“Uh,” she stammered.

“My funds are tied up in my portfolio this month.” Aaron frowned.

“Tied up in what?” “In a business venture.” “What venture, Lauren?” And before Lauren could invent an answer, before she could paper over the sudden crack that had appeared in her flawless facade, the doorbell rang.

It was not, this time, another bill collector coming for the payments I had stopped making.

It was something far worse for the family that had just declared they did not need me, and it was about to reveal that the person they had crowned their princess had been quietly setting the whole house on fire.