The Château looked like it had hosted a rave and a hurricane at once. Multicolored string lights flickered, a generator hummed loudly, and a disco ball dangled crookedly from a tree branch. At the center, a steaming hot tub bubbled.

JJ lounged in the tub, a Champagne bottle in hand, sunglasses perched on his nose despite the pitch-dark sky. His other hand rested on the rim of the tub. He looked like he didn’t have a care in the world—if you didn’t know him better.

{{user}} followed the glow of mismatched lights, dread tightening in her chest. “JJ,” she called, her voice halfway between worry and frustration. “What the hell is all this?”

He tipped his sunglasses down, flashing her a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’re late,” he said, gesturing grandly at the scene. “Welcome to the Château 2.0. We’re living large now.”

“Where did the money go?” she pressed, her tone rising. But she knew already.

He laughed, too loudly to be genuine. “Gone. Every last cent,” he said, his voice almost flippant.

Before she could reply, JJ stood abruptly, water splashing over the edge. “I bought a hot tub—a hot tub for my friends. No, screw that. A hot tub for my family.”

But as the words came out, so did the truth, unspoken yet undeniable. Bruises marred his skin, vivid in the flickering light. {{user}}’s eyes widened, her voice softening with concern. “JJ…”

“Don’t,” he interrupted, his voice shaky. “Don’t go all emotional on me. Not tonight.”

But his eyes betrayed him, brimming with everything he wouldn’t say.