Chapter 3

The tight string inside me snapped. I stumbled toward her. After kneeling all night, I nearly fell as I hurried over, and my mother caught me at once.

When she saw the welts on my back and my swollen knees, her face filled with heartache. She whirled around to confront Anne. "This is too much! How could you treat my son like this?"

As far back as I could remember, my mother had always been timid and meek, never daring to raise her voice. Now she shielded me behind her and faced the Millers in a fury.

Greg spoke up. "Please don't be upset, Mrs. Moore.

"Jason chose to marry into the Millers, so he has to follow the rules. You agreed to that when he married Mel, didn't you?"

My mother's face went pale.

Anne looked at her with contempt. "Is that any way to ask someone to lend you money?"

My mother's indignation crumbled. Eyes red, she clung to my hand, at a loss for what to do. "We came straight over the moment Anne called.

"Your father had a heart attack, and before anyone could stop it, he was hit by a car. He's still in the hospital. We don't have enough money..."

My mind was a blur. I fumbled a bank card out of my pocket. It held the savings I had put away before the wedding, and I had always kept it tucked away. "Mom, use what's on this for now."

Hope lit up in my mother's eyes, and she nodded again and again.

But when Greg saw the card, he gave an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry, Jason. I already withdrew everything from that card not long ago."

For a moment, I thought I had misheard. My head jerked up. When I met Melody's guilty gaze, I understood at once. No one but her knew my PIN.

"It'll be the anniversary of Mel's sister's death in a few days, and there's a lot to prepare," Greg went on. "I figured since you married into the Millers, you should do your part. That's why Mel gave me the card.

"Don't worry. Mel's sister will be watching over your father..."

Before he could finish, I swung my fist into his face.

Greg hit the floor, clutching his face and howling.

"That was the money to save my dad's life! What right did you have to touch it? Give it back!"

We grappled with each other. My mother tried to pull us apart, and Greg kicked her to the floor. She lay there, struggling to catch her breath.

That snapped me back to my senses. I staggered over and helped her up.

She wiped away her tears and held my hand. "Let's get to the hospital first. We'll figure out the money somehow. I'm afraid your father won't hold on much longer..."

My nose stung, and I nodded hard.

We were about to leave when Melody's voice stopped me. She looked at Greg's battered face, and her expression turned thunderous.

"Jason, where are your manners? You beat Greg like this and think you can just walk away? Have you forgotten the Miller family rules?"

The anger was stuck in my chest. I yanked off my wedding ring and hurled it to the floor. "Once we're divorced, I'm not a Miller anymore."

Melody stared at the ring on the floor, dazed for a moment.

I helped my mother toward the door, but a wall of bodyguards blocked the way out.

Anne stood and raised her voice. "You hit Greg and think you can just run off? Fine. Everything your family eats and uses came from the Millers' generosity.

"The clothes and bracelet your mother's wearing, Melody paid for those, didn't she?" Her tone was light and offhand.

"You want a divorce? Fine. Have your mother take off every piece of clothing on her, and I'll let you go."