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Scrolling through the information, I tried to figure out what that much money had been spent on as I panicked, wondering how to report this to the credit card company, because some fraudster had clearly gone on a shopping spree with my card.

Bringing my phone screen right up to my face, I read the small words on the transactions.

They were from a travel website.

Had someone used my card to book a vacation?

I was religious about protecting my details. So where was my credit card? Closing my eyes, I forced myself to think back, and that was when it hit me. The last time I’d used the physical card had been when I was back home, to order takeout for myself. In my rush to pack up and get the hell out of Dodge, I must have left it behind.

Fuck.

I had to call my family.

“Hey, Bethy!” Dad answered jovially on the first ring. “When are you flying home for Christmas?”

“Hey, Dad, I’m sorry to call when you’re working, but I left my credit card in my room last time I was there. Can you check that it’s still there? There’s been some unusual transactions, and I just want to make sure my card is safe before I report it lost to the credit card company.” I spoke in a rush, desperate to get his attention.

My dad was silent for a moment, and I could feel my heart physically pounding in my chest. What would happen if I needed to pay back that $10,000 myself? I was struggling enough to afford my tuition. There was no way in hell I’d be able to pay off that credit card balance.

“Now, don’t be mad, Bethy,” he started in a soothing tone that made my blood turn to ice.

“Do you know something about this?” I growled, my anxiety quickly turning into anger.

My father sighed. “Hayden really wanted to take his girlfriend on a little trip. You know, they’re talking about bonding and they’re getting serious, and he wanted to do something nice for her. So he used your card to book a vacation.Don’t worry; he’ll pay you back eventually. He just needs a little help in the short term after the debacle that was Thanksgiving and the following weekend when you visited.”

“A vacation. He maxed out my credit card for a fucking vacation?” I asked, my tone going shrill.

“Don’t talk to me in that tone, Bethany. He’s family, and family helps family.”

Those fucking words. That was my fathers’ and brothers’ favorite saying—family helps family—but it only seemed to matter when it came to helping my brothers, not when it came to helping me.

“I can’t make payments on this! This will ruin my credit, Dad. I need to report it as fraud.”

“Don’t do that! You need to stop being so selfish, Bethany.”

I resisted the urge to laugh at his words.

“Your brother could use the help, and you had the funds available. If you can’t afford to keep up with classes, then maybe you should come home for a few months. You know all of us are happy to support you here. Now that you’re pregnant, you should be with family, anyway.”

My body trembled with rage. I didn’t know if I wanted to sob or throw my phone against a wall and scream.

Honestly, both sounded like very good options.

“Dad, that’s credit card fraud. I can afford my classes when my brother isn’t using my credit to pay for lavish vacations! He needs to refund the trip, or Iwillreport it,” I said firmly. There was no way in hell I was going to allow my idiot brother to derail my academic career. I had no doubt that Pack Noble would take care of any of the baby’s needs, and even my own, if I asked, but this was more of a matter of principle.

My dad was silent for another moment. “You’ve become so selfish of late. I’m disappointed in you. This is a big deal to your brother. He wants to treat Heather before they settle down andstart a family. You know, she hasn’t been happy the last few months. Don’t spoil this for them.”

I shook my head, even though my father couldn’t see the movement. Despite everything he said being complete bullshit, his words still hurt. The reason Heather wasn’t happy with my brother was because she was beginning to realize he was a giant man child who never did anything for himself. She was looking right at her future and was realizing that it wouldn’t be pretty if she stayed with him.

My vision swam as rage simmered under my skin.

“It isn’t selfish to want to protect my credit. Hayden is a grown-ass adult. If he wants to take his girlfriend on a vacation, he can pay for it. He has a job!”

“He’s not been making as much as he wants as a mechanic. He’s been struggling.”

Struggling? I wanted to scoff. My dads still did everything for them. My brothers were spoiled. Sure, Hayden had an apartment, but he still leeched off my fathers for everything.

My dad sighed again. “When did you become so bitter, Bethy?” he asked softly.