Chapter 4

Mom continued, "Elira got very worked up after watching Jeremy's interview. She was distracted while she was walking and didn't see a construction worker drop a rebar rod, which went straight through her stomach! She can be operated on, but the hospital's refusing to start until we pay upfront.

"They said they'll have to move her to the back of the queue for the OR if we don't get the money together within the hour. There's no time for us to take out a mortgage against the house now. Do you have 44,000 dollars on you right now, Sebastian?"

I could feel my heart beating violently as I broke out in a cold sweat. "You have nothing to worry about, Mom! I have 112,000 dollars on me, so I'll transfer it to you right away!"

I opened the banking app and frantically tried to send the 112,000 dollars I had saved up for the down payment for the house to Mom, but the transaction failed. I then recalled that I had handed my bank card over to Hazel a month ago when she told me she had a family emergency.

I was sure that she wouldn't care about the 112,000 dollars since she could spend ten million dollars on a whim. I checked my balance, only to find that the account had zero balance.

I dialed Hazel's number with trembling hands, but I couldn't get a hold of her. I accidentally clicked onto Jeremy's social media feed in a flurry of panic.

"I accidentally crashed into a high-society gathering again! It's another day of tearing up over the epic love story between the heiress of the shipping tycoon and the heir of the casino tycoon!"

In one of the photos, Hazel and Chris were sharing a kiss beneath the fireworks at their hillside villa.

I felt a sharp pang in my chest, but I didn't have time to dwell on it. I quickly tracked down the location through Jeremy's post and rushed over there.

Upon spotting me, Jeremy's expression instantly shifted. He pushed me toward the door and said, "Hazel barely managed to patch things up with Chris. What are you trying to stir up now, Sebastian?"

I had just gotten over my fever and was still very weak. I stumbled from his shove. I eventually lost my balance and hit the ground, an agonizing pain shooting through my wrist.

Chris scoffed and cocked his brow at Hazel. "Has your gold-digging boyfriend changed tactics and started playing the helpless-and-innocent act now, Hazel?"

Those around instantly burst out laughing, while Hazel's friends gave her teasing looks.

"You must have been desperate back then, Hazel. You actually spent eight years with someone like this?"

"He's honestly such an embarrassing sight to behold."

Hazel couldn't hide her embarrassment and glared at me. "Cut the act and get to your feet, Sebastian!"

I only had ten minutes left. I was consumed with anxiety as I forced myself to my feet. "Give me back my 112,000 dollars, Hazel!"

Chris sneered with contempt. "You came here to beg for money, huh? I'll give you 112,000 dollars as long as you get on your knees and grovel at my feet!"

"You're so generous, Chris!"

"I'll throw in an extra 1,500 dollars for every time you grovel at Chris' feet! It can be considered a gift for Chris and Hazel's upcoming wedding!"

I felt a metallic taste of blood rise in my throat as I listened to their insults. "I'm only here to get back what belongs to me! You said something happened to your family last month, so I gave you a bank card with 112,000 dollars in it, Hazel!"

Hazel frowned and asked, "What bank card are you talking about?"

I only had three minutes left. I could feel my palms covered in cold sweat from the sheer anxiety. "Elira is in trouble! Give me back the money before it's too late, Hazel!"

"I have no idea what bank card you're talking about. How could you possibly have that much money anyway?"

I gritted my teeth and turned to Chris after seeing Hazel deny it. "You'll give me 112,000 dollars as long as I grovel before you, right?"

Hazel stared at me in disbelief. "Have you really become this desperate, Sebastian? You'll do anything for money, even throw away your dignity?"

I dropped to my knees and groveled before Chris without a second thought, all for Elira Lister's, my sister's, sake.

Chris glanced at me with disdain, as if he were looking at trash. "If a mere 112,000 dollars helps you see his true colors, then it's worth every penny, Hazel."

Hazel stopped Chris just as he was about to take out his phone to transfer me the money, looking conflicted. "Sebastian isn't the kind of person who would do this, so stop using money to humiliate him, Chris."

I kept begging for it, but Hazel refused to let Chris transfer the money to me. I watched as the clock on the wall reached the deadline, my energy completely drained away. I felt nothing but numbness and despair. "I regret meeting you more than anything, Hazel."

I ended up losing both the person I loved and everything I had after being deceived for eight years. I was left completely heartbroken and disillusioned as I left without looking back.