Chapter 4

Right then, my phone began vibrating uncontrollably.

It was the hospital.

I picked it up immediately.

The nurse's frantic voice sounded over the line. "Miss Adams, where are you? The patient's vitals are dropping fast!"

"The doctor says any more delay will drastically increase the risks of the surgery."

My legs buckled. I nearly fell to the floor.

"I'm coming! I'm coming right now!"

Hanging up, I grabbed the bag off the sofa and made a run for the exit.

Before walking out, I glared at Ethan. "If anything happens to my grandmother, I swear to God I'll make you pay."

He frowned. "Don't use an old woman to curse people."

I sprinted out of the room.

Behind me, Daisy's muffled sobs echoed down the hall.

"Ethan, you should go check on Chloe..."

Ethan's indifferent voice replied, "She's getting completely out of hand. Let her cool off."

I bolted into the nearest high-end consignment store and sold the bag on the spot.

Because it was considered resale, they only gave me $20,000, but I didn't have time to haggle.

Rushing toward the hospital, I frantically called everyone I knew to borrow the remaining $5,000.

I didn't dare slow down. Grandma was waiting for me.

She had spent her whole life waiting for me.

Waiting for me after elementary school, waiting outside the exam hall, waiting for me to come home from work for dinner.

And now, she was waiting for me to bring back the money to save her life.

I couldn't let her down.

When I finally threw open the hospital doors and ran to the operating room, the red light was already off.

The surgeon pulled down his mask, looking at me with heavy eyes.

At that moment, my feet felt glued to the floor.

After a few painful seconds of silence, he spoke in a low, somber voice.

"Miss Adams... we did everything we could."

My entire world shattered into pieces.

I stood there, soaked to the bone.

The doctor handed me Grandma's personal belongings.

A worn canvas pouch, a keyring, and an old savings passbook.

Tucked inside the passbook was a piece of red paper, with Grandma's shaky handwriting:

[For Chloe's wedding.]

I opened the passbook.

$4,580.

That was every ounce of dignity she had saved over a lifetime.

She refused to buy a five-dollar sandwich for lunch and wore the same patched winter coat for a decade.

All so she could save a little dowry for me.

Clutching that passbook, I collapsed outside the operating room doors, sobbing until I had no voice left.

I sat on the cold floor outside the morgue all night.

A compassionate nurse draped a warm coat over my shoulders.

"Miss Adams, you should get some rest."

I shook my head.

Grandma was afraid of the dark.

When the power went out during storms when I was a kid, she would always hold me tight and say, "Don't be afraid, Chloe. Grandma's right here."

Now it was my turn to keep her company.

Even though I knew she couldn't hear me anymore.

As dawn broke, Ethan appeared down the hallway.

He was still wearing the suit from last night, his hair ruffled, his eyes bloodshot.

When he saw me, his footsteps faltered.

Seeing the state I was in, the color slowly drained from his face.

"Chloe."

I looked up at him.

His Adam's apple bobbed.

"How... how is your grandmother?"

I stood up, my expression frighteningly calm. "She's fine now."

He froze. "Fine?"

I nodded. "She's fine. The wedding is going ahead as scheduled."

Ethan let out a huge sigh of relief. "Thank God."

Uneasy, he added, "Where is she? Let me go see her."

I shook my head. "She's resting. You can see her in a couple of days."

"Okay, whatever you want."

He gave me a fawning smile. "I've got a surprise wedding gift for you tomorrow, Chloe. I promise I'll make everything up to you."

A slow, cold smile tugged at the corner of my lips. "I have a gift for you, too."

A gift that will send you, your little best friend, and your entire family straight into hell.