Chapter 2

Sherry continued, "I-If I've ever done anything to make you uncomfortable, just tell me. I'll change! Please don't take it out on Nate."

I looked at her expressionlessly. She'd given such a flawless performance. I might've really ended up letting them play me for a fool—if she hadn't barged in and allowed me to hear the thoughts coming from her fetus.

But then again, Sherry seemed to think a little too highly of herself. Her mother, Carla Moss, had only been working for my family for three years. Where did she get the confidence to act this familiar with me?

However, it was clear that Sherry's waterworks worked on Nathan. Without hesitation, he took her hand. He didn't even bother to mask the gentle concern in his voice as he said to her, "This has nothing to do with you, Sherry. You don't need to apologize to her."

Turning his head around, he stared down at me and declared, "Even though I'm your boyfriend, Estelle, I have the freedom to make my own friends. You have no right to control me.

"Besides, you know fully well that my mom needs money for her dialysis treatment, yet you're using the two million dollars to threaten me? Doing this will only make me despise you even more."

"Daddy's right! That nasty woman's biggest fear is losing his love! That's how she got played her whole life in the previous lifetime! Once Daddy uses the money to buy Burkcoin, the remainder of the money can be used to pay off Grandpa's gambling debts and Grandma's medical bills!"

I leaned back in my chair, my fingertips brushing along the edge of my wallet. Out of nowhere, even Nathan's face started getting on my nerves. How could he say such things to me with that face?

Snorting, I put on a considerate expression and said gently, "Yeah, you're right. Lori's health should be the priority. I shouldn't have let my emotions get in the way just now."

Nathan's eyes flashed with smug delight. Sherry also wisely stopped her tears, her lips curling ever so faintly.

The two of them were waiting for me to willingly shove that debit card back in Nathan's hands, just like I'd done countless times before.

As they both stared expectantly at me, I slowly took out my phone.

"It's me, Estelle Langdon. I'm calling about the medical treatments for Lori Hudson."

That was Nathan's mother.

I paused to take in Nathan's and Sherry's nervous expressions. Then, with a beaming smile, I said, "From this day onward, I will no longer be involved in covering her medical expenses. There's no longer any need to keep me informed of her condition."

The moment I finished speaking, that childlike voice immediately shrieked, "What's going on? This wasn't how things were supposed to go! Why did she call the hospital?

"What about the two million dollars? Are we still going to get it? How's Daddy going to get rich off Burkcoin now? Grandpa's gambling debts and Grandma's medical bills can't wait either! Mommy, Daddy, stop her! Make her give us the cash!"

Nathan's expression darkened. He glared icily at me and snarled, "Don't push it, Estelle. Using my mom's illness to threaten me will only make me find you even more unreasonable."

He paused for a moment before lifting his head, acting as if he were granting me a huge favor as he continued saying, "I can forget about what happened today. Bring the debit card to my apartment tomorrow, and stop resorting to these petty tricks to test me. There's a limit to my patience."

Turning around, he swiped his thumb gently across Sherry's cheek to wipe her tears away. The tenderness of his actions now was completely at odds with his earlier show of frosty indifference.

"Thanks for coming all this way here to check on me, Sherry. Let me take you home."

Sherry lifted her reddened eyes and glanced timidly at me before quickly lowering her head again.

"Nate, what about Essie…"

Nathan shot me an imperious glance.

"She'll settle down and behave herself once she's kicked up enough of a fuss. And in your condition… you shouldn't be sticking around to deal with such nastiness."