Chapter 2

The nurse was shouting my name.

"Winona Henson's family! Is Winona Henson's family here!"

Patrick stood two steps behind me.

Hands in his pockets, he didn't even turn his head.

Cara tugged at his sleeve.

"Patrick, the nurse is calling for Winona's family.

"Go and check on her."

Patrick closed his hand over Cara's.

"Don't worry about her.

"She just paid off the nurse to put on a show for us.

"She's been pulling this crying, screaming, threatening-to-die act for three years.

"I'm not buying it."

The nurse ran up in front of us and blocked the officer.

"You can't take her!

"The patient has severe anemia, and her clotting is dangerously poor.

"She's already going into contractions.

"She needs to be admitted right now to save the pregnancy, ready for surgery at any moment.

"If she leaves this hospital and we lose both mother and child, who's going to answer for that?"

The nurse turned to Patrick.

"Mr. Fox, this is a matter of life and death.

"Go pay the deposit and get her admitted first.

"The rest of it you can sort out later."

Patrick let out a cold laugh and walked up to the nurse.

"How much did she pay you?

"To play along with this cheap little act of hers?

"She's as strong as an ox. How could she possibly have severe anemia?

"I keep her fed and comfortable every single day.

"She just wants to con money out of me to prop up that broke family of hers."

The nurse's face went red with anger. She slapped the report straight against Patrick's chest.

"See for yourself!

"Her hemoglobin is only fifty!

"A normal person would have gone into shock long ago!

"She's made it this far on sheer willpower alone.

"Are you even a man? You'd throw away your own wife and child?"

Patrick didn't even glance at the report. He threw it straight to the floor.

And stepped on it.

"I already said, she's faking.

"And even if she really is sick, that's because she doesn't take care of herself.

"I always told her to get more exercise. She never listened.

"Now that something's gone wrong, she comes running to me to bail her out.

"Why should I pay for her laziness?"

Cara bent down and picked up the filthy report, wiping it carefully with a tissue.

"Patrick, don't say that.

"Winona might really be in a lot of pain.

"Look how pale she is.

"Think of it as building up some good karma for the baby in my belly... for me."

Patrick snatched the report from her and tore it to shreds.

"Cara, you're just too soft-hearted.

"Your money is money you worked hard for.

"Why should you let her waste it?

"If she'd steal a necklace today to cover a deposit,

"tomorrow she'll steal the deed and sell the house.

"She needs to learn her lesson.

"If anything happens to her, I, Patrick Fox, take full responsibility. I'll never come after you two over it."

That was the last straw for the nurse.

"Mr. Fox, this is abandonment!

"Your wife is in critical condition right now.

"If you refuse your duty to get her treated, you'll be held legally responsible!"

Patrick wasn't fazed in the slightest. He took out his phone.

Dialed a number.

"Lawyer Chavez, bring people down to City General right now.

"There's a hospital nurse here interfering with how I handle my own family business.

"And trying to force me to pay up.

"Right. Bring the media too.

"I want everyone to see how the police these days team up with thieves to shake honest people down."

He hung up.

Patrick looked down at me.

"Winona, you think this is going to make me cave?"

"Let me tell you, even if the almighty himself came down here today."

"I still wouldn't pay a cent. You like stealing, don't you?"

"You can go do all the stealing you want behind bars."

A savage pain tore through my belly, like something was dragging downward.

I clenched my teeth. Cold sweat rolled off my forehead in fat drops.

"Patrick, let's get divorced."

My voice was soft, but every word was clear.

"Sign the papers.

"I'll walk away with nothing. I'll sign my own consent for the surgery."

Patrick froze for a second.

Then burst into loud, mocking laughter.

"Divorce?"

"You think a divorce lets you dodge the law?"

"You think a divorce lets you keep all the money from my necklace for yourself?"

"Winona, dream on. Not only will I not divorce you."

"I'll make you spend the rest of your life branded a thief."

Cara stepped forward and gently stroked my arm.

"Winona, don't say things you don't mean.

"Patrick loves you very much."

"He's just angry that you stole."

"Hurry up and apologize to him, promise you'll never steal again."

"He'll definitely forgive you."

I shook her hand off.

A hot rush spilled down the inside of my thigh.

Drip.

Drip.

Red spread across the white tiles.

The nurse screamed.