Chapter 1

Right after I hung up the phone, my wife, Daphne Barron, stepped out of the room and said, "Vance, go make some food for Luca. He'll be hungry when he wakes up."

I couldn't be bothered to answer and headed toward the bedroom.

Her expression darkened, and she stepped into my path, blocking me. "Vance Gardner, it's just 100,000 dollars. Are you really going to keep throwing a tantrum over this? Have some compassion. If you can't even do that, get out."

Her voice was so loud that Daphne's childhood friend, Luca Blair, who was sleeping inside, woke up.

Looking thoroughly annoyed, he walked out and draped an arm over Daphne's shoulder before glaring at me with pure disdain. "Honestly, Daphne, you were the campus belle all through college and grad school, and your family is well-off. How did you end up with such a petty guy?"

Daphne sighed and looked at Luca. "Not everyone is as easygoing and generous as you."

As she spoke, she glanced at our son Elliot Gardner, who was standing behind me. "But we have Elliot now. There's no point in regrets."

Clutching my aching stomach, I met Daphne's impatient gaze.

Lately, Elliot had been terribly ill. The doctor said we needed to take him to a major hospital and that it would cost a fortune. It wouldn't cure him completely, but the medication would keep him alive. Between juggling everything, I had developed a stomach ulcer myself.

But the medicine was incredibly expensive, and Daphne had taken all my money.

I spent every day exhausted and in pain. Seeing Elliot suffer just like me only broke my heart further.

But until that 100,000 dollars was returned, we still couldn't afford the medication.

My father, Evan Merritt, told me that if I divorced Daphne and came home alone, he would give me money again. But I couldn't just abandon Daphne and Elliot.

Back when I insisted on marrying Daphne against his wishes, he warned me never to mention our family's background. If I did, he'd make sure Daphne lost her job and ended up with nothing.

Elliot wasn't even three yet, and he had to endure the same agonizing pain I did every single day.

What hurt the most was that Daphne knew that 100,000 dollars was meant to save my life and Elliot's. Yet, she hadn't hesitated for a second to give it to Luca.

Since Daphne clearly valued Luca more than our lives, there was no reason for Elliot and me to stay.

I turned around, went into the bedroom, and grabbed our bags, intending to head to the hospital and beg Dad. Once he saw how sick Elliot and I were, he wouldn't actually turn us away.

Just then, Luca yanked my suitcase back and snapped aggressively, "Alright, Vance, cut the running-away act. Stop making things hard for Daphne. I'm going out to drink with a client tonight. Even if I drink myself into a stomach bleed and end up in her bed, I'll get the money to pay you back, okay?"

Daphne, who had never set foot in the kitchen, rushed out when she heard the commotion.

By then, Luca had already changed into a tailored suit. He patted Daphne on the shoulder and headed for the door.