Chapter 3

Lying in the hospital operating room, the anesthesia needle slowly sent me into a hazy state.

In my dream, I saw the debt collectors from my past life again.

Last time, Jake used my phone to take out $700,000 in online loans. After the herbal burger joint went bust, he just ran off with Sam. He left me with nothing but a huge mess and those $700,000 in debts.

Several tall, mean-looking guys with tattooed arms blocked my front door, yelling and banging, their mouths spewing obscenities.

"You damn bitch, pay up now!"

"No money? Then go sell yourself! If you don't pay, we'll drag you off and sell you to traffickers!"

I huddled in my room, trembling and crying, calling Jake. "Jake, please, pay me back..."

Jake just coldly replied, "You're the one who owes the money, not me. Figure it out yourself. Don't bother me."

From his end of the call, I heard Sam's voice, sickly sweet yet trying to sound tough. "Ugh, women are so annoying with all their crying."

"Jake, forget her. Come on, have a drink with Daddy!"

The next second, the call was cut, leaving only the endless "beep, beep, beep" of a busy signal.

In the silent darkness, I curled up in the corner of my room, shaking and in tears. The banging and shouting from outside were terribly loud and terrifying.

The scene shifted. My dream moved to the rooftop.

I stood at the edge, dialing Jake's number one last time. "Jake, I'm dying. The debt collectors are killing me..."

What came through the receiver, though, was the sound of heavy, breathless panting, enough to make anyone blush. Jake was gasping, his voice hoarse but brutal. "If you're going to die, just do it. You don't need to tell me."

Sam's voice echoed with an ambiguous laugh, a teasing purr. "Women are so annoying, Jake. Just block her."

The call was disconnected again.

When I tried calling back, Jake had actually blocked me.

In that moment, my heart turned to ash. I leaped, falling from the rooftop onto the hard concrete below.

Bright red blood stained the ground. It hurt so much, truly agonizing...

"No! Stop!" I jolted upright, my eyes filled with regret and terror.

Harper, sitting by my bed, immediately grabbed my hand. She gently patted my back, soothing me. "Chloe, don't be scared. The surgery is over."

"Your 'love-blindness' has been cured."

Two days later, I was discharged, completely recovered. After my insurance covered it, the whole thing cost me less than $500. And my love for Jake? It was completely wiped clean.

This time, I was going to make them pay tenfold for all the pain they'd inflicted on me!

My phone suddenly rang. It was Jake. He impatiently demanded, "Chloe, why haven't you sent me the money for the shop yet?!"

"I need to pay the store's deposit! Hurry up and send me the money!"