Lisa stretched her limbs then headed to the bathroom to splash her face with water. She caught sight of the pillow marks etched across her cheeks in the mirror and let out a small laugh. The nap had done its job and left her feeling strangely lighter.
Back in the hall, she paused. The house felt oddly quiet. She heard a faint sound of soft music coming from her Elena's room. Lisa pushed the door open.
"Someone's in an amazing mood this afternoon." She walked in and sat on Elena's bed. "What's happening? Is there a public holiday coming up?"
"Unfortunately, no," Elena said, stopping her sorting of underwear and plopping the laundry basket onto Lisa's lap. "I'm going out later. With Denari."
Lisa started folding the clothes. "No wonder you're glowing. You nearly blinded me."
Elena laughed. "We're going to a vineyard. Wine tasting."
"Oooh, sounds romantic. Can I be a third wheel? I'll help with pictures and videos. Free of charge."
"No, mum, thanks," Elena said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You should stay home and tend to the garden and look after the kids."
"Right, of course. The kids." Lisa snorted. "Help me pick an outfit."
Lisa put on a mocking tone. "I don't want to be a third wheel."
Elena laughed again. "Since when did helping pick a dress for a date become third wheeling?"
"Since you asked me to tend to the garden and watch over non-existent kids."
Elena clasped her hands together dramatically. "Please? Do you want me to show up looking like a fashion disaster?"
"I'm not playing fairy godmother today."
"Please? I promise I'll bring you some fantastic wine."
"Fine." Lisa stood, feigning reluctance. "Let's see what we have here."
After a couple of try-ons, Elena settled on a soft lilac sundress that flowed just below her knees, paired with strappy nude heels. Minutes later, she was radiant in her lilac sundress, admiring herself in the mirror. "I look amazing. Thank you, Lisa."
"Anytime. Now hurry up and go before you change your mind."
Elena kissed Lisa's cheeks and grabbed her purse. "Don't wait up for me!"
Lisa shut the door behind her and returned to her room. The house was silent again, her thoughts louder than ever. Her mind drifted off to her brother, Derek. She tried calling. Voicemail. She tried again. Same. Her mind ached with worry.
Derek had always been reckless, bringing up problems here and there for Lisa. Four years ago, they lost their parents in a car accident, leaving just her and Derek. Since then, she had been taking on a motherly role. She sacrificed her college dreams to support him, but his gambling addiction drained them both. Lisa always managed to help clear his debt each time. Recently, after his girlfriend Emily almost ended things with him, he promised he was going to mend his ways and get himself a job. Lisa was happy and hoped he meant it this time.
Lisa tossed around in bed. The silence in the house was unbearable. Her stomach growled, so she headed downstairs to make a sandwich. She was spreading butter on a slice of bread when a knock rattled the front door. "I'm coming!" She rinsed her hands and wiped them on a towel. Opening the door, she found Derek standing there, glancing over his shoulder like someone was following him.
"Hey… come in." He slipped inside quickly, his shoulders tense. He sat on the couch, rubbing his palms against his jeans. Lisa studied him. "What's wrong? You look pale. Did you and Emily fight? I've been trying to reach you both." She poured him a glass of water.
"Uh… we're fine. Emily's fine. It's just…" Derek avoided her eyes, his foot tapping the floor, and his jaw tight. "Derek." Lisa's tone sharpened. "Something's up. Tell me what's going on."
"I don't know where to begin… Lisa, I…" His Adam's apple bobbed. "I did something. Something I shouldn't have."
"You scared me. Just tell me straight."
"I lost a lot of money, Lisa. About $300,000."
Lisa froze. Three hundred thousand. Her stomach dropped. It didn't even sound real. "What? How? What are you talking about?"
"I took a loan from some guys. Someone told me about this opportunity, said I'd triple whatever I put in. Turns out it was a scam."
Lisa's chest constricted. "Oh my God, Derek. What the hell did you do?"
"That's not all. The people I borrowed from… they're tied to a dangerous group. I didn't know at first. I swear I didn't. I wouldn't have gone near them if I did."
Lisa pressed a hand to her forehead. "How could you? I thought you said you would change."
"It was the same script all over again. Promises, regret, and her cleaning up the mess. She had always been the one cleaning up his messes. 'Lisa, I was tempted. I imagined the life I'd give Emily and the things she deserves. I wanted it so badly; I couldn't resist.'"
"The same dream, always wrapped in different words, always ending the same way."
"So gambling was the only way you thought you could achieve that? You told me you were making progress on job hunting! How did we even get here?"
"I'm sorry, Lisa. Please, I didn't mean to. Emily found out. She threatened to end things. You need to help me. Please talk to her, make her see the other side."
"What other side? You know what your gambling addiction already cost us. And now you've tied yourself to criminals? What do you want me to say to her?"
"I messed up, I know. But I'll fix it. Please, Lisa. Help me talk to her. I can't lose her."
Lisa shook her head. She'd heard the same lines too many times. "I'll fix it, I'll change, I'll do better."
"How do you plan to fix it? You don't even have a job. What happens when those people start breathing down your neck?"
"I'll plead for more time. They'll understand."
Lisa scoffed. "Do you hear yourself? Plead? We're talking about dangerous people. They don't 'understand.' When did you promise to pay back?"
"In a week. I borrowed last Friday."
Lisa blinked in disbelief. "$300,000 in four days? How are you supposed to get that?"
"I don't know. I'll figure something out."
"I'm so disappointed in you." Her voice cracked. "Even if I help this time, Derek, just know it'll be the last." She'd said that before. More times than she wanted to admit. And here he was again.
"Thank you, Lisa. I promise I---"
His phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out quickly. "I have to go. I'm meeting the guy who introduced me to them. Maybe he can buy me more time."
"Fine. Just...be careful. I'll keep trying Emily."
"Thanks, Lisa."
When he left, Lisa sank onto the couch, burying her face in her hands. Everything had crumbled in seconds. He promised he'd change. But no—here she was again, dragged into another one of his disasters.
Her heart ached with disappointment. Old habits really did die hard.
She dragged herself back to her room and slumped onto the bed. Hours passed. Lisa lay on her bed, her head pounding. She heard the front door open and the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall.
Elena burst into Lisa's room with a bouquet of roses. She waved them dramatically. "Lisa! I have exciting news. Denari asked me to be his—wait. What's wrong? You look like you saw a ghost."
Lisa sat upright, her voice heavy. "It's Derek… he's in serious trouble."
Elena rushed to her side, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Tell me everything. What happened?"
For the next half hour, Lisa spilled it all—the scam, the loan, the dangerous people. Elena listened, eyes widening with each detail, occasionally muttering a shocked "No way" or "I can't believe this."
When Lisa finally went quiet, Elena's expression softened. "So… what are we going to do? Maybe there's a way to fix this before it gets worse."
"He promised, Elena. I believed in him."
Lisa's voice broke. "I know, and I did too. Just know you're not alone," Elena said gently. "We'll figure this out together."
Elena's optimism felt like borrowed strength, something Lisa clung to because she couldn't find her own.
Lisa took a shaky breath and nodded, staring at the floor. Elena gave Lisa's shoulder a final squeeze before standing. "I'll put these flowers in water before they die. Rest a little, Lisa."
She slipped quietly from the room.
Lisa massaged her temples gently. The headache was worse now. She reached for painkillers in her nightstand drawer, and her eyes caught a glimpse of Jennifer's card. She froze. Her thumb traced the embossed letters on the card. It felt ridiculous that she was even considering this. But wasn't everything already ridiculous?
Her mind replayed Jennifer's desperate words: I'll pay you. I'll buy you a thousand of these if that helps. She knew the latter was nothing but desperation talking, and that was what made it dangerous. Still, the card was right there, waiting.
She picked up the card, examining it between her fingers. Derek was in trouble, serious trouble. He needed money. Jennifer needed someone to play her fiancé's pregnant ex for her wedding to be called off—and she was willing to pay.
Lisa sat there, torn. It was wrong. Stupid. Reckless. But what other choice did she have?
What's the worst thing that could happen if she accepted? After all, it was something so simple.
With a deep breath, she picked up her phone and dialed Jennifer's number. It rang only once before the line clicked.
"Hello? Jennifer?"
"Lisa! What's up?"
"I called to ask about the fake ex-girlfriend thing. Is it still open?"
"Sure, it is."
"Okay. I'll do it."
"Really? Awesome! I---" Lisa heard shuffling noises in the background, Jennifer's voice muffled as she spoke to someone else. "Hold on a second, Lisa." More rustling, then Jennifer's voice again, lighter, distracted. "No, I'll take that black one." A pause. "Hey, I'll text you tomorrow, okay? I have to go now. Thank you, Lisa."
The call ended.
Lisa let out a long breath, staring at her phone. If someone had told her weeks ago that she would agree to something like this, she would've laughed and called it ridiculous. Yet here she was, saying yes to something reckless, because she had no other choice.
She shook her head and sighed. Derek was still family, and no matter how deep the mess ran, she couldn't turn her back on him.
This was going to be the last time she helped him. She promised herself that.