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Chapter 4 The Last Chance

Autor: Litchi Froot
"No!"

The blood drained from my body as I scrambled toward Rebecca. But I was too late.

Blood streamed from Rebecca's nose and mouth as she reached a trembling hand toward me. "Daddy, I'm not some unwanted bastard…"

Before she could finish, she passed out.

My hands shaking, I called 911.

When I watched them wheel Rebecca into the ER, it felt like my heart had shattered with her.

A nurse handed me the bill. "Her condition is critical. You need to pay the surgical deposit immediately."

I stared blankly at the five-figure amount. Even with the $5,000 Matthew had transferred to me, it was not enough.

Desperate, I had no choice but to text Madeline. "Rebecca was in an accident. The surgery will cost $30,000."

It was not long before Madeline called, furious.

"Andrew, how long are you going to keep this up? I told you, Rebecca needs to learn to live without money. She has to struggle if she's going to amount to anything! You're so desperate for money that you'd even curse your own daughter just to get it!"

My voice was hoarse as I tried to explain, "Something really happened to Rebecca…"

Madeline was convinced I was lying. She let out a cold laugh. "If you want money, come apologize to Matthew."

She was trying to make me back down. But when I thought of Rebecca's condition, I nodded through my tears.

When they brought me before Madeline, I could see the disappointment in her eyes—the look of someone who thought I had failed beyond saving.

Beside her, Matthew went wild, grabbing whatever was within reach and hurling it at me. "Get out, you shameless homewrecker! I'll kill you!"

A glass was about to hit me in the head when Madeline stepped in front of me. She grunted as it struck her instead.

Matthew stared at her in disbelief. "You're protecting him?"

Madeline sighed and kissed him on the cheek. "Of course not. You're the most important person to me."

Then she looked at me. "Andrew, apologize to Matthew. Keep going until he forgives you."

I swallowed every last shred of pride and bent down, dropping hard to my knees in front of Matthew.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been the other man. I shouldn't have shamelessly seduced your wife…"

Once. Then again. I kept going until blood streamed down my forehead.

Only then did I finally hear a hint of pity in Madeline's voice.

"That's enough. You're willing to throw away even your dignity for money."

Impatiently, she tossed a black card at my feet, disappointment filling her eyes.

"Andrew, I don't care what you need the money for. This is the first time, and it's the last. Rebecca is my daughter. I'll never allow her to grow up spoiled and useless. She needs to learn what it means to struggle."

I could not spare a thought for my injuries. I grabbed the card and scrambled back to the hospital, only to be told that the card had been frozen. Not a single dollar could be charged to it.

The next moment, Rebecca's body was wheeled out beneath a white sheet.

"I'm sorry. We did everything we could."

I stared at Rebecca's lifeless body.

I cried until I had no voice left.

…

Meanwhile, Madeline was sitting beside Matthew, yet she could not shake a strange feeling of unease.

Her phone rang as she sat there, already on edge.

Thinking it was Andrew again, she answered with a cold laugh, "What excuse do you have this time…"

"Is this Ms. Westcott? This is Central Hospital. Your daughter, Rebecca, passed away after resuscitation efforts failed. Please come to the hospital to identify and claim her body."
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    "No!"The blood drained from my body as I scrambled toward Rebecca. But I was too late.Blood streamed from Rebecca's nose and mouth as she reached a trembling hand toward me. "Daddy, I'm not some unwanted bastard…"Before she could finish, she passed out.My hands shaking, I called 911.When I watched them wheel Rebecca into the ER, it felt like my heart had shattered with her.A nurse handed me the bill. "Her condition is critical. You need to pay the surgical deposit immediately."I stared blankly at the five-figure amount. Even with the $5,000 Matthew had transferred to me, it was not enough.Desperate, I had no choice but to text Madeline. "Rebecca was in an accident. The surgery will cost $30,000."It was not long before Madeline called, furious."Andrew, how long are you going to keep this up? I told you, Rebecca needs to learn to live without money. She has to struggle if she's going to amount to anything! You're so desperate for money that you'd even curse your own d

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