Page 23 of Cruel Obsession

Diane squeezes my shoulder. “We’ll figure something out. There has to be a way.”

“Like what?” I laugh, but it comes out brittle. “Rob a bank?”

“Now we’re talking.” She grins, sliding off the armrest to flop onto the couch beside me. “I’ll drive the getaway car. You wear the ski mask.”

“Yeah, right. Might as well do paid sex work while I’m at it.”

“Honestly?” Diane tilts her head, considering. “Not the worst idea. You could make bank as a sugar baby.”

“Diane.”

“I’m serious! Start an account on OnlyFans. Charge premium rates for exclusive content.” She waggles her eyebrows. “Flash that pussy to lonely men with credit cards.”

I choke on a laugh. “Oh my God.”

“I can see it now—SugaBabeMira01. Two hundred thousand subscribers. You’d be set for life.” She’s cackling now, eyes bright with mischief.

For a second, the weight pressing on my chest lifts. Just a fraction. Just enough to let me breathe.

Then reality crashes back in.

“You know what, just find a rich husband,” Diane says, waving a hand like it’s that simple. “Problem solved.”

The laugh dies in my throat.

“A gorgeous rich asshole is the last thing I need in my life,” I mutter. “They say no at their own weddings. I’m never going to be able to help Dad at this rate.”

Diane’s smile fades. “Mira—”

“I’m fine.” I force brightness into my voice, even though it feels like shoving glass through my throat. “Really. I just need to figure out how to earn more money. Working at the registrar’s office—marrying couples for a living—it’s never going to be enough. I need a real job.”

“What kind of job?”

“I don’t know yet.” I flip open my laptop, fingers already moving toward the job search sites I’ve had bookmarked for months. “But I’ll find something.”

Diane watches me for a moment, her expression softening. Then she leans over and kisses the top of my head.

“You’re going to be okay,” she says quietly. “You’re tough as hell, Mira. You’ve survived worse.”

I nod because my voice won’t work.

She leaves me alone with my laptop, the faint hum of the refrigerator, and the suffocating certainty that I’m running out of time.

Two hours later, my eyes are burning.

I’ve scrolled through page after page of job listings—administrative assistant, retail manager, customer service representative. Nothing pays enough. Nothing even comes close to what I need.

Then I see it.

Live-in Housekeeper Position - Luxury Residence

The title alone makes me pause. I click.

Position: Full-time Live-in Housekeeper Schedule: Six days on, one day off Salary: $5,000 per month

Five thousand dollars. My chest constricts.

Holy shit!