Chapter 3

3.

I suffered through a sleepless night in the freezing wine cellar.

The moment the door opened the next morning, I rushed to the hospital like a madwoman.

Mom was lying in the hospital bed, wearing an oxygen mask, gasping weakly.

Tears poured down my face. I grabbed her hand tightly. "Mom, I'm here..."

"Miss Miller, you're finally here."

The attending physician walked in, holding a chart, looking worried.

"Miss Miller, we performed emergency surgery last night, but your mother needs a second heart bypass immediately―it's her only chance."

"Then do the surgery! I'll pay whatever it costs!"

"However..." The doctor lowered his voice. "Your previous medical team was replaced. The new doctors were arranged by Miss Chloe. Without Mr. Thorne's authorization, we cannot perform a surgery of this level."

I went numb. Cold sweat soaked my back.

The doctor looked at me with pity.

"Miss Chloe said if you can come up with two hundred thousand dollars, she will agree to the surgery. Otherwise, she will completely cut off the funding for your mother's medical bills."

I never expected Julian to go this far just to play this absurd "housekeeper game" with Chloe. He stopped the money for my mother's life!

Seeing my pale face, Mom struggled to tug at my shirt.

"Sarah... don't beg him for me anymore..."

I shook my head desperately, sobbing. "Mom, you're the only family I have left. Even if I have to sell my blood, I will cure you."

Tears blurred my vision. I didn't see the heartbreak in my mother's eyes.

I also missed the look of longing and finality as she watched me leave.

When I rushed back to the villa, Julian was in the dining room, coaxing Chloe to eat breakfast.

A long table was filled with luxurious dishes.

From French omelets to top-grade Kobe steak.

The stark contrast fueled my rage.

Thinking of my dying mother, I rushed over. "Julian, why did you stop my mom's medical funds?"

Julian put down his knife and fork, looking surprised. "When did I..."

"I ordered it."

Chloe dabbed her mouth elegantly with a napkin. Her look was full of arrogance.

"Mrs. Thorne, your daily allowance is five dollars. If your mom needs two hundred grand for surgery, go earn it yourself."

I shook with anger, looking at Julian in disbelief. "You're just going to watch her do this? That's a human life!"

"Chloe." Julian finally spoke. "Maybe we should..."

His words were cut off by Chloe's scream.

"You're going to give in to her again?"

She stood up abruptly, her chair scraping harshly against the floor.

"When you brought me back, you agreed that I would be in charge! Now your wife wants to break my rules with just one word? Then why am I even here? I'm leaving!"

Julian quickly grabbed her. "Okay, okay, I'll listen to you. Whatever you say."

I stared blankly at the scene. My heart felt like it was splitting open.

This was the man I had loved for ten years.

My mother and I were nothing but tools for him to please his mistress.

Looking at the table full of food, I let out a cold laugh.

"Chloe, you tell us to be thrifty, but why are you so extravagant? If I recall, that couture dress is from this season's runway. It costs tens of thousands of dollars."

Chloe pouted nonchalantly. "The rules are for the Thorne family. I'm not a Thorne..."

"Do you know how hard it is for normal people to make money? Your breakfast alone costs a month's rent for a worker."

Looking at the jewelry dripping off her, I lunged to slap her.

The next second, my face burned with pain.

Julian used full force to slap me to the floor. He then turned to check Chloe's neck with concern.

He looked down at me, his face dark. "I said, no one is allowed to bully Chloe."

Chloe lifted her chin defiantly. "You want money? Go earn it yourself! Don't play the victim here."

She grabbed my arm and had the bodyguards drag me into the black Maybach.

"I'll allow you out past eight tonight. I'm taking you to a good place."