Chapter 3

My phone started vibrating less than 30 minutes after Wendy was taken away in the ambulance. Wendy was thanking every single person in the family's group chat.

[Thank you, Eve. Thank you, Sean. Thank you, Clay. Thank you to everyone who called the ambulance. You're all my heroes. I'm about to be wheeled into the delivery room at St. Gabriel Medical Center.]

After that, her text took another tone.

[My next words are for a certain someone who refused to help me. You'll suffer retribution for being such a cold-blooded person.]

Eve replied right away: [I know what you mean. So what if that person is rich? Everyone would still hate that person if they are of questionable character.]

Sean chimed in sarcastically: [Some people had been busy showing off their brand-new luxury car, but when it comes to helping others, well… Hah!]

Everyone else in the group chat started asking questions.

[Wait, what happened?]

[Someone refused to help Wendy when she was about to go into labor?]

[It was Ciara. She told us that she sold her car.]

[Was she talking about the Bentley she bought last week?]

[Who would believe that?]

The texts came in so fast that I could barely keep up. Most of the people in the group chat were mad at me, but I did not reply a word. I stood up and headed to the underboss' office. When I pushed the door open, he was behind his desk with his phone. I could see the group chat displayed on his phone screen.

The expression on his face changed slightly when he looked up and saw me.

"Ciara." He pointed at the chair opposite. "Sit."

However, I continued standing. "I want to leave this family."

There was silence in the room. He put down the espresso cup in his hand slowly and frowned. "You've just won us a major deal. Do you have any idea how much money you'll be getting from it?"

I knew very well how much I would get. It was close to 100,000 dollars, and if I left the family now, I would end up with nothing.

"Are you really leaving over a few idle words in the group chat?" He sounded sincerely bewildered by my decision. "It's just idle gossip. Let them be."

I shook my head. "This isn't as simple as it seems."

The underboss sighed and pulled a drawer to take out a file. It contained the application papers for me to leave the family officially. He pushed the document over to me. "Think about it. Your current earnings are enough to make most Capos jealous. Once you sign this document, your profits will return to the family."

I picked up the pen without hesitation and signed my name on the papers. "I understand what's at stake."

When I was completely broken from all those accusations in my past life, no one in this family stood up for me. Some even helped to make things worse for me. That was when I understood how many people hated me for making a big profit. This time, I refused to allow them to target me.

The underboss stood up and reached his hand out to shake mine. He sounded sincerely sorry about my departure. "You're one of the most outstanding subordinates to work under me. Give me a call anytime if you decide to return."

I shook his hand. "Thank you."

After that, I turned to leave his office. The lobby was filled with soldati, capos, and made men. When I walked past them, several of them looked up at me.

"What was she doing in the underboss' office? Was she lodging a complaint?"

"What a joke. No one is going to side with her."

Eve rolled her eyes and said loudly, "She was probably asked to leave. I wouldn't have the gall to stay if it were me."

I did not even give them a second glance as I returned to my desk. I removed the family's pass card and placed it next to the keyboard before leaving. I did not give a goodbye speech or explain myself. I did not even bother to bid farewell to anyone. When the elevator doors closed in front of me, I looked down and saw my palms covered in sweat.

It was the first time since I was reborn that I felt freedom. When I walked out of the building, I called my cousin, Violet Crane, who worked in the gynaecology department at St. Gabriel Medical Center. She picked up my call after a few rings.

"Hello, Ciara?"

"I need you to check a patient for me."

Violet sounded cautious right away. "Ciara, you know I can't reveal my patients' information."

I clenched my teeth and lowered my voice. "But I suspect there's something wrong with the baby the patient is pregnant with. If something were to happen to the baby, it might implicate the hospital and even you. All you need to do is keep a copy of all her medical records and doctor's notes in a safe place. That doesn't go against any rules and regulations."

She was silent for a while, and I waited for her answer with bated breath. Would she agree to my request? Would I be able to be free of the painful memories from my past life?

I had no idea how long she had been silent before she finally said, "Alright."