Chapter 1

My aunt left a will, leaving her entire one-million-dollar estate to me.

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

"What does someone on her deathbed need this kind of money for?" he sneered.

"Now that the will is gone, the law says the three brothers split it equally."

My face went deathly pale.

"Clara left that money for me! I need it for my leukemia treatment!"

Robert ground the paper scraps under his boot.

"Money might not even save your life anyway. We're her real next of kin. What the adults say, goes."

The rest of the family broke into eager smiles.

"Robert's right. We're with you all the way."

A wave of icy numbness washed over me.

What they didn't know was that Clara had an electronic copy safely backed up.

If they didn't care whether I lived or died, they wouldn't get a single dime from me.

Seeing me stand there frozen, Robert softened his tone, pretending to care.

"Vivian, sweetie, I know you're hurting. But we have to look out for the living."

"Austin is getting married soon, and Mia is getting ready to study abroad. Your uncles and aunts are struggling too. Splitting it three ways is the fairest outcome."

Pain ripped through me like I was being dragged straight into hell.

"Even without this money, Austin can still get married, and Charles can still send Mia to college!”

“But if I don't get treatment, I will die! Besides, Clara promised that money to me. What right do any of you have to touch it?!"

Robert trembled with rage at my defiance.

"Vivian, how can you be this selfish?! That money might not even cure you, but it could change our whole family's lives!"

Brenda wiped away fake tears.

"Oh, honey, don't talk about dying. Do you really think your family would abandon you?"

Donna chimed right in.

"Exactly. We'll find you the best specialists, of course. Blood is thicker than water. We'd never leave you hanging."

I almost laughed out loud.

Ever since my diagnosis, they had treated me like a leper. They were terrified of catching it from me, or worse, being asked to donate bone marrow.

"We're too old for surgery."

"Austin and Mia are too young. What if the procedure hurts them? Absolutely not."

Where was that 'blood is thicker than water' speech back then?

I shattered their little charade.

"The doctor already found a matching donor. The surgery costs exactly one million dollars. If I inherit Clara's money, I get to live."

They exchanged glances, their minds racing.

Charles was the first to speak up.

"Doctors say whatever they want. For all you know, they're just pushing an expensive procedure to pad their commissions."

Everyone nodded in hasty agreement.

"We're your family. We wouldn't steer you wrong."

My expression didn't waver.

"Clara wanted me to have it. I am not sharing a single cent."

Robert lashed out.

"Vivian! When I get my share, I'll pay for your treatments! You lose nothing! Everyone wins this way. Why do you have to ruin everyone else's happiness just because you're sick?!"

His outburst emboldened the others.

Brenda gave a theatrical sigh.

"Vivian, don't blame me for being realistic. Even if you survive, you'll just be a burden on everyone who has to care for you. Have some pity on your father. He raised you on his own. Stop torturing him."

Donna nodded eagerly.

"Clara's money belongs to the Vance family anyway. Splitting it is the legal, rightful way."

I gasped in sheer fury.

"No! The law won't let you!"

Donna looked at me like I was an idiot.

"The law won't let us split it, but it'll let you hoard it all? The will is gone, sweetie. You have zero legal ground."

I pointed at the shredded paper on the floor.

"It was in black and white! Everything went to me!"

Our family had never treated Clara with any respect.

Years ago, my grandparents tried to marry her off to an older man for a hefty check. Clara had a huge fight with them and ran away to build a life of her own.

Robert took her independence as an insult to the family name.

"Consider her dead to us!" he had declared.

I dropped to my knees, desperate to gather the torn fragments.

"You never cared about her while she was alive! What makes you think you have any right to her money now that she's dead?!"