The Blackened Odds by Mark Twain 1
Chapter 1
After Mom got sick, I crawled back to my ex, begging on my knees. As he tossed me around like a ragdoll, he
spat the words out carelessly.
“Last the whole night, and I’ll give you a million to cover your mom’s bills.”
I saw the contempt in his eyes, but I bit my lip and took it.
Julian Sterling was a notorious playboy who got off on degrading women like me, the untouchable prize he
used to chase, now desperate enough to warm his bed.
When it finally ended, I was wrecked, every muscle on fire. He pulled out and gave a short, cold laugh.
“Boring. I might blow that million on handbags for Vivian instead.”
I went still. Tears welled up before I could stop them.
He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. “What’s wrong? My little saint wants to negotiate now?”
I looked down at the marks all over me and thought about last night, how Vivian Summers had given him a barely-there peck on the cheek, and he’d handed her two million without blinking.
That’s when it hit me: he’d never meant to give me a dime.
I stumbled into the hospital courtyard just as my mom’s body hit the pavement. The sound was sickening. Her blood spattered across my face and clothes.
She was broken, chest barely rising, but she still managed to rasp out. “Lily… stop begging him. Please.”
The corridor was washed in fluorescent light, cold and sterile. When Julian found me, I was slumped against the wall, shaking so hard I couldn’t stand. Mom’s blood had dried a dark rust on my skin.
He frowned, already annoyed I’d dragged him here. “Lily Carter, what the hell is this supposed to be? Trying to play the victim so I’ll feel sorry for you and pay up? That’s pathetic, even for you.”
I didn’t have the strength to answer. I just stared at him, eyes bloodshot and burning.
I clutched the notification of death, a single thin sheet, but it felt like it was made of lead.
Why? Why did he have to turn money into a game, money that could’ve saved her life? That money was her
life, and he’d dangled it in front of me like bait.
When I didn’t answer, Julian smirked. He leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear. Then he grabbed
my chin and kissed me hard, not caring that I didn’t return it.
“One more night with me. Make it worth my while, and I’ll double it. Two million, right now.”
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I shoved him away. My stomach turned, bile climbing my throat.
Memories crashed in, one on top of the next.
Years ago, when he’d played the starving artist, I’d sold the Steinway my grandmother had left me.
I’d worked myself to the bone playing at every low-rent wedding and corporate event I could book, trying to
pay off debts that weren’t even real.
I’d played until my hands seized, the nerves shot for good.
After that, I couldn’t play anything complex. My dream of becoming a concert pianist died right then and
there.
“Quit acting like you’re above this.”
Julian pulled a tissue from his suit pocket and wiped his mouth, as if he needed to wipe me off him. I slapped his hand away. I was shaking so hard I could barely stay upright.
“Ungrateful bitch. I’ll call for you when I need you.”
He turned and walked away, not sparing me another glance.
My phone buzzed. A message from Vivian lit up the screen. It was a screenshot of a transfer, Julian as the
sender, her as the recipient.
Amount: One million dollars.
Memo: [Just for fun.]
One million dollars. Just like that.
The screenshot landed like a slap.
The money I’d debased myself for, the money that could’ve saved Mom, was nothing more than a tip he’d tossed at his new plaything. He’d just wanted to watch me beg.
I couldn’t tell how long I sat there, numb, hollowed out. I held Mom’s cold body until they pulled me away. then I stumbled out of the hospital alone.
As I rounded the corner, I heard Julian on the phone, his voice full of contempt.
“Lily Carter? She’s a parasite. She’d sell her own mother for cash if she could. Give it three days. She’ll be back, begging me to take her.”
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Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.
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