Chapter 3

Because the hospital bills had been overdue for far too long, I had no choice but to hit up everyone I knew, barely managing to scrape together a few thousand dollars.

After paying at the cashier, I turned around and immediately met a pair of familiar eyes.

Harry had his arm wrapped around Rachel’s shoulders, while she wore an expression of justified indignation.

“That kid is a wretch, zero manners whatsoever. I have no idea how Julie raised him…”

Spotting me, Rachel covered her mouth as if she had only just noticed my presence.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize you were there.”

As I stood watching their public display of affection, a sharp ache pierced my heart. I clenched my fists tightly. “What do you mean by that? Are you talking about my boy?”

Rachel leaned further against Harry, speaking in a slow, deliberate drawl.

“Who else? I was just wondering if you had some tragic reason for seducing my fiancé. Turns out it’s because of your dying son.

“That boy of yours has no manners at all—he threw something at me. I really don’t know how you’ve been raising him.”

She made no attempt to hide the disgust in her tone and on her face.

Staring into Harry’s cold eyes, I forced myself to act unbothered by her.

“He’s just a child. Watch your language. If you hadn’t provoked him first, why would he throw anything at you?

“Since you’re both here and you know how desperate I am for money, why don’t you hand over what you owe me for that night, Mr. Thorne?”

Rachel stepped forward and slapped me across the face.

“You really are shameless! You seduced my fiancé and now have the nerve to ask for payment? I felt sorry for your miserable son and thought about helping you out. But seeing now what cheap and filthy mom he’s got, we won’t give you a single cent!”

Having struck me, she grabbed Harry’s hand to leave.

I spoke up, my voice trembling violently.

“Harry, he’s your child, too.”

Both Harry and Rachel froze in their tracks. Harry turned back to stare at me in sheer shock.

I closed my eyes, letting tears stream down my cheeks.

“Please, save your son. I’m begging you.”

The only response I got was a cold sneer from him.

“Julie Thompson, please. You have nothing better than that clumsy, pathetic lie? I’m not an idiot. I know for a fact my child was aborted five years ago.”

I wiped the tears from my face in a frantic blur.

“No, that was fake! If you don’t believe me, we can do a DNA test.”

Harry stared straight into my eyes, while Rachel linked her arm through his, mocking me mercilessly:

“Ha, Julie, you’d make up any disgusting lie just to save that little brat, wouldn’t you?

“That boy’s hideous—does he look even a tiny bit like Harry? Take my advice and drop your shameless act now!”

Images of how adorable my boy used to be flashed across my mind.

He was only so pale and emaciated because of the agonizing chemotherapy treatments.

While I was lost in my daze, Harry had taken Rachel’s hand, staring down at me with supreme contempt.

“Let’s go. I have no time to waste on this woman.”

It was only when I made it back to the entrance of the ward that my phone rang with a call from Harry.

“I can have your boy transferred to the best private hospital in the city.”

“And in return?”

Silence stretched across the line for ten long seconds.

“It just so happens that my housekeeper has taken a leave of absence recently. Come over and work as my maid. After all, nobody knows my preferences better than you.”