Chapter 2

Gary's son, Daniel, stood idly by, watching me. "Robert, Brenda, Gary, don't you remember? Ava always loved going to Aunt Eleanor's house as a child. Aunt Eleanor doted on Ava, and she'd given her a lot of money privately over the years. See? Now she's left her entire estate to Ava."

Gary and Brenda understood Daniel's insinuation. Brenda quickly squatted down and used her sturdy body to shove me to the floor. "So you're a conniving little thing! So young, and you already manipulated Aunt Eleanor into leaving her entire estate to you. The Sterling family's inheritance should rightfully go to the men of the family! What business does a dying woman like you have with it!"

I lay sprawled on the floor, my body aching all over, but I still defended Aunt Eleanor. "You're the ones who abandoned Aunt Eleanor first! Her death isn't even unrelated to you! You have no right to take a single penny of Aunt Eleanor's money."

Aunt Eleanor was never married and had no children, so she poured a lot of her affection into me. She'd always give me pocket money, delicious snacks, and pretty clothes and bags. Later, when Daniel and Chloe found out, they came to Aunt Eleanor's house demanding things.

"My parents said that since you don't have kids, everything you own will go to Daniel after you die."

Aunt Eleanor was furious and kicked them out on the spot. "You can forget about taking my money!"

But Daniel's words gave her a sense of urgency. Aunt Eleanor pulled me aside and made her will in advance. "Ava, Aunt Eleanor loves you the most. You must guard her money carefully and don't give a single penny to anyone from the Sterling family."

For double assurance, Aunt Eleanor specifically tucked another legally binding copy of the will into her diary. That was the will we had just found while going through Aunt Eleanor's belongings.

Later, when I was diagnosed with leukemia, Aunt Eleanor, heartbroken for me, wired me fifty thousand dollars. "Don't worry, Ava. Aunt Eleanor has money, and she'll pay for whatever treatment you need."

When Brenda found out Aunt Eleanor had given me money, she went to Aunt Eleanor's place and caused a scene. "What are you doing? Why are you giving Daniel's money to Ava? Give us back the money!"

During the argument, Aunt Eleanor fell, and not long after, she passed away in bed.

Brenda suddenly remembered the money Aunt Eleanor had given me before she died, walked over, and kicked me. "Eleanor's fifty thousand dollars to you also belongs to Daniel! Cough it up, now!"

Helpless, I looked up at Robert. Robert stood there, not showing a hint of sympathy. Instead, he just looked annoyed by my "immaturity." "Ava, this is where you're wrong. Quickly hand over that fifty thousand dollars to be part of Aunt Eleanor's estate, and then our three families can split it equally. That's the only proper way. Aren't you afraid of divine retribution for keeping that fifty thousand dollars?"

I reached out, struggling to grasp the fragments on the floor, my eyes burning with hatred. "You wish. Aunt Eleanor's will clearly states all her money goes to me. You won't get a single cent!"

Daniel stomped heavily on my hand. "Stop struggling. You're half-dead already. Why not give up on treatment sooner, die sooner, and be free? At least leave some money for your dad."

Brenda was practically spitting as she spoke. "Exactly! We spoiled you for nothing! How can you be so cold-blooded and petty? What if you win this inheritance fight, what if you get cured? You'll be hated by everyone, completely alienated, and no one will want anything to do with you."

I bit back the pain and reached for the fragments. Robert grabbed a handful of fragments and, pulling out a lighter, burned them to ashes. "Give up. Now there's no will, so the inheritance has to be split equally."

Tears streamed down my face from the pain. "Dad, why are you so cruel? I'm your own daughter! Can you really just stand by and watch me die from lack of surgery money?"

I didn't wait for Robert's answer; the pain simply overwhelmed me, and I passed out.