Chapter 1

After hanging up the phone, I received a transfer of 3,000 dollars.

My mother-in-law, Natalie Langley, died on the operating table because there wasn't enough money for her treatment.

Later, the doctor handed us the paperwork to release the body.

Nathan Carter stood in front of me with Layla Brown in his arms. Her eyes were swollen from crying, and she looked overwhelmed with guilt.

He tried to persuade me.

"Layla was only trying to help me save money. There's nothing wrong with being frugal. Your mother was already in poor health. Maybe this is a relief for her. Please, don't blame Layla. Just sign the papers."

I let out a cold laugh and pushed the paperwork back.

"You're her immediate family member, and you're standing right here. If someone needs to sign, it should be you. It has nothing to do with me."

Nathan looked like he thought I was throwing a tantrum. He frowned, his patience wearing thin.

"So that's what this is? You're determined to make things difficult for Layla? I already told you she didn't do it on purpose. Why can't you let it go? We're in a hospital. Everyone is watching. Layla is young and sensitive. Don't you think you've gone far enough?"

When Layla heard that, it was as if she had finally found someone to protect her. Tears immediately filled her eyes.

She slowly pulled herself out of Nathan's arms and looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes.

"Mr. Carter, don't argue with Ms. Smith because of me. She just lost someone important. I understand why she's angry at me. I really don't blame her. But… Please believe me. I truly didn't do it on purpose. I once fell from upstairs and fractured my arm, too. My family was poor back then, and I couldn't even afford to go to the hospital. After a few days, my arm healed on its own.

"I never imagined Ms. Smith's mother would be so... I thought 3,000 dollars would be more than enough. I'm sorry. I really didn't think things would turn out this way..."

Seeing her like this, Nathan immediately softened. He pulled her back into his arms.

When he looked at me, the blame in his eyes was obvious.

"Olivia, things have already come to this. Do you really want to push Layla to her breaking point? Honestly, your mother's death is your fault too. If you hadn't spent money so carelessly before, Layla wouldn't have needed to freeze your bank cards to help me save money. You're the one who should be reflecting on your actions.

"Layla did this for your own good. Besides, your mother was suffering from illness for years. Maybe today gave her the chance to finally be free from all that pain. You should be happy for her. Layla made sure your mother never has to suffer again. Shouldn't you be thanking her?"

I stared at him in disbelief. I never imagined he would say something like that.

Because of Layla, a person had been left in pain until they died on the operating table. And now, I was supposed to turn around and thank her?

I could honestly say that in all my twenty-something years of life, I had never heard anything more ridiculous.

The only reason Nathan could say something so heartless was that he thought the person who died today was my mother, Selena Hart.

I wondered if he would still be this calm and indifferent after he learned the truth.

I looked at him with a mocking smile and said quietly, "It's not that I don't want to sign. I simply can't. Why don't you do it instead?"

As I spoke, I held out the pen in my hand and offered it to him.

Seeing that, Nathan finally lost his patience. He slapped the pen out of my hand.

"The person who died is your mother, not mine. I'm not her son. Whether you sign or not is your choice."

Even though my feelings for Nathan had changed after he brought Layla into our home, I was still hurt by the coldness and cruelty in his eyes.

Suddenly, I remembered the day I married him. I had cried so hard because I couldn't bear to leave my parents. Nathan had held me in his arms and comforted me over and over again.

"Olivia, from now on, your parents are my parents too. They won't lose a daughter just because you married me. Instead, starting today, they'll have another son to take care of them."

The memory was still so clear, but everything had changed.

The man who once loved me and put me first had given all of that love and attention to Layla.

And I had become someone who no longer mattered.

I forced myself to swallow the pain in my chest. My hands trembled as I picked up the pen from the floor.

I looked at him and smiled bitterly.

"Nathan, her body is lying in the operating room right behind you. Why don't you go inside and take one look at her before deciding whether you'll sign it or not?"