Chapter 3

When I woke up, I was staring at the ceiling of a hospital room.

A nurse noticed I was awake and let out a heavy sigh.

"You're finally up. God, you should've seen the circus earlier. A mob dumped you here, yelling at us to wake you up so you'd 'cough up fifty grand.'”

“Security had to kick them out for causing a scene. Who were those monsters?"

A sharp, stabbing ache gripped my chest, but I kept my voice steady.

"My family."

The nurse gasped.

"Seriously? They acted like they wanted you dead." She caught herself and quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.

I didn't answer. I just picked up my phone and dialed.

"Mr. Pierce? It's Vivian. I want to execute Clara's will. I need her estate released immediately for my leukemia treatments."

An hour later, I arrived at Pierce Law. To my shock, Robert, my uncles, and my aunts were already sitting in the lobby.

Brenda sneered the moment she saw me.

"Well, look who caught wind of our meeting. Too bad you're late. We already consulted legal counsel. Without a will, her siblings split everything equally. If you want a cut, beg your dad."

Robert looked down on me with cold indifference.

"Vivian, out of a million dollars, our household only gets around three hundred thousand. That's barely enough for your first surgery, let alone follow-ups.”

“Stop dragging this out. Take that fifty grand Clara gave you as a gift from all of us. Treat yourself to some good food. Make peace with your time."

Seeing me stay silent, Brenda stepped forward and shoved a bright red envelope into my hands.

"By the way, your cousin is getting married. You'd better stay alive long enough to show up."

I opened it. The invitation was for a five-star hotel downtown.

Austin's fiancée came from a wealthy family. Brenda and Arthur were desperate to impress her parents, maxing out their credit cards to throw a lavish wedding they couldn't afford.

I never expected them to lend me money to save my life.

But why did they have to steal the money that was rightfully mine?

Furious, I tore the invitation to shreds and threw it at her feet.

Brenda snapped.

"Vivian Vance! Don't you dare bite the hand that feeds you!"

I shrugged coldly.

"Just taking a page out of your book. Didn't you do the exact same thing to Clara's will?"

Nathan Pierce stepped out of his office to greet me.

"Miss Vance, please come in."

I looked straight at him.

"Mr. Pierce, I'm here to claim my aunt's estate in full, exactly as she requested."

Laughter erupted behind me.

Donna mocked, "Are you losing your mind from the cancer? What will?!"

Embarrassed, Robert quickly jumped in to explain to Nathan.

"I apologize, counselor. My daughter is terribly ill, and her head isn't clear. Don't listen to her nonsense. And don't bother charging her—she doesn't have a job and can't pay your fees."

I still couldn't understand why my own father was fighting so hard to stop me from inheriting it all.

"Dad, Clara made it crystal clear. Everything belongs to me. If I don't survive, whatever is left goes to you anyway!”

“Why would you destroy the will and share it with everyone else? You're taking less money!"

Robert stammered, his face flushing red, before barking defensively, "I'm doing what's best for the family! Stop being so damn selfish!"

If he refused to tell me the truth, I was done humoring him.

I reached into my bag, pulled out Clara's paper will, and held it up for everyone to see.

"I have the will. Every last penny is mine."