Chapter 2

"No way."

"I don't think Sylvia will agree to what you're asking."

"She won't agree just for me. But she'll agree because of her mother."

"Because blood ties would leave her with no choice but to give in."

"And then I just have to win her over again. Sylvia will be so moved she'll take me back."

"Sylvia really is pathetic when it comes to love. No wonder she's the one getting cheated on."

"Wrong."

"She's only like that with me. With anyone else, she wouldn't be."

Jason said it with such smug certainty that he never suspected I was standing right there, hearing every word.

I slipped the wedding ring off my finger and dropped it into the trash as I walked past.

Jolene was coming the other way with a bag of fruit, and she stopped when she spotted me.

"Syl, are you here to see Jason?"

She said his name with such familiarity that, if I hadn't already learned their secret, it would have made my skin crawl.

"Something came up, so I won't be going in. You can let him know."

"So does that mean you've forgiven us?"

"That's wonderful. Jason will be so happy when he hears."

A cold smile curved my lips. I didn't stay a second longer.

Outside the hospital gates, I pulled out my phone and called my boss.

"Mr. Hamilton, didn't you mention an overseas assignment?"

"I've changed my mind. I'll take it."

"Are you sure? It'll take three years abroad. Didn't you say you couldn't stand being away from home for too long?"

Before, I really did think being that far away was a problem. I was afraid no one would be there to look after my mother, and I worried Jason would be upset.

But now I knew the two of them had been conspiring against me all along. I'd finally reached my breaking point.

I had no choice but to make a decision. From now on, I'd focus on my career and leave the rest behind.

"But I can't stand living like this anymore."

My voice caught on the last few words. Tyson Hamilton noticed.

He was a decent man. He knew when to ask questions and when to leave well enough alone.

"Just put me down for the assignment. I have to go."

"All right. Take care of yourself."

After the call ended, I finally noticed the string of transaction alerts lighting up my phone.

I had three million in savings, and two and a half million had just been spent in a single transaction.

I called my mother right away. She was the only person who could have used my card without my permission.

"What on earth did you buy that cost you two and a half million of my money?"

Now that I knew the truth, I made no effort to soften my tone.

She could tell I was angry, but she didn't think she'd done anything wrong.

"I have my own uses for it, naturally."

"Is there any need to get this worked up? When you were little, didn't you promise me that you'd grow up and make enough money to support me? It's only two and a half million. What's there to get upset about?"

She said it so lightly. Only two and a half million?

For ordinary people like us, two and a half million was a fortune we'd spend a lifetime trying to save.

"I used it to buy a house. Jolene said she wanted to buy one to rent out and live in. Isn't that what you'd want for her too? She still needed furniture for the place, so I helped her pick some out."

She didn't wait for me to say another word. She huffily hung up on me.

I hurried to the nearest bank, closed the account, and withdrew the remaining five hundred thousand. Then I had the card canceled.

I'm dutiful, but that doesn't mean I'm a fool.

Why should Jolene get to use my money to buy herself a house? My money didn't fall out of the sky.

She'd already taken Jason from me. Now she wanted my money as well?

Less than an hour later, my phone rang. It was my mother.

"Sylvia, you've got some nerve."

"Why did you cancel my card? Jolene and I are at a restaurant, and now we can't even pay the bill!"