Chapter 3

Tessa walked up to Arthur and pushed against his leg. "I know you don't want me and Mommy anymore. You're a bad guy. Go away. We don't want to see you."

When Arthur looked down at Tessa, a flicker of raw heartache crossed his features.

But it vanished just as quickly. He stepped back resolutely and tossed a document toward me.

"I can't give up everything I have now. I'm sorry. I failed you both. You can keep this house. Think of it as compensation. I've already signed the separation agreement. The money will be transferred to your account soon."

The last shred of hope inside me shattered.

In the end, he still chose himself.

…

Arthur did send the money.

I stared at the cold string of numbers in my account and almost laughed.

100 thousand dollars. That was all it took to buy off seven years of my life and his bond with Tessa.

I didn't want to stay in that house in the village anymore. And for Tessa's future, I couldn't.

I planned to use the money as a down payment for a small apartment in the city. At least Tessa would have a chance to attend a better school.

But the day before we were supposed to leave to look for a place, I got a call from my younger brother, Henry Weber.

After graduating high school, Henry had been working odd jobs far away. I only saw him once a year at Christmas.

"Hattie, I wouldn't call unless I had no other choice. I'm sick. I need money for treatment. Can you help me ask Arthur for a loan?"

The words hit me like a hammer. My vision went dark.

Our parents died early. Henry was three years younger than me. We grew up relying on each other.

He didn't have much of a degree or a high-paying job, but every now and then, he'd send me some money and even mail snacks and toys to Tessa.

Now that he was sick, how could I not help him?

I replied, "Don't panic. I'm coming right now. Don't worry about the money. I have it."

After hanging up, I stared at the 100 thousand dollars in my account. All sorts of emotions tangled inside me.

It was supposed to be the money for Tessa and me to start over. Now, it had become Henry's lifeline.

Without hesitation, I took Tessa and rushed to the hospital where Henry had been admitted.

In the ward, he lay on the bed with an IV in his arm. His body was painfully thin.

When he saw me, his eyes reddened, and tears fell. "Hattie, I'm sorry to trouble you."

I swallowed my own tears and held his cold hand. "Don't be stupid. You never have to apologize to me. Help me look after Tessa for a bit. I'll go talk to the doctor and pay the hospital bill."

I stepped out of the ward with my phone in hand.

Just then, everything fell apart.

I received a call from the court.

"Mr. Arthur Hughes transferred marital assets into your account without authorization during his marriage. Ms. Lauren Porter has filed a lawsuit requesting that you return the total sum of 200 thousand dollars. You are required to settle this debt in full within three days."

My mind exploded. I stood frozen in the hospital hallway, my body shaking uncontrollably.

I turned to look back at the ward. Henry was still waiting for that money to save his life. But the court notice locked it in place like chains.

Trapped with no way forward or back, I felt myself breaking.

With the last bit of clarity I had left, I called Arthur. "Why are you doing this to me, Arthur? Are you trying to kill me?"