He spun around in delight, hope blazing in his eyes.
"Claire, are you going to give me another chance?"
"I spent 200,000 dollars renovating that house."
He froze, then gave a bitter smile.
"I know. I'll pay it back."
I nodded.
He studied me.
"You feel like a stranger. You never used to keep score with me. You always gave without asking for anything in return."
Nathan looked as though he had never imagined we would reach this point.
"I was foolish before. I was stupid enough to help you and Vanessa at my own expense. I earned every cent of that 200,000 dollars myself. Why should I give it to the two of you for free?"
He clenched his fists, his shoulders trembling.
"I've settled everything with her. I won't contact her again. I see who she really is now. She kept me around as her
