Lily seemed to buy my act, snuggling up to Joey with a light laugh.

"Don't praise me too much, Miss White. You have no idea how socially awkward Joey can be. On our blind date, all he said was that I was the cleanest woman he had ever met. Can you believe someone would use 'clean' as a compliment for a woman?"

The people around me laughed as they were looking at me.

I clenched my palms tightly, forcing a smile as I held back my emotions.

I understood perfectly why Joey praised Lily in that way.

After my father's accident, Joey disappeared, leaving me cornered by creditors, which forced...