Chapter 3

So, I hesitated and said,

“Ugh, I really want to help you guys. But, my liquid funds aren’t much. I’ve been planning to buy some things for my baby recently, and I’ve pretty much used it all up. I really don’t have anything extra.”

Whether they believed me or not, if they asked for money, I’d just say I didn’t have any.

I’d already bought a lot of things early on, precisely to guard against this.

Chloe and Ryan’s faces instantly changed when they heard my words.

Ryan’s face hardened, but he still forced a smile.

“Aurora, if you don't have a few hundred thousand, surely you have tens of thousands? Look, Chloe is your best friend, and her child will call you Auntie. You're so wealthy; lending a little shouldn't be that hard, right?”

Here we go again, with the ‘best friend’ and ‘Auntie’ talk.

That kind of relationship? I definitely wasn't taking that bait this lifetime.

So, I shook my head again.

“It's not that I don’t want to lend it to you. Look, I only have a few hundred bucks left in my bank account. If I didn’t have a chef at home, I wouldn't even be able to afford my own meals.”

As I spoke, I pulled out my phone and opened my bank’s text message notification to show them.

Chloe frowned.

“Aurora, why don't you ask your husband for some money?”

I sighed.

“I absolutely can't. He knows I’ve been buying too many things recently and said I was overspending, telling me to control myself. He won't give it to me.”

Chloe grew anxious.

“What about your parents? Surely they'll give it to you.”

I still shook my head.

“Oh, no, I can't. Asking my parents for money at my age? How embarrassing would that be?”

Seeing that I genuinely wouldn't ask for money, Chloe took a deep breath, but couldn't hold it in anymore. She exploded,

“This and that! You keep making excuses about lending money! Do you even consider me your best friend?!”

“Look at you, why did you buy so much stuff recently? It's just a girl, why spend so much? You're treating a future waste of space like a precious jewel!”

My face instantly darkened.

“Waste of space? Do you think the one you’re carrying is so precious? You have no money, yet you want to raise some noble young master? Don't you think he should at least be worthy?”

Chloe stumbled back, stunned by my words.

Ryan, seeing me insult his “precious son,” was also furious.

“How can you say something so nasty? Aurora, just because you've got a few lousy bucks, you think you're hot stuff? Your husband’s never home, who knows if he's got a side chick somewhere.

“The only reason we're staying at your place is because we consider you a good friend and came to keep you company. Besides, we're asking to borrow money, not steal it! Do you really need to be so petty?”

I couldn't be bothered to argue anymore.

Pay it back?

With what?

Their credit cards were already maxed out, and Chloe was only three months pregnant.

Once the baby was born, it would be another huge expense.

Chloe never worked, and they only had Ryan’s meager monthly salary.

When would they ever pay back the hundreds of thousands they planned to borrow from me?

They never intended to return the money from the start.

So, my stance was firm. No matter what they said to pressure me, I wouldn't budge.

Chloe slammed her hand on the table and stood up.

“Fine! Aurora, you’re something else. If you don't consider me a good friend, then I don't want anything to do with you either. We’re done! Don’t you ever expect my help again!”

With that, she stormed out of my house.

Ryan glared at me fiercely, then rushed out after her.

I, however, breathed a sigh of relief.

This was a perfect opportunity to kick them out. Chloe’s miscarriage was due in another two weeks.