Chapter 3

3

The harsh reality snapped me back, and Lucas yanked Sierra behind him.

"Whatever. We'll compensate you."

With a flick of his wrist, his bodyguard hurled a thick stack of cash right at my face.

"There's a hundred grand in this card. Keep your mouth shut so you don't ruin Sierra's reputation."

The black card hit my chest and clattered to the floor.

I didn't pick it up.

I turned and walked away into the cold night.

Sierra ran after me, crying, "Let me drive you to the ER, Darren!"

"Don't touch me. You make me sick."

I walked alone to the clinic, got my bite wounds stitched, and received a rabies shot.

Sitting in the cold hallway, inhaling the sharp smell of antiseptic, memories flooded back.

I remembered the day Sierra showed me her fake medical report, sobbing and begging me not to abandon her.

She had claimed her family favored her younger brother and refused to spend a dime on her treatment.

I had stayed up all night, telling her I would find a way to pay for everything.

I convinced my dad to take out a second mortgage on our small house, and he moved into a construction site trailer to save on rent.

In our cramped rental apartment, Sierra and I had lived on pennies, and my greatest fear was watching her die.

The next morning, I terminated the lease and packed my few belongings to move into the company dorms.

Sitting in my beat-up car, the dam broke.

I pulled over onto the shoulder, buried my face in the steering wheel, and wept uncontrollably.

I had planned to give her a dream wedding before her health deteriorated, wanting her to leave this world without regrets.

It was all just a bored heiress's cruel game.