Chapter 2

"What?" I croaked. My mind went completely blank.

The nurse supported me and brought me to Phil's room. He lay weakly on the hospital bed, tubes running all over his body.

When he heard us come in, he forced his eyes open. "I've long since had my will done up. After I'm gone, you and Millie will inherit everything I own. As for my imbecile of a daughter… She's always complained that her mother and I forced her to do things she didn't like.

"Fine, then. I'll set her free. If she wants to be with Bruce, then she can have him. But she won't see a single cent of the Grant family's money!"

"Dad, don't say that. You're going to get better." I leaned over Phil's bed, tears streaming down my face. But no matter how I begged him to hold on, he still passed away.

Phil and my father had been close friends back in the day. After my parents died, it was Phil who raised me and covered all my expenses. Six years ago, he'd asked me to marry Janice and help run the Grant family's company. He'd also asked me to take her name so the Grant family line wouldn't end. I'd agreed without hesitation.

Phil had even apologized to me before, saying that once the Grant family had an heir, he would allow Janice and me to divorce. But now, he would never see that day happen.

Just then, another batch of photos and videos came in from Bruce. In them, Janice was leaning against his chest, her face full of bliss as she watched fireworks bursting all over the night sky.

Despite being weak, I pushed myself to take Phil's body to the crematorium. After collecting his ashes and returning to the hospital, I looked down at Millie, who was still hooked up to an IV. I silently told myself that from now on, Millie and I were all the Grant family had left.

My health was completely wrecked after the emergency treatment, but I still had to take care of Millie while dragging myself through company matters. I was exhausted in every possible way.

Janice still couldn't be reached. Meanwhile, Bruce kept sending photos and videos of the two of them acting all affectionate. He even messaged me to provoke me.

"So what if you married Janice? I'm the one she loves. Has she ever chased the aurora with you? Has she ever gone on safari with you?"

I didn't respond. I just saved every photo and all his messages. After days of this torture, I finally grew immune. Looking at those pictures again no longer affected me in the slightest.

…

Half a month later, Janice came back, boldly bringing Bruce with her right into our home.

I stared at them icily.

Bruce wrinkled his nose at me and asked snidely, "How many days have you gone without showering, Evan? You reek."

Millie had burned up a high fever the night before. I'd stayed up by her bedside the whole night, my clothes soaked in sweat. I hadn't had time to wash up.

I turned to Janice and asked coldly, "Janice, are you aware that Millie was just rushed out of the ER?"

A flicker of diffidence flashed in her eyes. She glanced toward Millie's bedroom, then forced a laugh. "She's fine now, isn't she? And you had Dad to help you. It couldn't have been that hard on you."

I'd already texted her to tell her about Phil's passing. If she'd so much as glanced at her phone, she never would've said something like that.

"Janice, didn't you have something you wanted to tell Evan?" Bruce shot me a smug, triumphant look as he reminded her.

Janice cleared her throat, clearly diffident. "The system gave me a new task. It says I have to spend at least 12 hours a day with Bruce."