Chapter 5

Steven lowered his gaze to the property transfer agreement. His expression gradually turned cold.

"Kelly, you're unbelievable."

He gripped the pen so tightly the tip nearly pierced through the paper.

"Ungrateful too."

After pulling off the cap, he signed his name at the bottom of the document. He then tossed the pen aside and walked away without another word.

I stood there staring at it. The metal pen had snapped into two pieces when it hit the ground. Ink leaked from the break.

That pen was a gift from me. Back then, I was still a student with barely any money. I worked part-time jobs just to save enough to buy it for him.

Steven used to treasure it.

What about now?

No, he had changed long ago.

I bent down and picked up the document. Behind the property transfer agreement was another contract. Flipping to the last page, I found his signature already there.

It was a divorce agreement.

I stared at the signature. I then laughed and cried at the same time.

"Mom!"

The voice made me jerk my head up.

Nora jumped out of a taxi. Her pigtails had come loose as she ran toward me. I dropped to my knees and caught her in my arms.

"Nora! Who let you take a taxi by yourself? Why did you come here alone?"

She buried her face against my chest. Her voice was muffled and trembling. "Mom, I missed you so much. Dad took me to stay with him while you were gone. He said I could see you again after five days. I missed you."

My heart clenched when I saw her like this. Every moment I'd spent missing her in that dark room came crashing back all at once.

Holding her face in my hands, I carefully examined her eyes. "Did anyone bully you while you were staying with Dad?"

Nora shook her head, but she avoided my gaze and looked elsewhere.

My heart sank. Instinctively, I reached for her sleeve. She grabbed it tightly and shrank back.

"It's okay, Mom. It was just Julie's dog."

My heart skipped a beat. I rolled up her sleeve.

There were dozens of bike marks that went all the way up to her elbow. Some had already scabbed over, while others were still bleeding.

My heart clenched so tight I could hardly breathe.

Nora wiped away my tears with her tiny hand. Her fingers were cold. "Mom, it doesn't hurt. Please don't cry."

I touched my face and realized tears were streaming down my face. I hadn't even noticed it earlier.

"Did Dad know you were bitten by that dog?"

Nora pouted. Her voice was barely audible. "He knew. He wanted to stop it at first, but Julie said we were playing a game. She said I lost, and if I didn't accept the punishment, I'd grow up a loser."

I pulled her into my arms before she could see me breaking down.

"Don't be afraid, Nora."

I pressed my lips against the top of her head. "I won't ever leave you again. I promise I'll never let this happen again."

Right after I said that, Nora fainted on the spot.

I rushed her to the hospital.

After examining her, the doctor came out and said, "Didn't you know your daughter has a nut allergy? Why would you let her eat that much?"

My heart clenched. I looked at Nora, who was still lying in bed. Her face was bright red. Hives spread across her neck in large patches. Her breathing was shallow and rapid. Her lips had turned pale too. Her body was all curled up.

I called Steven, but he didn't answer. After a long time, one of his men finally picked up.

"Doesn't Steven know Nora is allergic to nuts? Where is he?" I fumed.

The man sounded startled. "Don Graham is accompanying Ms. Ziegler on a walk."

The gurney was wheeled straight into the operating room. I stood outside in the hallway. Through the small window in the door, I watched doctors insert tubes into my daughter's body. I watched them administer epinephrine. The cardiac monitor alarm went off again and again.

I prayed on my knees outside the operating room.

I prayed to the heavens that Nora's surgery would go smoothly.

Before the surgery was even finished, a deposit notification appeared on my phone.

I didn't have time to open it. The operating room doors suddenly burst open.

One of the doctors, who still had on bloodstained gloves, hurried out.

My limbs felt numb. I grabbed the last doctor by his white coat.

"My daughter's surgery isn't finished. Where are you going?"

The doctor answered, "Ms. Ziegler isn't feeling well. She requested that we examine her immediately."

"No!" I cried out desperately while pulling out my debit card.

"How much is she paying you? I'll pay double! Save my daughter first!"

Worried they would think it was too little, I grabbed my phone to transfer the money immediately.

That was when I finally saw the remark on the deposit notification clearly.

[Doctor's Rental Fee.]