Chapter 3

David looked shocked for a second, then his expression turned to pure disgust.

He looked like he didn't even want to waste another word on me.

He grabbed Emily, who was still in shock.

"Let's go. Why talk to a crazy person?" His voice wasn't loud, but it cut deep into my heart.

Crazy person? So that's all I was to them.

Emily snapped out of it.

"Mom. What the hell is wrong with you?" She shook off his hand and yelled at me. "Dad's still fighting for his life, and you're here throwing a tantrum?

"Do you think we're supposed to be on call for you 24/7? We have our own lives."

Every word was an excuse for her selfishness and coldness.

Every word put the blame on me.

I looked at her and realized, for the first time, that she and David were the same.

They were both indifferent and selfish.

I was exhausted.

I was truly worn out.

I was too tired to argue.

I turned away from her and walked to the Critical Care Unit.

The thick glass separated two worlds.

Inside was my husband, my whole world, lying still with tubes everywhere.

Outside was me, alone, holding up a world that was falling apart.

As for those two arguing on the other side of the glass, to me, they didn't matter anymore.

My world was only me and Frank.

"Fine, you win." Emily kept screaming. "Stay here then. Pay for his treatment yourself. Don't expect a penny from us.

"And don't forget next month's mortgage. Our trip to Western Europe is already booked. You better send me that 6700 dollars today." Her words hit me like a cold splash of water.

But instead of extinguishing the anger inside me, it made me calm.

Right.

Money. That's all they care about.

Frank's emergency treatment, his follow‑up care, and the Intensive Care Unit's daily cost of thousands of dollars, all required money.

They nearly drained the money I'd spent my whole life saving, the 260,000 dollars down payment, the 2600 dollars monthly mortgage paid year after year, and all of Emily's endless daily expenses.and all of Emily's endless daily expenses.

Even my pension and Frank's pension meant for our retirement and emergencies got eaten away by them, little by little.

Now Frank was fighting for his life, and all they could think about was two thousand dollars for a trip to Europe.

I almost laughed.

I pulled out my phone and opened the banking app in front of them.

Emily's eyes lit up. She thought I was giving in.

Instead, I typed in the hospital's payment account.

Then I transferred everything we had left, 14,542.80 dollars, to this account.

When I was done, I turned my phone around and showed Emily the confirmation screen of the transfer.

"Did you see it clearly?" I asked, my voice flat, without a trace of emotion."This is all the money we have left.

"From this moment on, the only relationship between us is that of mother and daughter in the eyes of the law. Supporting me is your obligation.

"But beyond that, we have nothing to do with each other.

"Your trips to Europe, your luxury goods and even your life have nothing to do with me.

"Now, take your husband and leave. I never want to see you again."

With that, I lowered my phone and turned my gaze back to Frank in the Intensive Care Unit.

Behind me, there was a long, heavy silence.

Then came the sound of David dragging Emily away.

Emily stayed quiet this time.

I knew she was shaken by my resolve, but more than that, she needed to find out whether I meant what I said.

The hallway finally fell silent.

I leaned against the cold wall, feeling all my strength drain out of me.

But for Frank, and for myself,

I knew I couldn't collapse.

Dawn finally broke.

But my world had already fallen apart.

And I was the one who tore it down.