Chapter 3: Rules of the Game

The comments in my head made my pulse race—first with shock, then with cold, focused fury. Me, Natalie Sterling, queen of Savannah’s old-money scene, played by a housekeeper’s daughter and a penniless fiancé? Not a chance.

The barrage refreshed, each line stoking my competitive fire:

[@BigHeroineFan: The heiress is ambitious and fierce—my favorite kind of main character.]

[@StolenCrown: But the housekeeper’s daughter knows how to twist that ambition to her advantage.]

[@RichestManWatch: If Natalie played it smarter, she’d be the one marrying into a fortune.]

My eyes lingered on the words “richest man in America,” and I felt my jaw clench. I wouldn’t let anyone steal my future. Not Jenna, and certainly not Caleb.

Jenna turned to Caleb, her voice sharp: “My Miss talks business, not feelings. That childhood promise was just something the old folks joked about. If you’ve got any dignity left, you’ll walk away and quit begging.”

She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, just like those private school girls when the scholarship kids sat too close. Caleb’s knuckles whitened, and he stared at the floor, shuffling his shoes, ready to bolt.

But before he could move, I called out, “Stop!”

I rose from the velvet sofa, heels clicking on the hardwood, and strode toward him. The hush in the foyer was so thick, I could hear the grandfather clock ticking from the library. The air felt electric, every pair of eyes in the house on me.

Jenna thought I’d tear Caleb apart, but I had other plans. She tried to nudge me into it, hoping to swoop in as his comforter—but she never got the chance.

Standing before Caleb, I spoke with authority: “I’ll help you. I’ll cover all your college expenses. But you have to agree to my terms.”

Jenna’s jaw dropped. “Miss, you—”

I ignored her, my gaze locked on Caleb’s back. “If you take my money, you’re mine. You have to be loyal—forever. No betrayal. No defiance. Or I’ll never forgive you.”

My words rang out, cold and commanding. The silence that followed felt heavy, thick as the humid night air outside.

Caleb didn’t hesitate. He looked up, eyes shining with something fierce. “I swear I’ll be loyal to you for life. I’ll never betray you. If I do, I deserve to lose everything.”

[@PlotTwistQueen: Natalie knows how to play the game.]

[@HonorBound: Once Caleb promises, he’ll never break his word.]

A satisfied smirk tugged at my lips. I nodded to the butler. “Show him to his room.”

As Caleb disappeared up the stairs, Jenna’s voice cut through the quiet: “Miss, how are you going to explain this to Ryan? You just accepted Caleb’s favor. People will talk.”

She glared at me, her tone full of judgment.

I turned to her, voice icy: “You work for my family, Jenna. That doesn’t give you a say in who I date.”

She snapped her mouth shut, face twisting with resentment.

[@SavannahSupport: Finally, Natalie puts her in her place!]

[@SnakeInTheGrass: The housekeeper’s daughter is trouble—always has been.]

I smiled to myself as I walked away, Jenna’s glare burning into my back. I didn’t know it yet, but the deal I made on that front porch would change everything—for all of us.