Chapter 2

I calmly reached up and wiped my nose. My face deathly pale, I let out a small laugh and shook my head.

Two years ago at the underground casino, I'd taken eight punches in a row and blacked out right after.

The casino owner kicked me awake and told me, "The doctor says you've got cancer. It can't be cured.

"Before you die, hurry up and start drinking with the clients and sleeping with them. At least you can make me a little more money."

I was sent to other casino owners' beds. When I got pregnant, I went back to taking punches until I miscarried, then spent the money I earned on painkillers.

The last of it would probably go toward a coffin.

I quickly wiped away the blood, held out my clean hand, and put on a practiced smile. "It's thirty dollars for the beer. How would you like to pay?"

Felix stared at the wretched state I was in, his fist clenching tighter and tighter.

"What on earth are you..."

"Maybe Avery is still mad at us?" Riley said, sounding guilty.

She tapped her card to pay the thirty dollars, then took my hand.

"Come home with us, Avery. We have plenty of money at home."

But even as her lips curved into a sweet smile, she secretly pinched me hard.

I instinctively pushed her away, and Felix quickly stepped in between us. "If you've got a problem, take it out on me. Leave her alone."

Mom and my best friend were eyeing me warily too, as if I were some kind of dangerous menace.

For a moment, I just stood there, stunned. Then I put away my card reader, turned, and walked out of the private room.

Behind me, Felix roared hysterically, "You're really not coming home? Then don't ever come back!"

I didn't look back.

The doctor had said I only had a week left. I could survive anywhere for that long.

The next day, I showed up for work as usual, but the manager blocked me at the door. "Starting tomorrow, you don't need to come in. Mr. Skye paid your termination fee and ordered us not to keep you on."

The manager blew out a smoke ring. "Did you cross Mr. Skye or something? He seems to really hate you. If you ask me, you'd better find yourself somewhere to wait out your last days."

I clung to the hem of his shirt, my voice climbing several notches. "You can't fire me! I still need money to buy my coffin. At least pay me the wages you owe me!"

The next second, he kicked me away. "Got hooked on selling drinks, did you? Go drop dead wherever you like!"

At his command, I was thrown out of the nightclub.

In a daze, I made my way back to my basement rental, only to find my belongings scattered across the ground outside the door.

The landlord blocked the doorway, looking at me like I was carrying the plague. "Get the hell out of here! Don't go bringing trouble to my door!"

My withered hand clutched the last of my medicine.

I didn't know what kind of trouble someone like me could possibly bring them.

I looked up and saw an announcement for Felix and Riley's wedding playing on the giant screen.

Around me, passersby squealed in wild excitement.

"Felix Skye bought his fiancée a three-million-dollar wedding dress. That's so romantic!

"I can't wait for their wedding of the century! I heard they're spending thirty million on it. Just getting a glimpse feels like a win. Riley Mackenzie is so lucky!"

...

I dug through my pockets for change. All I had left was three dollars and sixty cents.

It wasn't even enough for the cheapest bottle of painkillers.

Just then, a message from the coffin seller popped up on my phone: [Taking forever just to buy a coffin? If you can't afford to die, then don't! Settle the balance now!]

I still owed him fifty-three dollars.

Through all the agony of my illness, I had never let out a single sob. But seeing that extravagant wedding announcement on the giant screen, I couldn't hold back the bitter tears any longer.

With trembling hands, I dialed Felix's number. "Why did you have them throw me out?"

I never expected to hear things being smashed on the other end of the line. Felix was practically falling apart as he yelled at me, "I told you to take it out on me! You deliberately played the victim and got Riley branded a homewrecker. Are you happy now?"