Sarah grabbed her mother's arm firmly, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "Kitchen. Now," she said through gritted teeth, practically dragging Amanda away from the living room.
Once they were out of earshot, Sarah whirled around to face her mother. "What are Uncle Patrick and Jason doing here? And don't give me that nonsense about a family visit."
Amanda crossed her arms defensively. "They came to see how we're doing. Is that such a crime? Family should check on family."
"That's not why they're here, and you know it," Sarah snapped, her voice low but fierce. "Every single time they show up, they only have one thing on their minds—asking for money. They see this house, they hear about my business, and suddenly they remember we exist."
Amanda's face flushed with indignation. "How dare you speak about your family that way! Unlike that useless husband of yours, your cousins are actually reliable and competent. Jason is making something of himself, going to university, building a future. At least he has ambition!"
Sarah opened her mouth to argue, but Amanda was already moving toward the refrigerator. "Now help me with the food. We have guests to feed, and I won't have them thinking we're ungracious hosts."
Reluctantly, Sarah helped her mother prepare sandwiches and refreshments. As they arranged everything on elegant serving trays, Amanda's demeanor shifted to that of a proud hostess preparing for a performance.
They returned to the living room, Amanda beaming as she set the food on the coffee table. Patrick and Jason immediately began helping themselves, their eyes continuing to roam appreciatively over the luxurious furnishings.
"So, Sarah," Patrick said, settling back into the plush sofa with a sandwich, "when did you buy this incredible place? It must have cost a fortune."
Sarah opened her mouth to explain that she hadn't actually bought it, but Amanda cut her off smoothly. "Oh, we bought it recently. Actually, we bought two houses—this one and another beautiful villa. Sixty million dollars total, if you can believe it!"
Sarah sighed deeply, recognizing this side of her mother all too well. Amanda had always tried to appear far wealthier and more successful than they actually were, even during their most dire financial struggles. It was because her mother came from a desperately poor background and had married into the Prescotts primarily to escape that poverty. But this facade often created more problems than it solved, raising expectations that Sarah couldn't possibly meet.
Patrick's eyebrows shot up. "Sixty million? My goodness, Sarah, you really have come a long way! You make the Melvin family proud, you know that?"
He reached over and patted Jason's shoulder. "Jason here is doing great things too. He's in college studying to be a businessman, just like you. The boy's got real potential."
Jason nodded eagerly, his mouth full of sandwich. "Yeah, Cousin Sarah, I'm learning so much about finance and management. I want to be successful like you someday."
Patrick's expression grew slightly more serious. "The thing is, though, the university is really holding him back because of payment issues. You know how these institutions are—they don't care about a student's potential if the money isn't coming in on time."
Sarah rolled her eyes, knowing exactly where this was heading. Here it comes, she thought.
"Since you're doing so well for yourself," Patrick continued, gesturing around the opulent room, "we were hoping you might be able to help us out. Just a little financial support to make sure Jason can continue his education and really make something of himself."
Amanda immediately perked up. "Of course we'll help! Sarah recently made thirty million dollars. We're practically swimming in money!"
Sarah looked at her mother incredulously. The thirty million from her anonymous donor wasn't profit—it was emergency funding that had barely kept her company from bankruptcy. But before she could clarify, she saw the greedy gleam that entered both Patrick's and Jason's eyes.
Patrick leaned forward eagerly. "Thirty million? Well, that certainly changes things!"
Sarah sighed heavily, already dreading what was coming next. "How much do you need?"
Patrick rubbed his hands together. "Well, let's see. There's the university fees—that's about three hundred thousand. Then Jason needs money for stationery and textbooks, that's another hundred thousand. And of course, he needs a proper car to get to classes and networking events. A reliable vehicle for a future businessman, you understand. That's another three hundred thousand."
Sarah shot to her feet in shock. "Are you serious? Seven hundred thousand dollars? Uncle Patrick, that's not just pocket change I have lying around!"
"Well, actually," Patrick continued sheepishly, "when you add everything up properly, it's closer to nine hundred thousand. There are some additional fees and expenses I didn't mention."
"Nine hundred thousand?" Sarah's voice rose despite her efforts to stay calm. "Do you have any idea what you're asking for? That's not money I just have sitting in my bank account!"
Patrick gestured broadly around the magnificent living room. "But look at this place! Look at how you're living! You're clearly rich beyond our wildest dreams!"
"The houses belong to someone else!" Sarah protested. "And that thirty million was for my company to function and survive, not personal spending money. Even if I had that kind of cash available, nine hundred thousand isn't something you just hand over casually!"
She stared at her cousin. "And why on earth do you need a three-hundred-thousand-dollar car? You're a college student!"
Amanda immediately jumped to her feet, waving her hands dismissively. "Sarah, stop being so dramatic! You're richer than all the Prescotts combined now. You just signed a multi-billion-dollar contract with that Crimson Valley project. That's going to make you one of the wealthiest women in the world!"
Sarah tried to interject. "Mom, you don't understand—"
"I understand perfectly," Amanda cut her off firmly. "We're family, and family helps family. Of course we'll help Jason with his education. It's an investment in his future, and ours."
Sarah felt the walls closing in around her. She looked at the expectant faces of her uncle and cousin, saw the determination in her mother's eyes, and realized she was trapped in yet another situation where her success—real or imagined—was being used against her.
---
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Aaron stirred awake in his luxurious London hotel suite, completely unaware of the financial ambush his wife was facing. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the elegant furnishings and giving him a view of the Thames below.
He stretched languidly, feeling more rested than he had in weeks. The Egyptian cotton sheets were impossibly soft, and for a moment he allowed himself to simply lie there, appreciating the quiet luxury of the moment.
His phone buzzed with a message from room service, asking when he'd like his breakfast delivered. Aaron smiled and typed back that he was ready now. Within minutes, there was a discrete knock at his door.
A uniformed attendant wheeled in a cart laden with gourmet delicacies—fresh croissants, perfectly poached eggs, premium coffee, and an assortment of fine cheeses and fruits. Everything was presented on bone china with silver service.
As he ate, Aaron gazed out at the bustling London streets below. He thought about Sarah, wondering how she was managing the Crimson Valley project and whether she was getting along alright without him. He had no idea that at that very moment, she was being cornered by family members who saw dollar signs whenever they looked at her.
Taking a sip of his expertly prepared coffee, Aaron felt a pang of guilt about the deception he was maintaining. But he reminded himself that it was necessary—for now. Once he had fully established himself in his new role, once he understood the true scope of his power and responsibilities, he would find a way to share this new world with Sarah.
For now, though, he was living in two completely different realities—one where he was a powerful billionaire conducting international business, and another where his wife was being pressured to hand over nearly a million dollars to relatives who saw her success as their personal ATM.