Chapter 1

My Aunt Eleanor left a will, granting her entire million-dollar estate to me.

My father, Robert, snatched the will and ripped it to shreds.

"What does a dying person need so much money for?" he sneered. "Without a will, the three of us siblings will split it equally, as per the law."

I felt all the color drain from my face. "That's Aunt Eleanor's money, left specifically for me! I need it for my leukemia treatment."

My uncle, Gary, stomped hard on the shredded pieces of paper on the floor. "Even with the money, your illness might not be cured anyway," he said, callous. "We're Aunt Eleanor's closest relatives. The adults decide how it's divided."

Everyone else looked gleeful. "Your father is right, we completely agree."

A cold dread washed over me. They clearly had no idea that Aunt Eleanor's will also existed digitally.

If you don't care that I'm critically ill, then don't blame me for abandoning all family ties.

Seeing me frozen in place, speechless, my father, Robert, calmly tried to console me. "Ava, I know you're upset. But the living are important too. Gary's son, Daniel, is getting married soon, and Richard's daughter, Chloe, is preparing to study abroad. Everyone is short on cash right now. Splitting it equally among our three families, as the law dictates, is the fairest way."

It felt like I was being brutally dragged to hell; the pain was excruciating. "Even without this money, Daniel would still get married as planned, and Richard and Sharon could still afford to send Chloe to study abroad. But I'll die if I don't get enough money for treatment! Besides, Aunt Eleanor clearly stated in black and white that this money was for me. What right do you have to take it?"

Robert was furious at my "immaturity," the flesh on his face trembling. "Ava, how can you be so selfish! This money might not even cure your illness, but it would make everyone else's lives much more comfortable."

Brenda started to tear up dramatically. "Don't be silly, talking about dying. Would we, your family, ever abandon you?"

Sharon quickly chimed in. "Exactly! We'd definitely work hard to find you the best doctors and hospitals. Blood is thicker than water; we'd never treat you badly."

I found it laughable. Ever since my diagnosis, they had been avoiding me like the plague. Afraid I'd infect them, or worse, ask them to get tested for bone marrow donation. "Oh no, we're too old for surgery." "Daniel and Chloe aren't even married yet. What if something goes wrong with the bone marrow donation? I won't allow it."

Where was their "blood is thicker than water" concern back then? I countered their pretense. "The doctors already said they found a suitable bone marrow donor. The cost is exactly one million. If I inherit Aunt Eleanor's full estate, I'll live."

They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with cunning. Richard was the first to speak. "Doctors aren't saints. Is everything they say absolutely true? Maybe they're just after your surgery fees." At Richard's words, everyone nodded in silent agreement. "We're family. Would we really harm you?"

My expression remained unmoved. "In short, Aunt Eleanor's money was promised to me. I won't give a dime to anyone."

Robert was the first to accuse me. "Ava! If I get the inheritance, wouldn't I still give you money for treatment? You wouldn't be losing anything. Splitting the money equally would make everyone happy. Do you really have to upset everyone because of your illness?"

Robert's words emboldened the others. Brenda began to earnestly lecture me. "Ava, don't blame me for being blunt. With your illness, even if you survive, you'll burden the family with your care. Just take pity on Robert, who worked so hard to raise you alone. Don't put him through any more trouble."

Sharon nodded vigorously. "Besides, Eleanor's money should belong to the Sterling family. It's only right and legally supported for us to split it equally."

I gasped in anger, loudly refuting them. "No! The law won't support that!"

Sharon looked at me as if I were a clown. "If the law doesn't support an equal split, does it support you taking everything? Now that the will is gone, the law will certainly not support you."

I pointed at the fragments on the floor, arguing passionately. "The will clearly stated in black and white that all of Aunt Eleanor's estate was for me alone!"

The Sterling family had never truly cared for Aunt Eleanor. Early on, my grandparents had wanted to marry Eleanor off for financial gain. After a huge argument with the family, Eleanor ran off to make her own way. Robert felt Eleanor's actions betrayed the Sterling family, and he was furious. "Let's just pretend Eleanor was never part of our family!"

I knelt on the floor, trying to pick up the fragments of the will. "You didn't respect Aunt Eleanor when she was alive. What right do you have to divvy up her money now that she's dead!"