Page 254 of The Billion Heirs Boxed Set

She shakes her head. “He didn’t want you with his son, Avery, and he was willing to pay a lot of money to break the two of you up.”

I know that, but it still hurts. It makes no sense. Why do something like that?

“What did he have against us?” I wonder.

“He said we were trash.” She sighs. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“I never felt like trash, Mom. I was thinking that earlier when you were fixating on the mobile home. I never thought about it. I was perfectly happy.”

“I’m glad.” She pats my knee. “I never wanted you to feel that way.”

“I didn’t. Not until you started talking about it.”

She sighs. “Jonathan Bridger made it very clear how he felt about us. And about you dating his son. But I saw how happy you were, Avery. How happy Chance was. It was so obvious you two were in love. I couldn’t give you much, sweetheart, but I could at least give you that. I wasn’t going to take you away from your first love.”

“Except you did,” I say, my words practically a whisper.

She blinks back tears. “You have to understand. I didn’t see any other option.”

I lean into the back of the couch, let my head rest against the high back. My whole body feels like jelly. God, this has been a long day. Just this morning I woke up in Chance Bridger’s bed.

Now I’m home.

And I’m hearing the truth from my mother’s lips.

“I’m trying to understand, Mom. We were behind on rent. The factory was closing.”

A nod, and then, “Yes. I was going to be out of a job within months.”

I close my eyes. Did Bridger have a hand in the factory closing? Anything’s possible at this point.

“Look at me, Avery.”

“I’m sorry, Mom. This is all so much. And I’m exhausted.”

“Please. Look at me.”

I open my eyes, force myself to sit up, and meet my mother’s gaze.

“I went to Jonathan about a month before we left. I told him about our troubles. I hoped he might help without making us leave. By then it was clear how smitten you and Chance were. But his offer was the same. You and I had to leave town, and you had to sever all ties with Chance.”

“I see.”

“In return, he agreed to pay me half a million dollars.”

I jump to my feet. “Half a million dollars!”

“Avery, quiet!” my mother whispers. “Remember Grady.”

Fuck Grady overhearing. A half million dollars?

I plunk back onto the couch. “My God…”

“That half mil was pennies to him, and that’s not all. We got another fifty thousand each year we stayed away.”

I rub my forehead where a headache is trying to erupt. “Jesus.”

“Plus he paid for all your hospital bills. For Grady.”