“Who asked for your help?” I let out a bitter laugh, my voice laced with sarcasm. “Don’t flatter yourself. Even if you threw the money at me, I wouldn't take a single cent. Using your money to redeem my mother's jade bracelet—God forbid it taints her path in the next life.”

“Whitley, how can you be so cruel?” Yosef's voice wavered, shaken and angry.

“Ha! My words might sting, but they’ll never cut as deep as your actions.”

With ...