Chapter 4

"This isn't about the money."

My voice was hoarse as I struggled to keep my emotions in check. "It's about the thought behind it. My dad can barely see, and he pricked his fingers several times while sewing those sachets."

"Blake." Sophia cut me off, a hint of disdain in her eyes. "Your dad runs a little roadside stall. That's hardly respectable work to begin with. Stop bringing these cheap trinkets home. What will people think?"

I stared at the woman who had promised Dad three years ago that she would always cherish me.

When we'd gotten married, Dad had suggested holding the ceremony in his hometown. Sophia had brushed him off, claiming she was too busy with work at the law firm. But I'd noticed the frown on her face and the unmistakable flash of disgust in her eyes.

She thought my hometown was too far away, the countryside too dirty, and Dad's relatives too low-class for her to associate with.

That fleeting frown had lodged in my heart like a thorn, festering there for three long years. Back then, I swallowed my hurt and kept my mouth shut. But not this time.

This time, I was going to pull that thorn out once and for all and take Sophia down with it.

When Sophia realized I wasn't going to respond, she grabbed her car keys and turned to Ethan. "Come on. Let's go grab some late-night snacks."

I sank onto the couch and began piecing together the scraps of fabric scattered across the coffee table, fitting them together one fragment at a time like a puzzle that could never be solved.

Just then, my phone rang.

"Am I speaking with a family member of Mr. Edward Morgan? He's been brought to the hospital and is currently unconscious. He needs emergency surgery. Please come to the hospital immediately."

My mind went blank. A deafening roar drowned out everything around me.

"What happened to my dad? He was fine just this afternoon."

"Our preliminary diagnosis indicates an acute cardiac episode triggered by a fall. According to witnesses, he went to confront a salesperson this afternoon and was pushed down a flight of steps. We've issued a notice that he's in critical condition. Please get here as soon as possible."

So Dad had gone after the scammer to demand his money back, all because he hadn't wanted to burden me with his problems.

My hands trembled so violently that I could barely hold on to my phone.

"I'm coming. I'll be there right away."

The moment I hung up, I grabbed my wallet and bolted out the door.

…

At the hospital's payment counter, a nurse urged me to hurry.

"You need to pay eight thousand dollars upfront! The patient's condition is critical, and he needs emergency surgery immediately."

I pulled out my bank card and tried to pay, but the transaction was declined. I didn't have enough money in my account.

With trembling hands, I called Sophia. She rejected my call twice. It wasn't until my third attempt that she finally answered.

"What do you want now?" Her voice was thick with drunkenness.

Loud music blared in the background, and someone shouted, "Come on, Sophia! You have to do a toast with Ethan!"

Then Ethan's voice rang out above the noise. "Sophia, are you drinking or not?"

Pain twisted through my chest, but I had no time to confront her about any of it. Swallowing my hurt, I pleaded, "Sophia, my dad needs emergency surgery right now! Please, just transfer eight thousand dollars back to me from the 500 thousand dollars. I'm begging you!"

Silence fell on the other end for two seconds.

Then Sophia let out a mocking laugh. "Blake, are you so desperate for my attention that you'd make up a story about your own dad being on the brink of death?"

"Ethan has his trial tomorrow. I brought him out to relax, and you just had to ruin the evening, didn't you? If you really need money, I'll ask accounting to transfer 20 thousand dollars to you tomorrow."

Before I could say another word, she hung up.

I stood there frozen, consumed by despair. I could feel my legs giving way.

Just then, a pair of strong hands caught my arm and steadied me. It was Jack.

"Blake, take a breath. I'll cover your dad's surgery costs for now."

The moment he said those words, all the emotions I'd been desperately holding back that night came crashing down at once.

Once I'd managed to calm down a little, Jack pulled a document from his bag and handed it to me.

"Blake, I looked into Ethan's case file. Do you know who that so-called rich girl is, the one whose ribs he broke at the bar?"

His jaw tightened with anger.

"Her name is Linda Mitchell. She's the same scammer who sold your dad that burial plot and cheated him out of 30 thousand dollars!"

I froze, struggling to process what I'd just heard. Before I could make sense of it all, my phone vibrated again. This time, the call was from the local police station.

"Hello, is this Mr. Blake Morgan, a family member of Edward Morgan?"

"Yes, this is Blake."

"Our investigation indicates that Linda Mitchell was the person who pushed your father down the steps this afternoon."

I felt my blood run cold.

"Ms. Sophia Walker is here at the station, requesting Linda's release on bail."