Chapter 2

Looking at my mother's determined face on the video, my eyes finally welled up.

I hailed a cab and headed over, meaning to take her home first.

But the moment I arrived, Alfred grabbed hold of me:

"So you finally decided to show up? Playing hard to get with me?"

I shook his hand off:

"You're overthinking it."

As I helped my mother away, Alfred seized me again, seemingly forcing his emotions down:

"That's enough already."

"My patience has its limits too."

"Come to the police department with me right now, sign a release waiving charges, and get Libby out!"

I threw him off hard again, helped my mother into the car, then turned to look at Alfred and said, one word at a time:

"I will never forgive Libby Henson."

But the next second.

Alfred yanked me hard, and I stumbled, my body pitching backward out of my control.

I crashed hard to the ground.

The pain in my left foot instantly spread through every limb and bone.

Seeing this.

My mother struggled out of the car and came forward to help me.

But the next second.

With a single look from Alfred, the group of men moved in and blocked my mother's way.

Alfred stepped forward, crouched down, and met my eyes.

There was a note that left no room for argument when he spoke:

"Come to the police department with me now, and I can pretend none of this ever happened."

I turned my face away.

But the pain in my left foot finally brought tears to my eyes.

Seeing this.

My mother, eyes red, stepped forward, trying to rush to my side.

But Alfred's men reached out and stopped her.

One of them threw out an arm.

The next second.

My mother clutched her chest, gasping for breath, her body slumping backward out of control.

"Mom!"

I went wild trying to get to her.

Alfred simply reached out to hold me back, pointed at my mother lying on the ground, and said in a low voice:

"Sign the release, and I'll take you both to the hospital."

"You..."

But the next second.

Alfred's phone rang.

He hung up, and he was in such a rush he didn't even spare me another glance, just hurried off outside with a tense look on his face.

I scrambled over, helped my mother up, and quickly called 911.

But the doctor said my mother's condition was critical and she needed surgery immediately.

Tears in my eyes, I nodded again and again:

"Okay, okay, do the surgery then."

"Let's go pay first, then."

But when I took out my phone to pay, I found every bank card in my name had been frozen.

The people behind me started pressing me.

And just then.

My phone suddenly rang.

It was a call from Alfred.

The instant the call connected, Alfred launched straight into a tirade:

"Carrie Winfield, do you have any idea that Libby cried because of you!"

"When has Libby ever suffered like this?"

"I've frozen every card in your name. You should pay the price for everything you've done! Libby is not someone you can just mess with!"

"Doesn't your mother need money for surgery? You've only got one option now: I'll give you a settlement, and you sign the release. Otherwise, I don't mind having your mother thrown out of the hospital."

"You have one minute to decide."

The people behind me were still pressing me, and my mother was still waiting for surgery.

There was no time left.

I closed my eyes and tilted my head back, tears sliding from the corners of my eyes:

"Fine."