Chapter 4

A deafening ringing filled my ears, and my head throbbed painfully.

Cathy Daniels's health had been deteriorating for months, and she'd already spent several stretches in the ICU before the holidays.

I'd been so eager to bring Vincent home to meet my family because I wanted her to have peace of mind, knowing that I was in good hands.

When I rushed into the hospital, Gail was waiting outside the emergency room.

She shoved me backward, her face twisted with anger. "I warned you to stand back! Look what you've done! Your mother almost died because of you!"

Gail's own parents were severe alcoholics and gamblers who had never properly cared for her. All those years, it had been Cathy who treated her like her own daughter.

I swallowed my tears and grabbed Gail's arm.

"How is she? How's my mom?"

The emergency room doors swung open, and the doctor stepped out, removing his surgical mask.

"She's stable for now, but she can't handle any more stress or emotional shocks."

A bank notification appeared on my phone.

Vincent had transferred a million dollars into my account, along with a message: [I heard about what happened to your mom. Take this money for now. If it's not enough, just ask.]

I'd already made up my mind to cut all ties with him, but I still couldn't bring myself to send the money back. Whatever happened between us, I needed to keep my mother alive.

When I entered the room, Cathy slowly opened her eyes.

Her voice was weak, but she still managed to ask, "Tell me the truth. You didn't become some rich man's mistress, did you?"

I shook my head as tears streamed down my face. "No, Mom. I really didn't."

Cathy struggled to nod. "I believe you."

Then Gail stepped forward and switched on the wall-mounted TV, apparently hoping to give Cathy something to take her mind off things.

Cathy offered a faint, comforting smile. "Seeing you two get along like real sisters gives me so much peace of mind. I still remember when Gail was too shy to reach for food at the dinner table, and you'd always share whatever was on your plate with her..."

She suddenly stopped speaking.

Her eyes widened as she stared at the screen, transfixed. I spun around to see what had caught her attention, only to find explicit, private photos of me plastered across the local news channel.

"Turn it off! Turn it off right now!" I screamed in panic.

Gail merely let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Nancy's lying to you. She really is a mistress. And she didn't stop at breaking up a relationship, either.

"She's been selling herself to rich men on the side. The proof is right there for everyone to see. Honestly, the thought of being mistaken for her sister makes me sick."

"Shut up!" I screamed.

Consumed by rage, I grabbed a metal chair and hurled it at the television.

The screen shattered, finally cutting off the compromising photos. I was so overwhelmed that I hadn't even noticed Floriane standing in the doorway until she let out a derisive snort.

"I've always said poor people shouldn't have children. Just look at your daughter. She's willing to crawl into any man's bed for a taste of his money."

I immediately turned back to Cathy, desperately trying to explain myself.

"She's lying, Mom! Don't listen to her..."

But it was already too late.

Cathy's gaunt, pale face turned a sickly shade of purple. Her eyes remained fixed on the ceiling as her pupils dilated, and then all life drained from them.

"Mom!"

I threw my arms around her, sobbing uncontrollably until I could no longer make a sound. In my despair, I pulled out my phone and finally published the post I'd drafted earlier.

[Vincent Dunn and I have been together for seven years. Floriane Marsh is the real home-wrecker!]

It wasn't long before Vincent stormed into the hospital room, his face contorted with rage.

"I told you to give me some time to fix this! Why do you keep making a scene? Delete that post right now, or I'll have the hospital stop your mother's treatment this instant!"

I stared at him, feeling nothing but numbness.

"She's dead."

His gaze instinctively shifted to Cathy's lifeless body on the bed. For a moment, uncertainty flickered across his face. But before he could say anything, Floriane burst into tears and threw herself into his arms.

"Vincent, I only came here out of the goodness of my heart to check on her. But she insulted me, saying I wasn't worthy of you and that a mistress like me deserved to die..."

Vincent immediately took her side, convinced that I was the one lying.

"You're using your own mother's death to make up stories? Nancy, I never realized how horrible you could be. I completely misjudged you!"

His assistant rushed into the room, panting. "Sir, the press conference starts in thirty minutes."

Vincent looked down at me, his eyes filled with disappointment.

"You forced my hand."

Shortly after he left, a new email arrived in my inbox.

It was an official notice informing me that my recent public conduct had brought severe disrepute upon the university. As a result, my doctoral fellowship offer had been revoked.

Before I could even process the news, my advisor called. Her voice trembled with anger as she delivered another blow. "Someone submitted an anonymous report accusing you of academic fraud. You've been officially expelled!"

My family, my love, my future... Everything I'd spent twenty-three years building shattered in a matter of moments.

Completely broken, I turned toward the half-open window beside the bed. My body trembled as I dragged myself onto the windowsill.

The howling winter wind whipped against my ears, and my phone lit up with a new message from Vincent: [Once this scandal blows over, I'll take you abroad. We can start fresh.]

I closed my eyes and stepped off the edge. "Vincent, I hope we never cross paths again."

...

Downtown, Vincent was just stepping up to the podium at the press conference, ready to deliver his prepared statement.

Suddenly, a reporter pushed his way into the front row and thrust a microphone toward him, asking a question that cut straight through the room.

"Mr. Dunn! Is it true that you pretended to be broke to deceive Nancy Daniels for years, then tried to keep her as your mistress after your relationship was exposed?

"And that you drove her mother to a fatal stroke and ultimately pushed Nancy to take her own life by jumping from the hospital building?"