Nice Try, But No Kidney

Half an hour later, Hudson froze all my bank accounts and even changed his phone number—just to gloat.

[So, struggling without money? Come back now, and I'll forgive you! The house is a mess with no one to clean it!]

Pathetic. That house wasn't my home anymore. I wasn't going back.

With what little cash I had left, I got a new number and rented a tiny shared apartment way outside the city. The commute was brutal—four hours a day—but I threw myself into my tutoring job, relearning the skills I'd abandoned years ago.

Two days later, just as I reached my student's neighborhood, Hudson and Talia ambushed me at the entrance.

"I heard you're working as a tutor here," Hudson said, frowning. "Do you have any idea how embarrassing that is for me? Quit and come home. Taking care of me and Talia is your real purpose in life."

Unbelievable.

My voice stayed flat. "Did you sign the divorce papers?"

"Divorce?" He scoffed. "Are you still not done with this tantrum? You abandoned your own child to tutor someone else's? Talia's schoolwork has been neglected for a week—she's already falling behind!"

"Exactly!" Talia glared at me. "Some kid named Micah Johnston took first place, and I dropped to thirty-sixth! I've never been out of the top three before! Everyone at school is laughing at me! This is all your fault! I'll never forgive you!"

I let out a short laugh. Like I needed her forgiveness. Could it pay my bills?

And this wasn't even my fault.

Micah Johnston... My student.

So, my work was already paying off. A slow smile spread across my face.