Chapter 1
The day I found out I was pregnant, my sugar daddy Blake Hartwell dumped me.
“Three mil. Take it and go.”
I caught the bank card and wrinkled my nose. “That’s IT?”
That won’t even cover private school, I thought, but hey-free money.
“Fine, make it five million,” he said, like I was buying a damn Honda.
I grabbed my Birkin bags and practically skipped out the door.
BEST. BREAKUP. EVER.
A month later, cruising past Rodeo Drive in my BMW, I spotted the WILDEST thing.
Blake Hartwell-in a DoorDash uniform, delivering takeout.
‘Yo, what the hell, Blake? You on Undercover Boss or something?”
3lake looked me up and down, then let out this heavy sigh.
‘I’m broke, Raven. Lost everything. Kicked you out because… well, figured you’d ghost me anyway once you found out I was poor.”
almost felt bad for him. ALMOST.
What about Madison? Your perfect little princess?”
His whole face went soft and gooey. “She came back. Said she’d love me even if we had to live in a cardboard box.”
slapped on my sunglasses. “Aw, how sweet. Hope y’all get your Disney ending.”
Then I drove off laughing my ass off.
‘oor Blake had no clue I was pregnant with his heir-or that his whole “broke boy” act was about to BLOW UP in his face.
hree things in life scare the shit outta me:
Being broke.
leing dead.
leing alive AND broke.
‘m doing 70 down Wilshire when Blake on his little scooter actually catches up.
What’s your deal? Don’t tell me you want that cash back!”
Jude followed me for like ten blocks. Had to pull over and roll my window down just to cuss him out.
‘Nah, nah, you got it twisted.”
Blake’s pretty-boy face is dripping sweat under that helmet, looking all nervous and shit.
Just wondering… you good on money?”
That’s when I chilled out a bit. “I’m managing.”
Those two years with Blake, he never held back on spoiling me.
Back in the day, five mil would’ve been like six months of shopping money.
“Just managing?” Blake repeated, looking worried. “So… you gonna find another guy?”
I rolled my eyes so hard they practically popped out.
“Blake, instead of stalking your ex’s dating life, maybe worry about your delivery getting cold.”
With that, I rolled that window up and peeled out.
This time, Blake didn’t follow.
Back home, my girl Piper hit me up:
[OMG the DoorDash guy who brought my Chipotle was BLAKE HARTWELL]
The same Blake who bought you that closet full of Birkin bags??]
Is this some kind of social experiment shit?]
[texted back:
Nah he’s actually broke lol. We split last month, now he’s delivering tacos to pay for his princess]
Piper:
Damn.]
That’s actually kinda romantic tho]
‘iper grew up rough-dad bounced when she was little, mom’s on disability, never went to college. Been hustling at Starbucks just to survive.
‘ve been helping her out these past couple years.
End of our convo, I tried to Venmo her five grand.
She sent it right back.
Thanks babe but I landed this sales gig! Starting next month pulling in six figures!]
smiled and didn’t push it.
After all, I got this little bundle of joy to worry about.
After that, I didn’t see Blake around.
Jsed my savings to snag this sick penthouse in Beverly Hills.
Got a wealth manager to handle my investments.
Mostly stayed home, barely ordered out.
One day, coming back from my OB appointment, I spotted some tea.
Blake’s princess-Madison Wells-sliding into the back of a Maybach.
My nosy ass couldn’t resist, so I tailed her in my BMW.
Watched that car roll straight into this bougie ass mansion neighborhood in Malibu.
Oh snap.
16:12
I’m on the Operating Table and You Venmo Reguest UAL F21 Die Mad
Was Blake getting played?
I was living for this drama, so I camped out until evening when that Maybach finally rolled back out.
Followed it again.
This time it stopped in downtown LA. Madison hopped out, then grabbed an Uber.
So I followed that too.
This time it ended up at some trashy apartment complex in the hood.
Madison got out and went inside.
Pretty sure this shithole was where she and Blake were crashing now.
Total downgrade from his old mansion in the Hills.
Whole place smelled like piss and regret.
At 12:30 AM, a delivery scooter pulled up.
‘Blake,” I called out, leaning against my ride.
‘Raven?” He looked shocked as hell. “How’d you know where I live?”
Instead of answering, I dropped a hint: “Maybe treat Madison better, yeah?”
But he totally missed it, holding up a greasy bag: “I treat Maddie amazing! Whenever customers don’t pick up their orders, I bring the leftovers home.”
I stared at the soggy burgers in his bag.
Then at him.
Looked at this fool like he’d lost his damn mind.
‘You know what, never mind.”
laughed and got the hell outta there.
Poverty had straight-up scrambled Blake’s brain.
Better keep my distance before it rubbed off on my baby.
But I never expected that even though I stayed out of their drama, Madison would come knocking at MY door and immediately demand I give the money back
‘Blake’s living like a bum while you’re out here stunting.”
She walked right into my penthouse without taking her nasty shoes off, plopped on my white leather couch, looking around.
“He gave you five mil before everything went to shit, right?”
“You know how deep in debt he is?”
“If you had ANY conscience, you’d give it back.”
Didn’t waste time arguing. I called Blake straight up: “Did you send Madison to shake me down for cash?”
1619
