Chapter 5

As I lay on the cold ground, my phone vibrated violently in my pocket. It was the hospital.

"Is this Bella? Your grandfather, Charles, has gone into acute heart failure. He needs an emergency bypass right now."

"We need a $100,000 deposit immediately, or we can't proceed with the surgery!"

I scrambled up from the ground.

Grandpa Charles was my only family left in the world.

Wiping the blood from my eyes, I stumbled to the street and hailed a cab.

I ran to the hospital's billing counter, pulling out the bank card that held all my hard-earned savings.

The receptionist swiped it and handed it back.

"Declined. Your account is frozen."

I gasped.

"That’s impossible! There’s at least $20,000 in there!"

I begged her to try again, but the people in the line behind me began to complain.

Then, the click of high heels echoed down the hallway.

Chloe and Howard strolled over.

Howard was casually holding a black credit card between his fingers.

"Bella, your account has been frozen by the Wilmot Group's legal team due to investigation into illegal horse trading."

Howard’s voice was flat, as if he were just reading a weather report.

I turned to him, desperate.

"Howard, that’s my grandfather's life-saving money!"

"Give it back to me, or unfreeze my card. Please, I’m begging you."

I bowed my head, swallowing every ounce of pride. Chloe sneered.

"Why should Howard give you a dime? But... I'm in a good mood today. I can pay the $100,000 for you."

Chloe pointed to the filthy, cold tile floor of the hospital lobby.

"Kneel. Admit to everyone here that you abused Scout, and sign this contract waiving all your rights to ever see him again."

Howard stood by, silent and cold.

"Chloe is offering to help you. It's your last chance. Don't be ungrateful."

I looked toward the ICU doors.

Grandpa Charles was in there, fighting for his life.

I closed my eyes. My knees hit the hard tiles with a dull thud.

"I admit it. I abused Scout. I waive all my rights. Please... pay the bill."

I pressed my forehead to the floor. Chloe let out a delighted laugh.

She whipped out her phone and snapped several pictures of me.

"Good girl. Howard, go pay."

Howard walked toward the counter with his card.

But before he could hand it to the receptionist, the doors of the operating room flew open.

The surgeon walked out, drenched in sweat, pulling down his mask.

"Are you Charles's family? I'm so sorry. We couldn't save him. The patient has passed away."

My mind went completely blank.

"No... no, doctor! We're paying right now! Please, try again!"

I scrambled up and rushed toward him.

A nurse rolled out a gurney covered in a white sheet, sighing softly.

"A young woman snuck into his ward earlier and played a video of you being banned for life and accused of animal abuse. She told him you were going to prison."

"The patient's condition was already critical. The shock caused his heart to stop instantly."

The nurse's words echoed in my ears.

I slowly turned my head to look at Chloe.

She was playing with her phone, not a single trace of guilt on her face.

"Oops. I just wanted to keep the old man updated on your life. Who knew he was so fragile?"

A primal, agonized shriek escaped my throat. I lunged at Chloe.

Howard immediately stepped in, grabbing Chloe by the waist and kicking me squarely in the chest.

"Bella, have you lost your mind! He died because of his weak heart! What does this have to do with Chloe!"

I collapsed onto the floor, staring at Grandpa Charles’s covered body, gasping for air.

Just then, loud sirens wailed outside the hospital.

A squad of armed police officers burst into the lobby, quickly surrounding Howard and Chloe.

The lead detective flashed his badge, his voice booming.

"Howard, Chloe! You are under arrest for suspicion of manslaughter. Come with us!"