Chapter 1

The voice on the other end of the call continued without pause.

"Ms. Sutton, if you're not in urgent need of funds, we recommend keeping your money in our bank. We can also provide you with financial planning services."

A dull ringing filled my ears, and I couldn't make out a single clear word. I mumbled a few perfunctory responses and hung up.

I rushed to deliver the food order, then immediately headed to the sales center.

No one ever paid attention to a delivery driver.

I stood in a corner, and a chill crawled up my spine.

The man I had shared a bed with for ten years was now standing in front of the property we had once dreamed about together, carefully pointing out different units with clear interest.

He dismissed one unit as too flashy and another for having too little space between the buildings.

Finally, under the eager gaze of the sales agent, he waved his hand decisively.

"I'll take the premium unit on the 18th floor."

I clenched my fist so tightly that my nails dug deep into my skin. The sharp pain grounded me just enough to stop myself from rushing forward to question him.

I watched in silence as Marcus signed the contract, paying 4.75 million dollars in full. The enormous figure hit me like a blow, leaving me dizzy.

Meanwhile, my bank card held five million dollars.

How could there be five million dollars in an account I had almost forgotten about?

Before I could make sense of it, my phone rang. It was Marcus Wilde.

I stepped into the restroom to take the call.

His voice came through the line, heavy with exhaustion, as though it could crush me beneath its weight.

"Darling, we're still short 500 thousand dollars for Mom's surgery. I really cannot borrow any more money. Can you pick up another job?"

His words pulled me straight into an abyss.

Victoria Powell, my mother-in-law, had been bedridden for five years. She underwent a minor surgery every year and a major one every three years. Every last cent of our savings had been exhausted.

I had no choice but to work multiple jobs. I woke up at 5:00 am to deliver milk. At 8:30 am, I clocked in at my office job. During lunch breaks, I went out to deliver food orders. After work, I drove for ride-hailing services for another five hours. Most days, I worked until I was so exhausted I nearly vomited.

And Marcus?

After I came home every night, he would casually massage my shoulders for a moment, then go on and on about how broke we were.

At times, I could no longer endure it and begged him to get a part-time job, but he would always appear troubled.

"Mom is in the hospital. If we hire a caregiver, it will cost even more. Where would we get the money?"

And yet this same man, who constantly complained about money, had just casually bought the apartment I had always dreamed of.

Marcus kept pressing me.

I took a deep breath. "No. Marcus, I am already working four jobs. If you're really so devoted to your mother, then you should go find a part-time job yourself."

It was the first time I had ever spoken to him with such firmness.

Marcus fell silent for a moment.

"Emily Sutton, can you try to understand me for once?" he snapped. "You want me to get a part-time job? Then are you going to go to the hospital and wipe Mom's body and deal with her waste?"

His tone was deliberately harsh, making caregiving sound disgusting and unbearable on purpose.

I removed my delivery uniform and said calmly, "Fine. I will go to the hospital right now."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.

Then Marcus let out a long, tired sigh and said, "Em, what's going on with you? Are you having trouble at work? Whatever it is, let's go home and talk about it, okay? We will figure something out together."