Chapter 3

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself lying in a hospital bed. As I looked up, I met Sean's worried gaze.

"Ms. Lawson, are you okay?" he asked hesitantly. "The doctors said you're malnourished. I'm sorry. If I had known your condition beforehand, I never would have let you donate blood."

I shook my head. "It's my own problem. It has nothing to do with you. I'm malnourished because—"

"See, I was right!" Vera interrupted gleefully before I could finish. "Cynthia, this is what happens when you don't listen to me! I warned you. These rich people just see you as a walking blood bag!"

She sneered. "It's not too late to regret it now!"

She lunged toward me, trying to pull out my IV.

Luckily, Sean's reflexes were faster. He grabbed her wrist just in time. That small action made Vera jump back in shock. "What are you doing? How dare you touch me! Don't tell me you think I'm as useless as Cynthia that I'd kiss up to rich people?"

I couldn't help laughing as I watched her lost in her own world. If I remembered correctly, this was her classic "play hard to get" move. She had learned it from that book, "Caught the Billionaire's Heart", which claimed that rich men liked fragile, delicate women. Vera was clearly trying to follow that path.

Sean frowned impatiently. "Ms. Hawthorn, if I'm not mistaken, this is a private ward. Cynthia needs rest. Please leave immediately."

Vera, stung by humiliation, crossed her arms and fixed me with a sharp look.

"Cynthia, did you hear that? This is a private ward. Do you know how much this costs per day? Did you earn this money yourself? Right now, you're no better than a worthless parasite. You've thrown away the dignity of a strong, independent woman."

As those words echoed in my ears, I felt my blood boil. If I hadn't taken her advice before, I wouldn't have refused my parents' money for tuition, juggled five jobs a day just to survive, or foolishly handed over three-quarters of my wages to her until I couldn't even afford a meal.

Back then, she had spoken with unwavering certainty about me becoming independent and taking control of my own life.

"I'm your teacher. Pay me every month, or I won't teach you how to thrive in the world! If you fail, your parents will be humiliated, and it'll be too late by then!"

The sheer ridiculousness of it was almost funny, yet I had listened to every word.

I shouted, "Out! This is my ward. You're not welcome here!"

Vera tilted her head and smirked. "Fine! I'm leaving. Don't regret it later! When people call you a sugar baby and a failure, don't think of coming back to me!"

With that, she stormed out. After Vera left, I finally told Sean the real reason I was malnourished. His eyes softened with concern. "Looks like the money I gave you wasn't enough."

I smiled, reaching into my pocket. "No way! This is more than enough for me!"

However, my left pocket was empty. Panic set in as I checked my right pocket, and there was nothing there either.

"My card's gone! And the keys too!"

Just then, the dean, Mr. Robert Harrison, called me.

"Cynthia, where are you?" he asked sharply. "The charity gala is about to start. Are you really going to make it this hard to find you? Vera went to get you herself, and you still didn't show up?"