Chapter 3

Lila's condition kept getting worse. Because she wasn't receiving treatment, she coughed up blood almost every day.

Every time she looked at the dark red blood in the sink, she silently counted how much time she had left to live.

But even then, Sienna refused to leave her alone. Every day, she sent Lila countless messages and photos.

"Lila, you're pathetic now, aren't you? Unlike you, Mom, Dad, Julian, and Miles are always by my side. Do you know how well they treat me? They even take turns feeding me every day. You're the kind of person nobody could ever love. You'll always just be the nanny's daughter—nothing more, nothing better!"

After reading the messages, Lila quietly locked her phone.

Her stomach hurt terribly. She had already used up all the pain medicine at home.

After getting hurt at the hospital two days earlier, she had spent almost all the money she had.

She didn't want to suffer like this every day. So she decided to earn enough money to buy more painkillers.

Through a friend's recommendation, Lila got a job as a server at the famous Twilight Lounge.

The work was tiring, but the pay was good.

One day, after cleaning a private room, she was about to leave when she suddenly heard familiar voices in the hallway.

"Sienna, you just got out of the hospital, and you're already insisting on coming here. If Harvey and Mabel find out, they'll definitely lecture you."

Sienna wrapped her arms around Julian's and spoke in a sweet voice, "Julian, I'm not worried. You'll help me anyway. Ever since we were kids, you've always gotten me out of trouble whenever I messed up. Besides, Mom and Dad like you the most. They won't be mad."

Julian smiled and gently tapped her forehead with a finger.

At the same time, Miles quickly draped his jacket over her shoulders.

"You just recovered. Don't catch a cold. Are you thirsty? I brought your favorite fruit juice."

As they talked, they walked into the private room next door. Through the glass door, Lila could see one of them fanning for Sienna while the other carefully cut fruit for her. They treated her like a real princess.

Just as Lila lowered her head and was about to leave, the manager suddenly handed her a bottle of red wine.

"The guests in that room ordered this. Please take it in."

It had been hard enough to find this job. So Lila gathered her courage and carried the wine inside.

Julian, Miles, and Sienna recognized her immediately.

Julian and Miles stared at her in shock.

"Why are you working in a place like this? Didn't your family give you any money?"

Lila quietly set the bottle on the table. "No."

She had always supported herself over the years. But after being diagnosed with cancer, her health had become much worse. This was the only kind of job she could still manage.

Hearing that, Julian and Miles started to feel a little sorry for her. But Sienna spoke first, "Lila, why are you lying again? Mom and Dad give you money every week. Did you spend it all and come here just to make everyone feel sorry for you?"

Then she looked at Julian and Miles. "Julian, Miles, don't you think it's a little too much of a coincidence that she just happened to come into our room?"

Lila didn't want to listen to Sienna twist the truth. She turned to leave. But Sienna suddenly rushed over and grabbed her wrist. Then Sienna immediately covered the back of her own hand and looked at Lila with tear-filled eyes.

"Lila, just because I exposed your lie doesn't mean you have to get angry. I was only trying to help you."

Julian and Miles instantly stepped in front of Sienna to protect her. The moment they saw the deep fingernail marks on the back of her hand, their expressions changed.

Julian glared at Lila. "Didn't I tell you to stop bullying Sienna?"

Without another word, Miles pulled a thick stack of cash from his bag and tossed it onto the table.

"Didn't you say you came here to make money? Then drink every bottle of wine here. If you do, I'll believe you. And every dollar on this table is yours."