Chapter 2

Regina's expression flickered with surprise for a second before she laughed out loud.

"I know you're upset about your daughter getting hurt, but throwing a tantrum isn't going to solve your family's problems. Besides, how much money could you possibly have?"

I just stared at her, my eyes dark. "Name your number."

The surprise on her face deepened, then shifted to something like understanding. "Oh, so you think the offer's too low. Fine, three million. Any more than that and your daughter simply isn't worth it."

I repeated myself. "I said I want to buy your son's life. Name your price."

She looked me up and down, then doubled over laughing like I'd told the funniest joke she'd ever heard. "Ten million. If you can come up with ten million dollars, my son's life is yours. But people like you couldn't possibly scrape together that kind of money in this lifetime or the next."

I nodded. "Ten million is a bit steep for a worthless piece of trash like him, but I'll take it. His life is mine."

I pulled out my phone and texted my assistant.

Regina scoffed, and even the teachers started trying to talk me down.

"Ms. Carlisle, you need to think clearly. The Whitleys have the kind of connections you can't afford to cross. If you push this, you won't be able to cover your daughter's medical bills, and you could lose your job on top of it."

I'd always taught Aubrey to keep a low profile, and the staff at this private school were exactly the type to grovel at money and step on everyone else. Not a single person here knew that I was the real chairwoman behind Crestborne Group.

Dominic, with his title of CEO, was nothing more than a figurehead.

"I've recorded everything you just said," I told Regina. "And I'd like to ask the teachers here to serve as witnesses."

That pushed her over the edge.

"Fine. You won't sign no matter what anyone says, is that it? Then you're not getting a single cent. And let me tell you something, my husband has already sent Vincent Pryor, Crestborne Group's chief legal counsel, and that man has never lost a case."

I nodded again. "Perfect."

The teachers watching from the sidelines exchanged looks of utter bewilderment. "The poor woman's snapped from the shock of her daughter's coma. It's almost sad, really.

"But she's picked the wrong fight, going up against the wife of Crestborne Group's CEO. Everyone in Bayport knows Crestborne Group runs this city."

While Regina was still riding high on her smugness, another victim's parents arrived. She gave them the same speech, and the couple's faces twisted with anguish.

The mother broke down in tears. "We can't sign this. Our baby's injured from head to toe, and there's not a single part of her that isn't hurt. How can we just let him get away with it? I can't accept this!"

The father let out a heavy sigh. "But the treatment costs money, and what do we have to fight a family like theirs? If you don't sign, we might not get a single cent."

The mother only cried harder. "My baby… Why did this have to happen to you?"

They were on the verge of giving in when I stood up and stopped them. "Don't sign. She doesn't have the money to pay you. I'll cover your child's medical bills and all the follow-up treatment."

The couple stared at me in disbelief while Regina glared daggers at me.

"What the hell are you on about? With this black card, two million dollars is nothing. I could put down ten million without blinking."

Even one of the teachers grabbed my arm with a frown. "If you don't want the money, fine, but don't drag other people down with you. They're being a lot smarter about this than you are."

My gaze turned ice-cold, but a smile crept across my lips. "You're awfully confident."

I turned and took the couple's hands in mine. Looking at their grief-stricken faces, tears spilled down my own cheeks. We were all parents here.

"Make her swipe the card right now. If she can't, then she never had the money in the first place."

They squeezed my hands back, fighting through their grief, and nodded.

The school's accounting office quickly brought out a card reader. "Go ahead and swipe. The school will transfer the funds to the parents' accounts."

Regina lifted her chin and swiped the black card across the reader with a flourish.

"Your card has been declined."