We bonded over late-night studying and big dreams, completely oblivious to our different worlds.
« I’d sell a kidney. »
***
Five perfect years passed as we built a quiet, happy life together, completely ignoring the toxic shadow of his mother, Eleanor.
I didn’t know in the beginning that Ryan’s family owned half of downtown. He never mentioned it. My boyfriend was grounded, loving, and fiercely protective of me.
He wore secondhand hoodies and split every check down the middle.
He never mentioned it.
***
The first time I visited Ryan’s family home, I understood why he never talked about the money.
His mother was the self-proclaimed « matriarch » who inherited a massive estate when Ryan’s father died.
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