"No regrets. Not a single one."

The shipment from Northside was originally meant for Harborview Medical Center—the same hospital where Michelle's father worked.

But a competitor had swooped in halfway through, and now my boss was stuck with all the inventory.

I negotiated a price.

Twenty thousand dollars for the entire lot.

I was confident I could convince Harborview to take my supply instead.

The only problem was... twenty thousand was a lot of money for me.

When it came down to it, I still had to rely on my parents.

I called them.

At first they thought it was a bad idea, but after I talked myself hoarse, they agreed to let me try.

I waited eagerly for the transfer.

A whole day passed. Nothing.

I called back and found out they'd sent the money to Grayson.

"You're so clumsy with these things. Grayson knows way more about anything medical. At least he'll know how to spend it properly. If you need the money, go ask him—let him give you some advice."

I was furious.

But I didn't have time to stay angry.

I tracked down Grayson's location and took a cab straight to that same karaoke place.

This time, it was Michelle's birthday.

I showed up at the private room door, out of breath.

The same scrutinizing looks landed on me.

I stared straight at Grayson.

"Grayson. Give me twenty thousand dollars."

Someone choked on their drink.

"Holy shit! They're not even married yet and she's already demanding a dowry!"

"If they actually got married, she'd be asking for millions!"

"I mean, Grayson could afford it, but does she really think she's worth it?"

Grayson turned off the music and looked at me from the couch.

"What do you want it for?"

"None of your business. My parents sent you money, right? Give it to me."

"Oh please, like Grayson needs handouts from your parents! Who are you trying to fool?"

"The lies people tell to save face..."

I walked up to him.

"Give it to me."

"Your parents did transfer me some money. But it wasn't twenty thousand."

I froze.

He showed me the transfer record. Less than ten thousand.

And my parents' note:

"We don't know what Teresa wants the money for. You hold onto it. If she's just going to blow it partying, don't give her a cent."

So that's what my parents really thought of me...

My eyes stung.

"But I can give you twenty thousand."

Grayson held out a bank card, pinched between two fingers.

I reached for it.

He pulled back, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips.

"What's this? Not satisfied being an academic fraud—now you want to be a gold digger too?"

Laughter erupted around me.

My hand hung in the air like a punchline.

"Relax, I'm just kidding."

He held out the card again.

Everyone watched me with amusement.

Someone whistled. "Hey! You're actually gonna take it?"

Michelle looked on, clearly enjoying herself.

I snatched the card with a sharp slap.

I locked eyes with Grayson.

"Then thank you, Mr. Henson."

I caught the flicker of surprise on his face as I turned and walked out without looking back.

When Kate heard what happened, she nearly lost her mind.

"Just wait—I'm going to his school to settle this!"

I grabbed her and forced her back into her chair.

Her eyes were red. "Doesn't this make you angry?!"

I flipped the bank card between my fingers, a small smile forming.

"Angry or not... what difference does it make?"

"I'd rather crawl forward on my knees than stand still, seething and demanding answers."

Kate blinked.

"Besides, who would I be angry at? Who would I demand answers from?

"Him?

"If any of that could make him feel regret or guilt, he never would have hurt me in the first place."

I leaned in, holding up the bank card in front of her face.

"The point is—we got the money."

On my first day of hospital outreach, I put on a nice full face of makeup, hoping to make a good impression on the department head.

But the moment I pushed open her office door, a coffee mug smashed into my temple.

"Get out! You shameless tramps! Homewreckers! Who are you getting all dolled up for?

"I will never—never—use anything you sales reps are peddling! Get out!"

A nurse rushed over with gauze to stop the blood streaming down my forehead.

"Bad timing," she murmured. "Dr. Matthews found out this morning that her husband's been cheating. The other woman's some girl who wears a ton of makeup."

My vision went dark.

Off to a great start...

The commotion drew attention.

As I walked down the corridor pressing a hand to my forehead, I ran straight into Grayson, who was arriving for his shift.

He hadn't even graduated yet, but a technical breakthrough he'd spearheaded two years ago had already earned him a position as a visiting physician.

Beside him stood Michelle, curves accentuated by a perfectly fitted white coat.

"Heard you got into it with Dr. Matthews."

I didn't want to talk to him. I moved to walk around him.

He grabbed my arm.

"The money I gave you wasn't enough? You like being a homewrecker that much?"

Slap.

My palm connected hard with his face.

Michelle's first instinct was to cup his cheek.

Then she turned to me, eyes sharp with disapproval.

"Teresa!"

I stared Grayson down.

"Keep my name out of your filthy mouth."

"Teresa." Michelle looked at me with open contempt. "Remember whose territory you're standing on."

I didn't answer. I turned and walked away.

But before I even made it out of the hospital, I learned exactly what Michelle meant.

Several people cornered me in a storage room.

"Ms. Simmons sent us. Said we should teach you a lesson."

"Don't you know what she is to Dr. Henson? You think you own this place?"

"Pretty little face, though. No wonder Ms. Simmons said you're going after Dr. Matthews's husband."

"Ahh—!"

They forced me to the ground.

My phone skidded across the floor.

Grayson's call came through right at that moment.

I heard him say "Hello?" twice.

I bit down hard on the hand trying to cover my mouth.

"Grayson! I'm in the storage room! Someone's attacking me!"

A pause.

Then a cold laugh.

"Just tell me how much you want."

"I don't want money! Just come—mmph!"

"Teresa, can you stop with the act? If you want something, just say so. You really think I can't see right through you?"

He sighed.

"I'm calling to let you know—I wired the money back to your parents. If you need cash, come to me. They work too hard for you to be bleeding everyone dry."

My mouth was clamped shut.

By the time I could speak again, he'd already hung up.

When I finally made it back that day, one side of my face was swollen.

Kate sat by my hospital bed, crying nonstop.

"This is insane! Beating someone up inside a hospital just because she's the dean's daughter—she thinks she can do whatever she wants!

"And Grayson's absolute garbage! I'm so angry I could scream!"

I held up my newly signed contract with effort.

"It's fine. Look—another hospital's buying from me now.

"And I got my boss set up as a supplier there too."

"From now on, I want twenty percent of that boss's profits~"

Kate pouted. "Stop messing around! You're in this condition—how are you supposed to negotiate a partnership?"

I pointed at my bandage-wrapped head. "That's exactly why the hospital director took pity on me and gave me a chance."

"You..."

Kate started laughing through her tears.

On graduation day, Grayson couldn't get through to my phone.

He'd invited me to attend his graduation ceremony at Peking University.

Left with no other choice, he came to my school.

Only to learn I'd already graduated early and left.

"Teresa got hurt pretty badly—she was in the hospital for almost half a month. Once she recovered, she picked up her diploma early and left. She only left this behind."

My roommate handed him the box I'd left.

Grayson opened it.

The dense stack of red bills made his breath catch.

A full forty thousand dollars.

On the note beside it, neat handwriting read:

Teresa Swanson borrowed $20,000 from Grayson Henson. Academic paper co-authorship fee: $20,000. Total: $40,000.

Clatter!

The box hit the floor.