While I was busting my butt at work, she was hooking up with Liam. They went through boxes of condoms I had stashed, and I only caught them because I came home early from work one day.
What did Liam do when I confronted them? He rushed to defend Grace, pointing at me with a smug grin, and said, "What Grace and I have is real love. You? You're just some dirty girl massaging strangers for cash."
Looking back, I could kick myself for being so stupid.
"Bella, I was just trying to do what's best for you and Liam," Grace whined, her voice laced with fake sweetness.
Back then, whenever she acted hurt, I'd always be the one to comfort her. Maybe losing my parents young made me desperate for friends, so I tried to be kind to everyone. But she never deserved it.
I stared at her, my expression cold. "Grace, Liam—I don't owe you anything. Actually, you both owe me a lot. It's time to settle up."
"Settle up?" Grace's face went pale, and Liam, still awkwardly hanging near the window, looked trapped.
"Grace, you've lived in my place for two years. You said you'd pay rent but never did. Based on the rent around here and the condition of my apartment, you owe me fifteen hundred a month, which adds up to thirty-six grand. I'll let the utilities go since, you know, we're ‘sisters,'" I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
I grabbed her hand and smiled sweetly, but there was nothing kind about it. This time around, I was taking back every penny anyone ever took from me.
Grace started to cry. "But Bella, I don't have that kind of money!"
Seeing an opportunity, Liam rushed over, dropping to his knees like a sad puppy. "Bella, Grace, and I have been struggling, too. Please don't pressure her."
"And I'm supposed to work three jobs to support you two?" I shot back, my tone sharp. "You guys are important to me, but you don't actually want me to work myself into an early grave, right?"
"I even saw a doctor," I said, faking a broken voice. "They said if I keep pushing myself like this, I might not make it to thirty. You both care about me, don't you? You wouldn't want me to die young."
"Bella, I would never want that!" Grace whined, her voice shaky but her eyes showing something darker.
Liam started crying, too, playing his role perfectly. "It's all my fault. If my family hadn't gone bankrupt, none of this would've happened. I'm so sorry."