Jesse stood frozen, the mark of my slap slowly reddening on his cheek.
He stared at me, his expression full of disbelief.
"Five million? You're saying Serena gave you five million dollars to walk away?"
I wiped the corner of my eye.
"Yes. I took it. So you don't owe me anything. We've been square for a long time."
Jesse stumbled back a step as if the ground had been pulled out from under him. It took him a while to find his voice.
"But Penny, do you even know... do you even know why I went to her?"
He grabbed my arm, urgent.
"I did it for us. I did it for Clara. She was sick, she needed surgery. We didn't have that kind of money.
"I was desperate, I had nowhere left to turn, and then Serena came along. Penny, it felt like the only chance I'd ever get."
His voice was trembling
