CELINE's P O V

‘‘You have no choice but to leave! Now!’’ Mrs. Anderson suddenly stood up, and while she was doing so, she motioned to one of the bodyguards to come over to assist her. He quickly obliged, and as he stopped beside her, he handed a black shoulder bag to Sebastian's mom. She opened her bag and flung a check at my face. ‘‘That's the equivalent of five million dollars! Leave this place and get lost!’’

When I bent down to pick up the check after it had ...