what made you ever like Jaxon in the first ce?"


    "Like him?" L''s face twisted like she''d just bitten into a lemon.


    Ste paused. "You had his kid. Didn''t you like him?"


    L rolled her eyes. "You actually believed those rumors?"


    Rumor had it L tried to marry her way up thedder, using her kid as leverage —and failed. Cloudia had confronted her more than once, fuming every time.


    L smirked. "Please. Like I ever liked him. If anything, it was his money that caught my eye."


    "Money?" Ste echoed.


    "Yeah. I was broke. The baby just happened, but once he existed, I had to step up."


    66


    "But, hey—Jaxon should step up, too. I''m not raising his kid for free."


    Ste''s jaw dropped.


    This girl was brutally honest.


    She never wanted Jaxon, just his cash. Most people would never admit that. Ste stayed silent.


    L gave a littleugh. "What? You think I''m trash? I get it. People like us, scraping by, you sky-high princesses could never understand."


    Ste shook her head. "I don''t look down on you."


    People''s lives are just... different.


    If she hadn''t met the Quinns, who knows where she''d be.


    L shrugged. "You wouldn''t be wrong if you did. I started working at fourteen. I''ve waited tables at diners, handed out flyers, sold shoes at the mall-name it, I''ve done it."


    "Then I realized bartending paid better, so I did that. Morals? Sorry, rentes first."


    For some reason, L kept talking, and Ste just listened quietly.


    L got to the part about Jaxon. Ste cut her off. "Okay, okay. I get it-Jaxon''s a jerk."


    L stopped, thenughed.


    "Yeah. He really is."


    She said it with zero emotion—like~~


    she''d never cared about Jaxon,


    ed.n


    himself, just his bank ount. If


    Jaxon ever found out, he''d probably feel pathetic.


    Ste hesitated, then blurted, "What about you and Dandy? Are you...?"


    "I''m getting married!" L said, brightening instantly.


    Ste stared. "Wait, what?"


    "Dandy promised he''d love me forever. He''ll take care of me and Paxton for life."


    Paxton-the kid. Technically Ste''s nephew.


    Ste blinked.


    She didn''t know what to say.


    "So... do you believe him?" she finally asked.


    L snorted. "Nope."


    Ste frowned. "Then why?"


    "Dandy''s got a good job, a nice house, plenty of money. What''s not to like?"


    Ste gave her a look. "So, it''s about money again?"


    L fell silent. She rummaged in her purse, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and lit


    one up.


    Ste watched her. In the lighter''s glow, L looked... sad, just for a second.


    L took a drag and said quietly, "Love''s for you princess types. People like me—


    we don''t have time for romance."


    She exhaled. "All we can afford is money. That''s just how it goes."


    She paused, then looked Ste in the eye.


    "We''ve been broke for too long."


    Ste went quiet, feeling something shift inside her. She''d never


    understood that kind of desper e could hear it in Lotion


    voice.


    L finished her cigarette, then reached into her bag and pulled out a card,


    holding it out to Ste.


    Ste blinked. "What''s this?"