Chapter 4

I laughed.

They’d ruined my life, tore Liam and me apart, and now that I was dying, they said they agreed?

They hadn't checked on me once in three years. I hated them more than anyone.

So, when Liam used his connections to speed up their bankruptcy, I actually felt a sense of relief.

They deserved it.

Still, I didn't expect them to have the nerve to show their faces.

"Chloe, don't look at us like that. Your mother and I did it for your own good."

"Back then, who knew Liam was a rising star? The safest bet was to marry into a good family and never worry again. It wasn't our fault you got sick and couldn't close the deal."

"Now that Liam has made it, if you want to live, you have to rely on him. He loved you so deeply back then. If you play your cards right, you might have a chance."

I was so angry I laughed. "Play my cards right? If you’d read the news, you’d know Liam wants me dead. He wants our whole family dead!"

"Mom, Dad, if you hadn't interfered back then, Liam and I would have been married years ago. He wouldn't hate you, he wouldn't have bankrupted you, he might even have helped you turn things around."

"Now that you have nothing, you’re backed into a corner and want to beg him for help?"

"Don't dream of it! Even if I could help you, I wouldn't. Get out! Get out of here!"

Any familial bond had evaporated three years ago.

Even though they still had ties to shady people, I wasn't afraid of them anymore. I was dying. I had nothing to lose.

Liam had become someone they couldn't touch.

I grabbed a broom and swung it with all my might to drive them out.

My father grabbed it. A hypocritical, businessman’s smile hung on his face, and his tone softened. "Chloe, there’s something you don't know. Actually, someone tipped us off that you and Liam were planning to get married, which is why I hardened my heart and used Liam’s life to threaten you into leaving him."

"Guess who it was?"

"It was Liam’s current fiancée, Avery!"

"If it weren't for Avery, you and Liam would have just gone ahead and married. No matter how mad I was, I couldn't have stopped you. Avery ruined your relationship. Are you willing to let her marry him?"

Seeing me freeze with the broom, my mother quickly stepped in. "If Liam still has feelings for you, just get close to him. See how long you can live, and get some money for our family."

"If he hates you, that works too. Sacrifice a little and let him blow off some steam. He’ll give you something for it, right? The more he hates you, the more he cares. Either way, getting some money out of him is better than dying alone in this dump because you can't afford meds, right?"

My heart sank. I didn't know if I should cry or laugh.

I’d still underestimated how low my parents could go.

I was a dying daughter, and they still wanted to use me as a tool.

But those words couldn't touch me.

They thought I’d broken up with Liam only because of their threats. They wanted to use my hatred for the whistleblower, Avery, to make me grovel to Liam so they could profit.

But in reality, the fundamental reason I’d broken up with Liam was my illness.

I didn't want to drag him down.

Just as I was about to tell them so they'd give up, the old wooden door was kicked open.

Liam’s eyes were bloodshot, fixed on me.

"Chloe."

"Did you... have a reason for leaving me back then?"