Chapter 4Hijacking My Hijacked Bride

Three days later, I met Courtney at a quiet diner.

"One thousand dollars," I said, sliding a envelope across the table. "I need your help with Tiffany."

Courtney didn't even hesitate. "Two thousand. I'm not risking my neck for cheap."

I smiled. "Fifteen hundred. Your friendship with her isn't worth a cent more."

She snapped her fingers. "Deal."

That night, Courtney managed to lure Tiffany out to a high-end restaurant under the pretense of a girls' night. When Tiffany saw me sitting at the table, her face hardened immediately.

"Wyatt? What is this? Courtney, what's going on?" She stood up to leave.

Courtney smiled warmly and pulled her back down. "Sit down, babe. Don't worry. Wyatt has a surprise for you."

Out of courtesy for Courtney, Tiffany reluctantly sat back, crossing her arms and legs, looking thoroughly annoyed. "Make it quick."

I stared at her, putting on my best performance of a broken, desperate lover.

"Tiffany, I’m so sorry. I shouldn't have caused a scene at your wedding. I was hurt, but I understand now. You had to make the best choice for your future. What girl wouldn't want financial security?"

Tiffany’s posture relaxed, a smug, self-satisfied look settling onto her face.

I reached out to touch her hand, but she pulled away. I offered a sheepish, vulnerable smile.

"I haven't slept since that day, Tiffany. I keep dreaming about you. I... I still love you. I can't let you go."

She let out a harsh laugh. "Love me? With what, Wyatt? Your middle-class salary? Trent has over five million in liquid assets. You can't compete with that."

This was the exact opening I needed.

I unlocked my phone, opened my banking app, and turned the screen toward her.

The balance showed exactly $888,000.

"I have the money now, Tiffany," I whispered, my voice trembling with practiced emotion. "Eight hundred and eighty-eight thousand. That's my new offer. I was stupid before, but I've corrected my mistake. Please, just give me one more chance."

Tiffany stared at the screen, her eyes widening slightly before she let out another scoff.

"Are you joking, Wyatt? You put your parents' entire retirement on one debit card to impress me? Or did you take out a massive predatory loan? You're ridiculous."

She was sharp when it came to money. She had guessed the truth; the funds had indeed been pulled together from every resource my family had.

I kept quiet, giving Courtney the cue.

Courtney wrapped her arm around Tiffany’s shoulders, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Tiffany, you've got it all wrong. Wyatt’s not telling you everything."

Tiffany frowned. "What?"

"You didn't hear?" Courtney murmured, loud enough for me to hear but quiet enough to sound like a secret. "His family owned those two commercial lots in the South District. They just got rezoned for a massive retail development. My aunt works at the city planning office, and she saw the acquisition list. They're getting a payout of over ten million dollars."

Tiffany froze.

Courtney pressed on. "Ten million, Tiffany. Wyatt’s actually wealthy now. He’s not lying to you."

If this information had come from my mouth, Tiffany would have laughed in my face. But coming from her closest confidante, it was gospel.

When Tiffany looked back at me, the coldness in her eyes was gone, replaced by a warm, familiar hunger.

"Wyatt..." she murmured, her voice turning sweet. "Is Courtney telling the truth?"