Chapter 3 Sign It

I rushed into the ICU, soaked to the bone.

My grandmother, Maureen Kelley, lay motionless on the hospital bed, her lips already turning purple. Jesse sat nearby with his legs crossed, lazily flicking a lighter open and shut.

The live chat went mad again. 'Leave the grandmother out of this, you jerk!'

'He's treating human life like a bargaining chip. He's a scumbag!'

I saw red as I lunged at him. "Jesse, come at me if you want revenge!"

He shoved me away, then strolled over to the ventilator and rested his hand on the power switch. "Sarah, sign the divorce settlement, or I'll unplug it now."

The viewers went berserk. "Jesse deserves hell! Threatening an old woman's life? He's an animal!"

I scrambled back to my feet, wanting to pull his hand away from the switch. However, he kicked me square in the chest.

Pain exploded through my body as I crashed onto the floor, bile rising in my throat.

I struggled to look up. My voice was shaking as I asked, "Jesse, must you do this?"

He sniggered. "You made me do this. If you don't sign the papers, the old hag dies today."

Suddenly, a sweet voice rang at the door.

"Oh, Sarah." Gina walked over and looked down at me with contempt. Then, she slapped me hard across the face. "Didn't you hear what Jesse said?"

Burning pain spread instantly through my cheek, but Gina didn't seem satisfied as she stepped onto my hand. "Sign it, and your grandmother might still live. Otherwise, she dies today!"

Jesse watched coldly from the side, as if this were nothing more than entertainment.

I looked at my grandmother's weak, fading figure on the hospital bed. It felt as if an invisible hand was choking me.

The live chat was furious now. 'Just sign it, Sarah. Save your grandmother first!'

I took in a deep breath, swallowing the metallic taste in my throat and the hatred clawing inside me. "Please. We can talk about the divorce later. Just let the doctor in first."

Gina smiled and put on her innocent act again. "Fine. I'll be generous. I'll let the doctor in if you apologize to Jesse. On your knees, of course."

Jesse leaned against the wall and let out a low chuckle. His voice was filled with cruel amusement as he drawled, "Sarah, I thought nothing could break you. So this is your weak spot."

I watched the numbers on the ventilator drop. My pride and dignity meant nothing anymore.

I dropped to my knees on the cold tiles and begged, "Please. Let the doctor in."

Gina was smug. She grabbed the pot of coffee on the table and poured it over my head.

The hot liquid streamed through my hair and burned my scalp. "Come on. Bark like a dog, and I'll let the doctor in."

Just as I was about to part my lips, Jesse's phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, and his indifferent expression changed. "Yes, Grandpa. Okay. I understand."

After hanging up, he looked at me darkly. "Grandpa wants you to host the birthday party tomorrow."

Despite the ugly way I had become Jesse's wife, the Fleming family still adored me. Especially his grandfather, Douglas Fleming.

Jesse would never dare disobey him.

He then threw the divorce settlement at me. "Whatever. Sign this after the party tomorrow. If you try anything funny, your grandmother dies tomorrow."

The live chat wailed in frustration.

'Ah! I'm so mad. Is she just going to let him control her like this? Fight back!'

'He's a dying man with HIV. Don't be a coward!'

I looked up at him with a smile. "Sure. I'll be there tomorrow night. I also have a huge surprise for you two."