Chapter 4

My eyes were bloodshot, and my chest heaved violently as I glared at Elton and Kirsten. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to tear them both apart.

Elton snapped out of his daze, looking somewhat flustered. "I'll go back with you."

"No," I refused hoarsely. Then, with trembling fingers, I called my boss, Mason Foster.

The only reason I hadn't gone home yet was that Mr. Foster still hadn't paid out the year-end bonus he'd promised us.

Over the past few days, I'd kept checking my bank account, but there was still no sign of the money.

Mom needed money for her treatment. And since Kirsten had thrown away the supplements, I needed to bring some money home instead. After all, I couldn't very well just show up empty-handed.

Mr. Foster answered my call almost immediately.

"Mr. Foster, when will we get our year-end bonus?" I asked urgently.

"The finance department paid them out on the eighth this month. Haven't you received yours?"

A loud buzzing filled my head. For a moment, I couldn't process what he had just said.

Then I heard Mr. Foster add, "I just checked with Eddie Costa in Finance. He said the payment had already been made. Are you sure you didn't overlook it?"

With so many things happening one after another, my mind was in complete turmoil.

After hanging up, I forced myself to calm down.

I then contacted the bank's customer service, and they sent me a detailed statement of my transactions. The money for my year-end bonus had been transferred out long ago, and even the transaction records had been deleted.

Only one person could have done something like this.

My phone still in my hand, I raised my head and looked at Elton.

"You took my year-end bonus."

Elton looked away guiltily, but then he steeled himself and admitted it. "Yeah, I did."

My lips trembled as I screamed, "Give me back my money! That money was for Mom's life-saving treatment!"

Elton pursed his lips irritably. "It's all gone."

Meanwhile, Kirsten stepped forward and stood in front of me.

With a faint smile, she explained, "I've been investing lately, so Elton let me use your 50 thousand dollars for the time being. We agreed to split any profits 50-50. Don't worry. If the investment falls through and we lose everything, I'll pay you back."

I couldn't help but laugh at the sheer audacity of their shamelessness.

I clenched my fist and swung it at Kirsten.

"What are you going to pay me back with? Mom is depending on that money to save her life! You threw away her supplements, and now you're taking her money too? What gives you the right, huh?"

I yanked hard at Kirsten's hair. At that moment, I couldn't care less about keeping up appearances.

All the color drained out of Elton's face. He shoved me to the ground and roared, "What the hell is wrong with you? Is it really necessary to make such a big deal out of something this trivial?"

I wiped my face, struggling to stay on my feet.

Ignoring the two of them, I dragged my suitcase out of the bedroom and headed for the door.

I had barely pulled it open when Elton spotted me with my luggage and immediately grabbed my arm.

"Where do you think you're going? Look what you've done to Kirsten! Apologize to her right now! If you do, I'll consider going back with you after New Year's Eve."

"She deserved it!" I gritted my teeth and flung Elton's hand off me. "Elton, do you really think that you're my only option? Besides, did I ever say you were the person I was bringing home for Christmas?"

Elton jutted his chin defiantly and shouted back at me, "Who else could you possibly bring home besides me? Hasn't Mrs. Blanchard always wanted to meet her future son-in-law before she dies?"

Just then, a voice that sounded both familiar and foreign came from outside the half-open door.

"The person she's bringing home is me, and I'm also the one she intends to marry. You got a problem with that?"

Elton instantly turned deathly pale as he whipped his head around to look at who it was.