Beyond the Years

Everyone in the circles I ran in knew the drill: I was a gold-digger, pure and simple. Marrying Burrell Vance was all about the money. He saw me as a placeholder, a stand-in for someone else. I saw him as a human ATM.

Then, his beloved stepsister, the original white moonlight hed been pining for, returned home. I, the one who was supposed to gracefully step aside, suddenly found myself a little reluctant. I mean, a handsome, generous sugar daddy like Burrell wasn't exactly easy to come by.

Just as I was racking my brain, trying to figure out how to cling on for dear life, I stumbled upon Burrell prying a gem from my mothers ring C her only memento C just to make Amelia happy.

Burrell caught my stunned expression and, with an impatient sigh, pulled out his checkbook. "Name your price," he said, "Ill double it."

His cold, indifferent gaze snapped me back to reality. My heart, a fleeting moment ago, had fluttered with something soft and useless. Now, it hardened.

Forget sentiment, Maya. Go for the gold, the real, tangible kind.

I immediately looked up, a sweet, innocent smile plastered on my face. "Triple?" I asked, "Would triple work?"

Burrell froze.

Then, as if hed expected this all along, he scoffed and shook his head. His pen moved decisively across the checkbook, scribbling a longer number, before tearing off the slip with a sharp rip. He held it out to me.

"Five million."

"That old ring of yours was barely worth fifty thousand. Im giving you ten times that. Enough?"

The check was covered in a dizzying array of zeroes, more than I'd ever seen outside of a bank statement. My eyes crinkled into crescent moons as I took it. "Enough! More than enough!"

Seeing my delighted expression, Amelia, who was still clutching the freshly pried gem, felt a surge of indignation. This whole show had been orchestrated to torment me. Shed deliberately praised the stone in my dressing table ring, confident Burrell would remove it for her. She'd envisioned me walking in, collapsing like a hysterical shrew, giving her the perfect opportunity to play the fragile victim, making Burrell despise me even more, maybe even kick me out.

But Amelia hadn't anticipated Id be so easily placated. She couldn't help but raise her voice, accusing me. "Maya Brooks, are you really that materialistic?"

"Cook said that ring was your mother's only keepsake. You're so heartless towards your own parents, how much sincerity could you possibly have for Burrell? As for this worthless rock here! Take it back!"

"I wouldnt touch something from someone like you. It's soiled!"

The gem bounced off my foot, rolling a few times on the floor, picking up tiny scratches. Burrell glanced at Amelia's aggressive outburst, a faint, almost imperceptible frown creasing his brow.

Instead of getting angry, I simply bent down and picked it up, blowing off the dust. Then, I spoke calmly. "Miss Burrell, theres something Cook might not have told you."

"My mother was a human trafficker. The first child she ever sold was me. Later, when she saw I'd made something of myself, she wanted to reclaim me. So she eagerly spent a fortune on this ring, saying it was a gift to win me back."

"I refused. And then I reported her to the police. She was sentenced and died years ago."

I slipped the gem into my pocket, flashing Amelia a dazzling smile. "So, exchanging this trinket for five million? Absolute steal! But since you dont like it, Miss Burrell, I guess I'm just getting a freebie, huh?"

"Thank you, Miss Burrell!"

Amelia gasped, a lump of frustration stuck in her throat. I, on the other hand, was thrilled to see her squirm. Adopting the air of the lady of the house, I continued to needle her. "Miss Burrell, youve just returned from a long journey. The maid has prepared the guest room. You should get some rest."

Then, I turned my gaze to Burrell, a suggestive glint in my eyes, my voice dripping with honey. "Well darling, Ill head back to my room then."

"Ill be waiting for you in the master suite."

As I turned, I could almost hear Amelia grinding her teeth behind me. Sigh. Im a professional gold-digger. Dont challenge my livelihood with your little games.

Back in the master suite, the mangled ring setting Burrell had damaged lay on the dresser. I casually pulled the gem from my pocket and set it beside it. With a soft sigh, I found a tube of superglue and tried to reattach it.

My birth mother had sold me to a couple who couldnt have children. Forty thousand, but because I was a girl, she haggled down to thirty thousand and sold me cheap. I was six, old enough to remember, old enough to work.

Ironically, that couple had a son a few years later. My adoptive parents, in turn, sold me again. Twenty-three thousand six hundred, to an old drunk, who said hed raise me to be his wife. Less than two years later, the drunk drowned after a binge.

Finally, I was no longer being trafficked around like cheap goods. I struggled to grow up. My birth mother sold me for money, my adoptive parents sold me for money.

So, don't call me materialistic. Maybe I never knew what "love" felt like growing up. I've lived this long, never having time to fret over love. Money, though, was a constant worry. All that "love" nonsense? Two days of work, and you'll be over it.

Luckily, I loved money, and money loved me.

My mind was wandering through these chaotic memories when Burrell's voice suddenly broke through. "I'm sorry."

"I didn't know... that was your mothers keepsake."

I turned, shaking my head, a professional smile on my face. "It's fine. You compensated me, didn't you?"

"Such a huge sum, I don't even know how many rings I could buy with it."

Burrell glanced at me holding the glue, clearly not comforted. He simply thought I was putting on a brave face. He lowered his eyes, his expression complex for a moment.

Seeing his silence, I paused, then picked up my phone. "Oh, right. There was something I needed to tell you..."

Before I could finish, Amelia's panicked shriek suddenly echoed from the guest room down the hallway. "Ah! Burrell, quickly"

Burrell's face tightened instantly. Without a moment's hesitation, he turned and dashed out.

My hand, holding out the phone, froze mid-air. The screen glowed with an electronic prenatal check-up form: [Early Pregnancy, 6 weeks +]. I watched Burrell's hasty retreat, the screen dimming, my smile fading with it.

That night, Burrell didn't return to the master suite. See? Money really is the most reliable thing.

Sleep wouldn't come. I spent the entire night gluing the ring back together with that cheap tube of adhesive. It wasn't until the morning sun slanted across my dressing table that I finally stopped. It had a rough outline again, but the cracks crisscrossed, like an ugly face streaked with tears. I picked it up, held it to the light. It really was time to throw it away.

With a sigh, I dropped it into the wastebasket by the table. I stood up, ready to leave, but then turned back, gave a self-deprecating smile, and reached into the trash to retrieve the valuable gem. Never mind. I can argue with anyone, but not with money.

A quick glance at the time told me Burrell was likely at the office. I decided to get ready and head out to cash the check. With Amelia back, I needed to be prepared for being shown the door at any moment.

Passing the dining room on the first floor, my footsteps drew Amelia's attention. She immediately set down her cutlery. "Morning, Maya," she drawled, a mocking edge in her voice. "You look terrible. Didn't sleep well without Burrell around?"

She stretched out the last words, deliberately adjusting the collar of her silk robe, revealing a few fresh, tell-tale hickeys on her collarbone. Once she saw I'd definitely noticed, she continued, smugly. "I'm sorry. Whenever I used to fly long-haul, and my jet lag was terrible, Burrell always... stayed with me, helped me adjust. You... don't mind, do you?"

"After all, Burrell and I have a bond that goes back to childhood. You can't compare."

I took a deep breath. A sharp, stinging pain pricked my heart. But it was okay. Id always been good at enduring pain, ever since I was a child.

I tilted my head, calmly reminding Amelia, "Oh."

"But Burrell and I are getting married at the end of the month. Were officially tying the knot early next month."

That sentence instantly hit a nerve. Amelia shot up from her chair, yelling at me. "What are you so smug about?"

"If his mother hadn't opposed it so vehemently back then, we would have been together already! I wouldn't have been forced to go abroad! Now that I'm back, do you honestly think you can stay by Burrell's side?"

Watching her frantic outburst, I merely raised an eyebrow, mechanically repeating, "Oh."

"But Burrell and I are getting married at the end of the month. Were officially tying the knot early next month."

Amelia was trembling with rage, screaming hysterically. "Bitch! Still dreaming about a wedding? I'm telling you, you'll never marry Burrell! I'll make sure you're out of the Vance mansion for good!"

Amelia was on the verge of losing it, but I remained perfectly calm. I even meticulously smoothed my cuff, responding airily, "Oh."

"But Burrell and I are getting married at the end of the month. Were officially tying the knot early next month."

"Enjoy your breakfast. I'm off to look at wedding dresses."

With that, I walked towards the front door without looking back. Behind me, Amelia shrieked and began a classic "table-clearing maneuver," sweeping all the dishes off the dining table. The sound of shattering porcelain echoed through the house.

See? Even enemies can't stand the silent treatment.

After leaving, I immediately cashed the check, watching the reassuring string of numbers appear in my bank account. A genuine, relaxed smile finally spread across my face. Then, I drove to a modest apartment complex on the west side of the city. Here, I owned a small apartment. It was mine, a home I could never be kicked out of.

Money, it was truly wonderful.

After resting for most of the day, I returned to the mansion, immediately sensing a strange atmosphere. The living room lights were on. Burrell, who should have been at the office, was sitting on the central sofa, cradling a sobbing Amelia, murmuring soft words of comfort.

The sound of me opening the door startled them. Burrell's gaze fell on me, his lips parting as if words were caught in his throat. It wasn't until Amelia tugged his sleeve, her sobs growing louder, that Burrell finally seemed to make a decision.

"Maya, our wedding... it's off."

I stood rooted to the spot, processing his words for a couple of seconds. There was no dramatic outburst from me, just a familiar ache that intensified in my chest, making my nose sting. A cold, chilling sensation washed over me, like that time when I was twelve, and the old drunk, fueled by liquor, had beaten me half to death before holding my head under the icy well water.

Its okay. Maya, youve always been good at enduring pain.

I sniffed twice, then nodded. "Alright."

Amelia, seeing my calm reaction, lifted her head from Burrells embrace, her tear-reddened eyes sparkling with triumph. I knew exactly what she was flaunting. A few tears, and Burrell canceled our wedding. Her status as his "white moonlight" truly carried weight. I wasnt stupid enough to try and compete. She was the moon in the sky; I was the mud on the ground.

I looked at Burrell, thinking that perhaps, reaching this point was already quite good. To love him any further would be disrespectful. Then, without another word, I turned and headed up the stairs.

"Wait!"

My footsteps faltered, but I didn't turn back.

"Vance Jewels just received a new shipment of gold. Ill have my assistant send two gold bars to you later."

Instant elation. My earlier internal monologue felt incredibly melodramatic now. Love? Who needed it? Just give me the money.

I immediately spun around, flashing Burrell my most familiar, sweet smile. "Thank you, Burrell!"

"I'll go to my room then. You should get some rest too."

Sure enough, my footsteps hadnt even faded before Amelia, predictably, started to complain about my "gold bar compensation." She buried her face back in Burrell's chest, her mournful sobs resuming. Burrell, clearly exasperated by her reaction, leaned down to soothe her. I vaguely heard muffled syllables C something like "don't cry," "not worth it," "just wait."

Then, without looking up, he said to me, "You don't need to wait for me tonight."

"Amelia's not doing well. I need to stay with her."

I simply acknowledged him, my steps unwavering as I disappeared around the corner. No time for sadness. My mind was consumed with those two gold bars. How long would they be? How heavy? How many ounces? How much money could I get for them?

After showering, I immediately grabbed my phone, eager to search for the real-time gold price per ounce. But just as I tapped the screen, a series of messages from an unknown number popped up.

It was Amelia.

[Maya Brooks, have you no shame? Burrell canceled the wedding, and you still have the nerve to linger here instead of leaving?]

[Bitch! A complete and utter bitch! You should just take those two gold bars and scram. Everything in the Vance family belongs to me in the future. You pathetic whore, you're stealing my money!]

[I won't tolerate you anymore. You just wait, I'll make sure you're out of the Vance household for good!]

I read them expressionlessly, then scrolled up. The first time I didn't leave, I got five million. The second time I didn't leave, I got two gold bars. Shameless or not, what's a little dignity worth, anyway?

But then, a sharp shriek and hurried footsteps echoed through the house. The maid screamed in terror. "Oh no, something terrible has happened!"

"Miss Burrell she she cut her wrists!"