Chapter 1: Dumped, But Not Defeated

My boyfriend posted all over Instagram about his new girlfriend—some rich girl.

He spammed his feed with shots of their Hamptons mansion and a lineup of luxury cars.

And just like that, I got dumped.

“Don’t think I didn’t see you Venmo your brother twenty grand!”

“Always spoiling your brother! We’re done! If I married you, wouldn’t you just drag me down?”

Funny how he never noticed my brother wired me two million.

“Bank deposit: $2,000,000.”

Staring at the new balance in my Chase app. Two million. Honestly, I felt like a total loser.

At my age, and I’m still leaning on my little brother to bail me out. Pathetic.

My brother, Carter Whitman, built his business empire from scratch—no family handouts, nothing. He’s a self-made business mogul, a real industry heavyweight.

To outsiders, we couldn’t be more different.

Guess that’s what happens when you take your mom’s last name. Harper, not Whitman. Story of my life.

Trying to save face, I opened my banking app and sent Carter twenty thousand bucks.

“For lunch.”

Before he could even reply, someone yanked my phone right out of my hand.

“What are you staring at? Didn’t even notice I was here.”

Derek Ford glanced at my screen, and instantly his brows knit together. His voice went sharp. “Your brother’s so broke he can’t even afford a meal now?”

“Of course not. It’s just a little sisterly love, that’s all.”

I wasn’t lying. My brother’s average lunch costs at least a hundred grand. My twenty thousand probably didn’t even cover the tip.

“Twenty thousand is ‘just a little’? That’s a whole new wardrobe at Bloomingdale’s, you know.”

Derek tossed my phone back on the table, glaring at me.

“Autumn Harper, are you using my money to support your brother?”

Me: ???

What kind of nonsense is this?

“Derek, you wish. Say that again and see what happens.”

When I started dating Derek, he was just some random TikTok creator—barely a handful of followers, zero views, basically invisible.

If I hadn’t used my brother’s name to boost his popularity—and pulled in some ad sponsors for him—how else would he have racked up followers so fast and become a minor internet celebrity? He wouldn’t have. No way.

“Autumn, what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like.”

After one of his videos went viral and he shot up to a million followers, brand deals and events started rolling in on their own.

That’s when I finally saw his true colors.

Fame went straight to his head—that’s Derek Ford in a nutshell.

“Your popularity won’t last. Back when you weren’t famous, the agency lost money just keeping you afloat.”

I reminded him, “What you’re making now doesn’t even cover the company’s losses!”

If anyone was supporting anyone, it was my brother supporting him, okay?

After all these years together, from daily expenses down to every little thing, I was the one footing the bill.

He got used to it, too. Even now that he has money, he won’t spend a dime on me. Meanwhile, most of my money—besides what I earn—comes from my brother.

“All you ever talk about is money. Autumn, are you only with me for the money?”

Derek went full victim mode, face full of fake outrage.

I had to laugh.

“If I was after money, why would I be with you?”

Please, I’m the Whitman heiress. Like I’d ever care about his pocket change? When I first got with him, he had nothing!

“Whatever you say, you’re just less and less of a match for me now.”

Derek lifted his chin. “You should look at who I am now, and who you are!”

Ah, so he wants to break up and is trying to pin all the blame on me.

He actually said I’m not good enough for him!

Honestly, if you give a clown a crown, he’ll think he’s king.

Derek Ford, you are shameless to the core.