Chapter 2

The moment I made a move, the money for Lily's medical bills would disappear.

When I thought of my daughter lying in that hospital bed, her body ravaged by illness into something unrecognizable, my anger and pride gave way to desperate begging.

"Lin, could you give me 300 dollars more each day? I want to switch Lily to a different imported medicine. The domestic one isn't working anymore.

"She's in so much pain. It's just 300 dollars more. Could you—"

Linda's voice rose sharply. "Skylar Colt, all you ever think about is money, money, and more money! Is 4000 dollars a day for treatment not enough? Now you want 300 more?

"All this money, and you still want more? It's not your money, so you don't care, do you?"

I dropped my head even lower, almost burying it in my chest.

Ever since Lily was diagnosed with kidney failure, I had spent almost all my time at the hospital, taking her for tests and dialysis.

I once had a decent job at a foreign company. However, Linda—suspicious that I was cheating on her—kept showing up at my office and causing a huge scene, so I was eventually let go.

I ended up becoming a total freeloader.

Linda was a wealthy heiress who could spend 50,000 dollars on a single pair of socks, yet she nitpicked every cent for our daughter's life-saving treatment.

For Lily's sake, I had no choice but to trample on my last shred of dignity.

I fell to my knees and begged, "Please, Lin! As long as you say yes, I'll do anything you want next time."

Suddenly, she got angry. She hurled the piping-hot sweet potato, paper bag and all, straight at my head.

"Did you listen when I told you not to talk to other women?" she yelled at me.

The sticky, scalding mush plastered my face, and a burning sensation spread from my scalp.

Still, I didn't dare move.

"If it weren't for you freezing up when you saw Cindy Pierce and then sticking to me, why would I block your card? You used to have free access to my supplementary card, but you caused this mess yourself!

"You can forget about the extra money. Now get lost. Don't ruin my mood."

James gently stroked her back and soothed her softly, "Lin, don't be angry. Some people don't know how good they have it. If I had a wife as wonderful as you, I wouldn't look at another woman."

Linda's anger vanished instantly, and she happily looped her arm through James'.

"I knew you were the best! Come on. I'll take you to the auction house to buy a watch. Bare wrists aren't a good look," she said.

James' eyes lit up as he turned back and raised an eyebrow at me. The look in his eyes was nothing but pure, unmasked smugness.

Silently, I watched them leave with their arms around each other. I only felt utterly drained.

That day at the hospital, I was standing in line and waiting to pay when I happened to bump into Cindy, who was also there for treatment.

We only greeted each other without even exchanging pleasantries, and the nurses and other patients' families were present the whole time.

There was none of the sleazy happenings Linda imagined. However, the bodyguard she had sent to watch me had embellished the photos he sent her.

As for that supplementary card she said I could use freely…

The first time I used it was when Lily started kindergarten, and I had to pay 10,000 dollars for her tuition fees.

Because of that one charge, Linda repeatedly called the kindergarten teachers and the principal, verifying what the money was for.

When I went to pick Lily up from school that day, all the teachers looked at me with a mixture of contempt and pity.

After that, I never dared to touch that card again.

I wiped the sweet potato off my face, my skin stinging.

Just then, someone from the hospital called.

"You have to come quick, Mr. Colt! Lily's in bad condition!"

I felt my blood freeze over.

When I burst into the hospital room, I saw Lily's small body convulsing violently. Her face was a shade of blue, and her lips were cracked and dry.