Chapter 1 1 My mother was a high-class escort. She died giving birth to me, so I was raised by her "sisters-in-arms." Growing up, I was a sponge, soaking up every trick they used to handle men. I mastered the art before I finished high school. My "moms" all said the same thing: with my face, my body, and my skills, no man alive could resist me. Too bad I had a congenital heart defect. The doctors said I wouldn't live to see twenty. On my twentieth birthday, a woman jumped from a penthouse... and landed on me. She was an heiress, dying from a broken heart. As she lay there, she learned she’d also fatally injured me—a patient who was already struggling. She was consumed by guilt. She insisted her heart be donated to me as compensation. With her last breath, she grabbed my hand. "Please," she begged, "take my heart... and keep loving him for me." After I recovered, I found him. I did everything I could to seduce the man she loved. I became his golden canary. He doted on me. I had everything I wanted. Until she showed up. And suddenly, I didn't feel like playing this part anymore. … I’d already had the housekeeper reheat dinner twice. Julian Thorne still wasn't home. No answered calls. No replied-to texts. I knew I was just his kept woman, but this had never happened before. Just last night, he’d held me and promised he would clear his meetings to be home for my twenty-second birthday. I scrolled aimlessly through Instagram. A new post froze my thumb. Julian—a man who never posted anything—had just dropped a full photo carousel. The center image: two hands, locked together. The other eight photos were all of the same woman. Playful, cute, sultry, tender. Serena. The woman my heart’s donor had lost him to. Julian Thorne's "white moonlight"—the one that got away. No wonder he’d ghosted me. I scoffed. Men. You really can't count on them. But my chest started to ache. An unfamiliar, heavy sadness welled up inside me. It happened every time Julian and I were intimate—this heart, which wasn't mine, would pound like it was trying to escape my ribs. Sigh. Stupid girl. You're dead, and your heart is still beating for this cold, worthless man. I picked up my fork. I wasn't waiting anymore. I was just a canary; I had no reason to be sad just because the boss's true love was back. But the ache in my chest ruined my appetite. I picked at the food and gave up. I showered and went to bed early. Clearly, he wasn't coming home. I was just drifting off when the mattress beside me dipped. A familiar, cold embrace. The scent of cedar and expensive gin. It was Julian. He'd actually come back. I jolted awake, spinning around, hooking my leg over his, and pressing my lips to his throat. "You missed my birthday," I whispered. "Your punishment is seven rounds, and you're not allowed to leave this bed until morning." I went boneless, hanging on him like silk. His breathing instantly deepened. "Don't move," he growled, ripping at his tie. His voice was a low, magnetic rasp. I smiled, kissing him harder. "Where's my present? Or... are you planning to offer yourself instead?" My warm lips moved to his ear, the words a sultry promise. I'd been asking for a specific pink diamond necklace, and he’d promised to get it for my birthday. "You little demon," he muttered, his control snapping. "You're going to be the death of me." The next second, I was sinking into the soft mattress, a ship tossed on his waves. I had to admit, Julian looked like a cold, abstinent banker, but in bed, he was a different animal. This past year, he'd kept me well-fed in every sense of the word. In the height of it, he clutched me tight and gasped out one word: "Serena!" The wild rhythm in my chest stopped. The ache turned blunt and heavy. I shoved him off me, hard, and pulled the duvet over myself. He froze, realizing what he'd said. The air turned stiff and awkward. After a moment, he reached for his wallet and tossed his Amex Black Card onto the nightstand. "Sorry. I forgot your gift. Buy yourself whatever you want." I didn't hesitate. I reached out, my fingers tracing up his arm, until I could snatch the card. I was a canary. For me, money was always more reliable than a man. As for the feelings of the heart inside my chest... I had no control over that. Seeing that I’d taken the card, Julian relaxed, shifting back into the doting man I knew. He tapped my nose. "You little gold digger." He leaned in again, his eyes dark. I knew that look. It was the look he got right before he pinned me to the bed again. "I love the way you look in that white dress," he murmured. "Go put it on. Be good." It was a dress he’d bought for me. He always made me wear it when he was in this kind of mood. But now, after seeing his Instagram post, I understood. The dress. It was Serena's style. A chill ran down my spine. Chapter 2 Even a canary has some pride. "I'm tired," I said, turning my back. His face darkened. He didn't care. He moved over me, pinning me down. "Jade. Don't piss me off tonight." I struggled, and we twisted in the sheets. This was new. He was usually respectful in this one area. If I said no, he’d go take a cold shower. He never forced me. But tonight was different. "You remember what you are," he hissed, his voice cold. "You're for sale. When the client wants to play, you play." The next morning, he realized he'd gone too far. He held me, kissing me, apologizing. "I'm sorry, baby. I was drunk, I lost control. It was my fault." I gave him nothing. "Come on, be good," he coaxed. "You told me you've never been to an amusement park, right? I'll take the day off. We'll go to Six Flags, just us. A makeup for your birthday." He was patient, trying to charm me. I was still furious, but my brain reminded me of my role. He was right. I was for sale. A good canary knows when to take the win. I stretched, letting out a little moan. "You were so rough... you hurt me. I don't care. You have to dress me." He chuckled, pulling me onto his lap. "Fine, you little demon." An hour later, we were finally ready to leave. And an uninvited guest ran through the front door. Serena. "Julian, help me!" she cried, her perfect face frantic. Julian was by her side in an instant. "What's wrong?" "My cat, Mr. Bojangles! He's gone! I've looked everywhere, and you weren't answering your phone. I didn't know who else to call!" She looked so fragile. Then she saw me. Her eyes narrowed, and she deliberately tilted her head, letting her hair fall back. A pink diamond necklace sparkled at her throat. My birthday present. He hadn't forgotten to buy it. He'd just given it to someone else. All my interest in Six Flags vanished. I was about to tell Julian to just go, but he was already pulling her toward the door. "Let's go. I'll help you look." He didn't even look at me. He just left. Wow. He really does forget you exist the second he's out of bed. My heart ached again. I kicked off the Manolos he’d just buckled onto my feet and slid into a pair of comfortable flats. I dialed Roxy, my favorite of my "moms." Julian gave me a black card. It would be a sin to let it go to waste. Roxy had been seeing a powerful lawyer, and she’d pulled some strings to get me a scholarship to a design school in Italy. I needed cash. In a single afternoon, Roxy helped me liquidate $250,000 from Julian's card into my own account. He must have been very busy looking for that cat. Not a single call. I took my moms out for a huge dinner. Roxy told me my flight was in a week. They were all so proud. As the party ended, Julian finally called. "Where are you? I'll send the driver." One more week. I could play the part for one more week. I gave him the address. The car was waiting, but it didn't take me home. It took me to a high-end private club where he sometimes met his friends. The second I walked into the private room, I saw him. Julian, with Serena nestled in his lap, talking to his buddies. "So, I'd like to formally introduce Serena," he was saying. "The most important woman in my life." One of his friends, Ben, looked up and saw me standing in the doorway. He smirked. "She's the most important, huh? Then what about your 'little treasure'?" Chapter 3 My stupid heart tensed. I was actually waiting to hear his answer. "You mean Jade?" Julian's voice was lazy, thoughtful. "She's... effective. Always helps me sleep." The room erupted in laughter. All eyes turned to me. Julian looked over, his gaze meeting mine. He looked a tiny bit uncomfortable, but he recovered and beckoned me over. Serena, in his lap, just smirked at me. That damn heart. It was twisting again. Whatever. It's true. I was born from a line of women who got paid for this. I was with him to fulfill a dying wish and to make my exit fund. I never expected love. Thinking this, I plastered a dazzling, sultry smile on my face. I walked forward, deliberately bumped into Serena, and slid right into Julian's lap, displacing her. "You bad boy," I purred, "If I take such good care of you... don't I deserve a little reward?" Serena was stunned by my nerve. She grabbed her arm, "Ow! You pushed me!" Julian, who had been smiling, turned cold. "Apologize, Jade." I shrugged. "Sure. For fifty thousand." Julian's smile was gone. "Jade, you really are a greedy, shameless little tramp." Serena jumped in. "If Miss Jade loves money so much, why don't we play a game?" "I'm listening," I said, lazily twirling my hair. Her eyes gleamed with malice. "How about a striptease? $10,000 an item. What do you say?" Julian was staring daggers at me. He was a prude; he hated it when I even wore a low-cut dress out of the house. He would never let this happen. I didn't even look at him. I scanned the room. Nine men, plus Serena. All of them watching. "No problem," I said. "Ten people. $10,000 per person. Per item." The men looked at Julian. He didn't move. They all cheered. "Deal! Take it off!" Serena's face tightened—she hadn't expected me to include her. "Fine! Let's see how low you'll go." I unzipped my jacket and let it slide off my shoulders, revealing the tank top underneath. I pulled out my phone and opened my Zelle. "One hundred thousand, please. Then we start round two." The little "ping" of the transfers hitting my account was the sweetest sound. Money is the source of all happiness. Serena, seeing I was only in a thin tank top, couldn't wait. "Next! Hurry up!" I looked at all the hungry faces, then locked eyes with Julian. His face was black. I just smiled, grabbed the hem of my tank top, and started to lift it. Who cares? It's just a bra. You see more on any beach in Miami. The fabric had just cleared my stomach when a heavy suit jacket was thrown over my head, smelling of cedar. "Have you no self-respect?" I peeked out. Julian was in his shirtsleeves, his face thunderous. He snatched my phone, opened his banking app, and sent me $200,000. "You want money? Fine! But stop embarrassing me. Put your clothes on and go home." "Julian!" Serena whined. He just patted her hand, his eyes still on me. "Thanks, Daddy!" I cooed. I leaned up, gave him a loud, wet kiss on the cheek, grabbed my jacket, and walked out.
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