They Billed Me For Eighteen Years Of Love And I Sold Every Memory Chapter 03

At seven sharp, the party began.

The Whitmores had invited half their social circle, family and friends alike.

Everyone knew the story by now. The daughter the Whitmores had lost eighteen years ago was finally home.

They’d also heard Evelyn had sold pieces of her past to the memory bank to pay her back.

One guest lifted a glass, curious.

“Isn’t there some kind of side effect to selling memories?”

Graham brushed it off with a wave.

“Kids today make everything sound like the end of the world.”

“It’s a few old bits and pieces. Nobody’s cutting her head open.”

“And knowing Evie, she picked stuff that doesn’t matter anyway.”

Bennett chimed in.

“God, she could hold a grudge when she was little.”

“If the nanny shorted her one piece of cake, she’d still be bringing it up a year later.”

“Dumping that junk might actually be good for her.”

The guests around them burst out laughing.

Maren joined in.

“That girl takes everything so personally.”

“Once she’s back and realizes we were never going to abandon her, she’ll probably throw her arms around me and bawl.”

A nearby guest sighed, almost envious.

“You still care so much about her.”

“Even after she sold her memories to pay off that massive debt, you’re still welcoming her with open arms.”

Maren’s smile stiffened.

“Who said she’s actually in debt to us?”

The guest froze.

It hit Maren then. Nobody outside the family knew about the test yet.

She scrambled to cover.

“I just mean … she’s family. Debt or no debt, what’s the difference?”

Graham gave her a sharp look.

“We’ll announce the truth together once Evie’s here.”

“If she hears early, she’ll think she won.”

Seven thirty came. Evelyn still wasn’t there.

Then the driver called.

“Mr. Whitmore, I’ve been parked outside the memory bank for forty minutes. Evelyn hasn’t come out.”

“Did you try calling her?”

“Yes, sir. No answer.”

Graham’s jaw set.

“Then keep waiting.”

“If she won’t get in the car, you tell her this family isn’t keeping the door open forever.”

The minute Graham hung up, Adrian tried Evelyn’s number, too.

It rang out.

He called again. Still no answer.

He swallowed his irritation and sent a voice message.

[Evie, that’s enough.]

[We’re letting you come home. You’ve had every chance.]

[Half our social circle is here waiting on you. Every minute you’re late, the Whitmores look worse.]

No reply.

Adrian’s expression turned to stone.

“She’s doing this to us on purpose.”

Tessa ventured a question.

“Does Evelyn hate the dress?”

“She can have mine if she wants.”

“It’s not about the dress.”

Adrian’s lip curled.

“She wants us worried.”

“Every time we fought, she’d turn off her phone and wait for me to come find her.”

Maren checked the time, her annoyance flaring.

“The test is over. What else does she want from us?”

“The money’s paid. Nobody was kicking her out.”

“What, does she expect us to line up and apologize one by one?”

Bennett swirled his wine.

“Relax, Mom.”

“Let her sulk.”

“Nothing scares her more than being ignored. Once she figures out nobody’s coming after her, she’ll show up on her own.”

At eight, the emcee took the stage.

He introduced Tessa to the room as the Whitmores’ returned daughter.

Applause filled the room, and Maren’s eyes drifted to the doors before she could stop them.

The entrance remained empty.

In the end, a staff member handed Tessa the bouquet that was supposed to come from Evelyn.

The emcee leaned in.

“Do we keep Evelyn’s apology on the program?”

Graham’s mouth pressed into a hard line.

“Push it to the end.”

“The second she walks in, bring her straight up.”

Thirty minutes later, the driver called back.

“Mr. Whitmore, the bank says Evelyn wrapped things up and left through a different exit.”

Graham slammed down his wineglass.

“She walked out?”

“She knows about tonight, and she bailed anyway?”

Adrian grabbed the phone out of his hand.

“Where’d she go?”

“They won’t tell me. They said customer whereabouts are confidential.”

Adrian hung up.

“I’m going to find her.”

Tessa caught his sleeve.

“Adrian, the party’s not over.”

Bennett cut in, his voice flat.

“Nobody’s going anywhere.”

“Can’t you see? She’s trying to make us cave.”

“Whoever chases after her tonight loses.”

Maren stayed quiet.

She opened her chat with Evelyn and typed:

[I know you’re hurting, baby.]

She stared at it for a few seconds. Then she deleted it, letter by letter.

Give Evie an inch, and she’d take a mile.

If Maren caved now, the whole test would’ve been for nothing.

That was when the hotel manager rushed over.

“Mr. Whitmore, the memory bank just reached out to us.”

“They’ve got transfer documents that have to go to someone in the Whitmore family, in person.”

Graham was out of patience.

“When are they getting here?”

The manager’s eyes flicked to the door.

“They’re walking in right now.”