Chapter 1 Blood Runs Thicker Than Water

I clutched the bank statement, my hands trembling uncontrollably. Every number printed on it felt like a red-hot brand searing into my heart.

It was the $200,000 my husband and I had saved for retirement. And now, not a single cent was left.

I rushed home, determined to get an explanation from my husband, Daniel Carter. But he was sitting calmly on the couch, taking a sip of coffee.

"Blood runs thicker than water. Stop being so selfish."

His words left my mind completely blank.

I stormed over to him and threw the bank statement in his face. "You knew all along?"

Daniel's expression darkened. Instead of looking at me, he pulled a medical report from his briefcase and tossed it onto the table. "Sophie's brother has leukemia."

He pointed at the report, his voice cold as ice. "Are you satisfied now? You accused your child without even asking why. How can you live with yourself?"

I stood there, stunned.

Leukemia.

The fire raging inside me was instantly extinguished by the mention of that illness.

Should I be heartbroken over my money, or should I feel guilty for being so 'uncaring'?

Just then, Daniel's phone rang.

He answered it, and his tone instantly softened. "Sophie, don't cry. Take your time."

Sophie Collins, our adopted daughter, sobbed on the other end of the line. "Dad, my mom fainted. The doctor said she has been worrying herself sick. What are we going to do about my brother's illness?"

"Don't worry. I'm coming right over. Let your mom get some rest. I'll make her some chicken soup."

Daniel hung up without even looking at me and got up to head for the kitchen.

I grabbed his arm. "Our retirement savings are gone, and you still have the heart to worry about someone else?"

Daniel shook off my hand and snapped furiously. "You are Sophie's mother too! As her adoptive mother, isn't taking care of her biological mother when she's sick the least you can do? How can you be so thoughtless?"

His shouting left me speechless.

Silently, I walked into the kitchen and made a pot of chicken soup.

…

I carried the thermos to the hospital.

When I pushed open the hospital room door, Daniel was sitting beside the bed, carefully tucking the blankets around Susan Parker.

Sophie stood nearby with a towel, gently wiping the sweat from his forehead.

The three of them looked like a real family, while I stood in the doorway like an unwanted intruder.

"Emily, you're here." The moment Susan saw me, her eyes reddened, and she struggled to sit up. "Emily, it's all my fault. I dragged your family into this."

Daniel immediately pressed her back down and turned to me with an irritated look. "What are you waiting for? Can you not see that Susan is weak? Bring the soup over."

I set the thermos on the bedside table.

Susan grabbed my hand, tears streaming down her face. "Emily, I know this is hard for you, but if there had been any other way, I would never have come to trouble your family. Evan is only 19."

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

"We will have to think carefully about what to do with the stall," I said quietly.

The moment the words left my mouth, Sophie suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me. "Mom! Please, I'm begging you. Save my brother! If you don't agree, I won't get up."

Her cries drew everyone's attention in the hallway.

Daniel's face instantly turned red.

He pointed a finger at me and shouted angrily, "Look what you've driven our daughter to! It's just some lousy little stall. How could it possibly be more important than a human life? I'm telling you, Emily, this is settled! I will find someone to take over the stall tomorrow!"

He was not asking for my opinion. He was ordering me around.

I looked at Sophie kneeling on the floor, then at Daniel's furious expression and Susan sobbing weakly in the hospital bed.

At that moment, I felt as if my whole world had collapsed.