Chapter 4

I have just stepped into the small apartment under my own name when my phone starts ringing.

The sound is sharp and frantic.

"Mrs. Blackwell, your father's heart condition has relapsed. He's critical. You need to come to the hospital now."

My heart drops.

I rush to the ER so fast I barely remember the ride there.

Outside the operating room, the doctor flips through my father's chart with a grave face.

"Mrs. Blackwell, your father had serious trauma to his chest years ago. It has triggered a severe arrhythmia this time. He needs surgery immediately."

I know exactly what he means.

Years ago, when Ethan was starting Blackwell Group and drowning in debt, my father borrowed money to help him.

The people he borrowed from came after him.

They beat him so badly he could barely breathe for weeks.

I take one deep breath and go straight to billing.

The woman at the desk swipes my card, then frowns.

"I'm sorry. This account is restricted. The payment won't go through."

I freeze.

That account is the medical fund Ethan and I set up for my father. Every month, we put a huge amount of money into it.

How can it be restricted?

I don't have time to think.

I hand over every card in my wallet.

One after another, the machine rejects them.

The doctor comes out again, his voice tight.

"Mrs. Blackwell, your father's vitals are unstable. We need authorization and payment clearance now."

My fingers shake as I call Ethan.

The line rings for so long I almost think he won't pick up.

At the last second, he answers.

My voice breaks the moment I speak.

"Ethan, why are my accounts frozen? My dad needs surgery right now. Please, just unfreeze them."

There is a short silence.

Then he laughs.

"You're getting better at this."

My whole body goes cold.

"What?"

"Chloe has been upset all day because of you," he says. "Freezing your accounts for a month is already me being merciful."

He is about to hang up.

I grip the phone so hard my knuckles hurt.

"I am not playing games with you. My father is dying. I sent you his chart. Just look at it once."

His voice turns impatient.

"How long are you going to keep acting?"

That is when I realize the medical file never went through.

Ethan blocked me.

I stare at my phone screen, and for a second, the whole hospital seems to tilt.

The doctor comes over with another emergency form.

I grab at that last bit of hope.

"I'm not lying. The doctor is right here. If you don't believe me, listen to him."

But before the doctor can speak, Chloe's voice floats through the phone.

"Ethan, which suit do you like for our engagement party? Come help me choose."

Ethan's voice softens instantly.

"White. It suits you."

Then he comes back to me, cold and bored.

"Enough. You already signed the divorce papers. Stop using cheap tricks to get my attention. When Chloe says she's ready, I'll unfreeze your accounts."

The call ends.

I call again.

His phone is off.

The hospital hallway turns silent around me.

I lean against the wall and watch the red light above the operating room flash.

Then stop.

The doctor comes out.

His face says everything before his mouth does.

"We did everything we could. I'm sorry for your loss."

After that, everything moves like a dream.

The death certificate, the funeral home, and everything.

I do not cry.

I force myself to stay calm because there is no one left to fall apart for me.

I have a small memorial pendant made with my father's ashes inside it.

I put it around my neck.

That way, it feels like he is still with me.

After I finish everything, I use the last cash I have to buy a one-way ticket out of Boston.

At the gate, my phone buzzes with messages.

Ethan finally remembers me.

[Your cards work now. Don't use your father as an excuse to make a scene again. Be decent, Olivia. If you behave, I might let you attend my engagement party with Chloe.]

I stare at the message.

Then I turn off my phone and board the plane.