Chapter 3

"Dad!!!"

I screamed, lunging toward him like a wild animal.

The relatives jumped back in surprise.

Nicole's dad's face shifted, his voice turning defensive. "Hey, that had nothing to do with us! He tripped and passed out on his own!"

"Don't you dare try to sue us for this, or we'll make your life a living hell!"

With that, they shoved the two of us out into the hallway and slammed the heavy door shut.

My fingernails dug into my palms until blood welled up, but I had no time for revenge. I frantically called 911 and rushed my dad to the ER.

The emergency doctor told me he had suffered severe head trauma. I sat beside his bed for three agonizing hours before he finally opened his eyes.

I stepped out for a moment to buy him some broth, only to see Tyler and Nicole walking into the room holding a cheap grocery bag.

My voice turned to ice the moment I saw them. "Get out. I don't need your fake sympathy."

Tyler glared at me. "Do you have any shame left at all?"

"If you hadn't dragged your dad into this, none of this would have happened! I brought him some things to clear the air. Take it or leave it!"

I looked down at what he was holding—a funeral bouquet of white chrysanthemums and a jug of expired milk.

"An apology? You bring funeral flowers and spoiled milk to a sick man's bedside?!" My voice broke with pure rage. "Tyler, you literally want my father dead!"

Nicole stepped forward, wearing that same fragile, tearful mask. "Chloe, please don't yell at Tyler. We really just came to apologize."

"It's all my fault. If Tyler hadn't been trying to help me, the baby wouldn't have starved..."

From the bed, my father froze.

After what felt like an eternity, his trembling voice cut through the silence.

"What... what did you just say? My grandson is... gone?"

"How could that happen? I bought all his clothes... I had a baby charm engraved for him... and you... you..."

Before he could finish, he clutched his chest in agony, his face turning paper-white.

The monitors beside his bed erupted into a shrill, frantic wail.

Panic seized me.

"Dad! Help! Doctor! Someone help!"

I screamed, tears streaming down my face as I tried to dash out into the hall.

Nicole's eyes flashed with cruel amusement, and she deliberately stepped into my path, blocking the doorway.

"Chloe, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it, I didn't think your dad would react like this—"

"Get the hell out of my way!" I snarled, my eyes wild with grief. "If anything happens to my dad, I will destroy you!"

Tyler frowned, pulling Nicole back with annoyance. "Nicole came here in good faith to apologize! Do you really have to be this vile?"

I shook with fury, my knuckles white.

"Get out of my way! I don't have time for your games!"

I shoved past them, but Nicole dropped straight to her knees right in front of me, sobbing theatrically:

"Chloe, if you won't forgive me, I won't get up!"

"I'll just kneel here until I die!"

Tyler rushed to haul her to her feet, his voice dripping with pity. "Nicole, why are you kneeling to her? Stand up!"

He shot a venomous glare at me. "Chloe, you pushed her to her knees! Are you satisfied now?!"

"I don't have time for this circus! My dad is dying!"

I reached out and shoved Nicole aside to get through.

I barely used any force, but Nicole threw herself sideways, crashing melodramatically onto the linoleum floor.

Tyler's temper exploded, and he shoved me hard against the wall.

"Chloe, you ungrateful bitch! How dare you put your hands on her?!"

"Apologize to Nicole right now, or I swear to God I'm divorcing you!"

Behind me, the sharp alarm on the monitor flattened into a long, continuous tone.

My father went entirely motionless.

My breath caught in my throat. Trembling uncontrollably, I threw myself across my father's bed.

"Tyler! We are done! I am divorcing you, and I will make every single one of you pay for what you did to my baby and my father!!"