Chapter 4

It wasn’t until late evening that Emily returned home.

“Lincoln, I’ve thought it through.” She hesitated for a moment, then continued, “We should sell the house. I found a buyer who’s willing to pay in full immediately. That way, we’ll have the money for your treatment.”

“No way!” I blurted out, rejecting the idea on the spot.

In my previous life, Nathan had prescribed me outrageously expensive medications. Within days, all of our savings were gone. Desperate, Emily had suggested selling the house, claiming she had already found a buyer who could pay in cash.

Back then, overwhelmed by the pressure to fund my treatment, I had blindly followed her lead. I even felt grateful to her for being willing to make such a sacrifice for me.

We sold the house in record time, and I moved into a tiny, dingy basement apartment she had supposedly rented for us. Emily, on the other hand, claimed she was staying with a friend and never came back.

I never saw a penny from the sale. Emily told me all the proceeds had gone toward paying for my medication.

In reality, the entire house sale was nothing but a scam.

“You can’t be serious, Lincoln. If you don’t get treatment, you’re going to die!” Emily snapped, trying to scare me into submission.

My mind raced as I searched for a way to buy time.

I sat down next to her and gently placed my arm around her shoulders.

“Emily, it’s just… it’s cancer. Even if we spend all the money, there’s no guarantee the treatment will work. If the worst happens, and I don’t make it, I’d feel terrible leaving you with nothing.”

“What are you trying to say?” she asked impatiently, pulling away slightly.

“I want to leave the house to you. Next month, let’s go to the courthouse and transfer the deed into your name. That way, no matter what happens to me, you’ll at least have the house to fall back on.”

In my last life, the buyer had been someone I didn’t recognize—clearly not a close friend or relative of Emily’s. If I suggested transferring the house directly to her, it would minimize her risk and make her more inclined to agree.

I was betting that she’d see the logic in my proposal and take the bait.

Sure enough, a flicker of surprise and greed flashed across her face.

“Lincoln, you…”

“This way, even if the treatment doesn’t work, you won’t be left with nothing,” I added, my voice full of fake sincerity.

Emily’s eyes darted back and forth as she weighed her options.

Finally, unable to resist the temptation, she nodded.

“Alright. Let’s do it your way.”

Just as I’d expected, she couldn’t resist the offer.