His explanation was unexpected, yet somehow it made sense. Richard had been drawn to her honesty and resilience, qualities rare in his world of artifice and power. The money had been a gift, yes, but also an investment in a future he believed she could build. He confessed to watching her rise from afar with pride, never wanting to interfere, hoping she would find her own path.

Emily realized she had indeed been worth that much—not because of the night they shared, but because of what she had done with the opportunity. The currency of their encounter was not monetary; it was transformative. As they parted ways, Richard simply said, “I’m glad to see you didn’t waste it.”