Chapter 2

While I was lost in thought, a nurse came in. "Kieran, has your family arrived yet? It's almost time for your surgery."

"What surgery? Are you sick?"

"I have lung cancer, Kate. Can you come sign the consent form?"

"I'll be there in ten minutes!"

The moment the call ended, I clenched my phone, and the tears I had been holding back finally broke through the dam. In the end, my family was the only one who truly cared about me, whereas Bianca hadn't replied to a single message of mine this entire time.

…

Bianca didn't bother reaching out until the day after my surgery, wiring me a pathetic 13.14 dollars as compensation. "Jesse's in a bad mood. I'm taking him on a week-long trip to help him blow off some steam first. Have the hospital delay your procedure, and I'll accompany you when I return."

Every single time Jesse threw a fit, she would shower him with tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Yet, when it came to me, her apology amounted to pocket change. Bianca even sugarcoated it, saying it was the thought that counted and that it was an expression of her love for me.

Once upon a time, I had believed her blindly. It only dawned on me now that a person's wallet was where their heart was. In other words, she had been throwing me scraps.

I let out a bitter chuckle and shook my head. I didn't accept it, and I flatly refused her offer. "That won't be necessary."

The surgery was already done. I didn't need her here.

Bianca: "I've already given you an explanation. Why are you still making a fuss? Jesse managed to convince his father to give us a multi-million-dollar deal.

"Behave. Once this deal goes through, I'll accompany you wherever you want to go."

Fearing that I wouldn't believe her, she even sent me a copy of the deal. I took one look at it and realized the client was literally my family's conglomerate.

While I was still reeling from the confusion, Kate leaned over to take a peek. Then, an awkward look immediately crossed her face. "Oh, you found out? Look, we weren't trying to patronize you. Half a year ago, our family chauffeur told us that you were struggling financially.

"Dad was heartbroken, but he was afraid you wouldn't accept his help, so he asked a friend to slip you a deal. It was only a million dollars—nothing major for us—but it was enough to keep a small business afloat for a while.

"A while ago, our chauffeur said you were being looked down on by Bianca. Dad wanted to give you some leverage, so he authorized a direct corporate alliance," she explained.

When she caught the name of the person in charge, she arched her brow. "Isn't this supposed to be for you? Why is the person in charge our chauffeur's son?"

After putting two and two together with Kate, everything clicked. No wonder Jesse had been so arrogant; he'd been using my identity to con everyone.

I briefly filled Kate in on the situation, and she instantly lost it, insisting on teaching them a lesson they'd never forget. I waved my hand dismissively. "Don't bother. Just revoke the deal."

Kate gaped at me. "Kie, you've really given up on her? You won't regret it?"

I nodded firmly. From the moment Bianca abandoned me, I no longer wanted her.

…

I recovered from the minimally invasive surgery in no time and was discharged within a few days. Throughout my stay, Bianca didn't even bother to check in on me. Jesse, on the other hand, frequently messaged me just to gloat. "Bia took a thousand photos with me on this trip. Did she ever do that for you?"

Staring at a screen full of their lovey-dovey pictures, I smiled wryly. No, she didn't. Bianca loathed the camera. When we tied the knot, she had flat-out refused to take wedding portraits.

Before I could look through the photos, he sent me another message. "Even though I was the one who caused trouble, Bia said that since I was upset, she had to make it up to me. So, she casually bought me a seven-million-dollar Ferrari.

"Mr. Wright, if you know what's good for you, you'd get down on your knees and beg me. If I'm in a good mood, I might just convince Bia to get you a decent new car."

I had been driving a beat-up electric car worth next to nothing for years. Every time I brought up getting a new car to Bianca, she would shoot me down under the pretext that the company was facing cash flow issues. Yet now, she was dropping millions on a hypercar for Jesse without a second thought.

To make matters worse, I had to rely on Jesse's generosity just to upgrade my car.