Chapter 2

The smell of disinfectant in the hospital was overwhelming.

I sat on the bench outside the emergency room with a piece of gauze taped to my forehead.

The doctor said the wound was not deep, but it might leave a scar.

I did not care.

I stood up and shuffled toward the payment counter.

As I passed the doctor’s office, I heard familiar voices through the slightly open door.

“Thanks, Luc. I owe you a meal.”

It was Lily’s voice, and it was tinged with satisfaction.

“The fake ultrasound looked so real. That idiot sister-in-law of mine must’ve been scared stiff.”

Then, a man replied, “It was nothing. But this is really risky, Lily. If anyone finds out—”

“Who’s going to find out? She’s my own sister and a total doormat.” Jasper snorted.

“All Mom has to do is turn on the waterworks and make a scene, and she’ll fold. It works every time.”

Next came Rosemary’s voice.

“This miscarriage story is the perfect chance to get that apartment from her.

“Once we sell it, we’ll split the profit fifty-fifty.”

As I stood outside the door, I felt my hands and feet turn cold.

So, it was all a scheme.

My entire family had meticulously laid a trap just for me.

I fished out my phone with trembling hands and recorded the last few sentences of their conversation.

Then, I put my phone away and quickly left.

As soon as I reached the nurses’ station, Rosemary rushed out. She grabbed me by the collar and dragged me to the center of the hospital’s lobby.

The hospital was crowded at this hour, so people who were coming and going all stopped to watch.

Rosemary dropped to her knees with a loud thud.

She held a sonogram showing signs of a threatened miscarriage in one hand. With the other, she slapped her thigh and began to wail, “What kind of person does this? Everyone, judge for yourselves!

“She caused her own sister-in-law to lose her baby, and now, she won’t even pay for the hospital bills!

“Summer, how could you be so heartless?”

People around us started pointing and whispering, “She appears decent. How could she be so cruel?”

“Never judge a book by its cover. How could she harm her own sister-in-law?”

Seeing the crowd gather, Rosemary’s performance became more dramatic. She crawled over and hugged my legs, which smeared snot and tears all over my pants.

“Sunny, I’m begging you. Please just pay the bills.

“That’s your own nephew!

“If you don’t pay, I’ll kill myself right here!”

She made a slow, exaggerated move to ram into the wall. She was clearly waiting for someone to stop her.

Right then, a deep voice came from outside the crowd. “Summer?”

I froze before turning to see my direct superior, Harry Landon.

He was wearing a black trench coat and holding a registration slip in his hand. He looked at me with a frown.

I had feelings for him, and no one wanted to be seen by their crush at their lowest.

My face turned bright red, and I hung my head low. I did not want him to see me.

Realizing that someone knew me, Rosemary shifted her target. Judging by his clothes, he seemed like a wealthy person.

“You’re Sunny’s supervisor, aren’t you? You have to help us out here!

“This wretched girl caused her sister-in-law’s miscarriage, and she refuses to pay for the treatment!”

Harry raised an eyebrow skeptically. He ignored Rosemary and looked at me instead.

“What happened?”

I bit my lip. Just as I was about to speak, Rosemary cut me off.

“Sir!” She grew frantic.

“This ungrateful girl earns thousands of dollars a month, but she won’t even cover the medical bills after causing her brother’s wife to lose the baby! She’s ruthless!”

Her tone was harsh, and as she spoke, she pinched my arm. Harry’s expression instantly turned cold, and his frown deepened.

“I’m not asking for much. Just fourteen thousand dollars will do!”

Fourteen thousand dollars?!

I stared at Rosemary’s greedy expression and found the whole thing laughable.

Just moments ago, it was seven hundred dollars. It had suddenly become fourteen thousand dollars.

So, she loved playing the guilt card, huh? Did she really enjoy scheming against me and playing the victim that much?

Well, I could do that too.

I turned my tear-streaked face to show the wound on my forehead. Then, I took out my phone and transferred seven hundred dollars to Rosemary.

“Mom, I really don’t have more than this.”

My eyes were teary, and my voice was choked.

“This was supposed to be for my mortgage next month. You can hit me all you want, but I can’t give you another cent.”

Rosemary’s phone chimed with a notification.

She had received seven hundred dollars in her bank account.

Dissatisfied with the amount, she slapped the phone out of my hand. The screen shattered, but I simply looked at her with pitiful eyes.

“Seven hundred dollars? Are you trying to tip a panhandler?

“If you don’t have money, sell your body!

“What’s a face like yours for if not to catch a man’s eye?

“Wasn’t there some tycoon who wanted to be your sugar daddy before? Go look for him!”

The entire room erupted in gasps.

In my mind, I thought that no other mother in this world would probably force her daughter into prostitution right in front of a crowd.

I bent down and picked up my phone. It was totally shattered.

“Okay.”

Harry took a large step forward but stopped abruptly.

Right then, I dropped all pretense of weakness, and my expression became frighteningly calm.

“Since you’re so set on me selling myself, I’ll make sure I sell high.”