Chapter 3

I didn't feel like wasting my breath on her. I tossed a bank card and a contract onto the coffee table. I said, "Sign this, and the 60 grand in the account is yours."

Jason slammed the table. He said, "Sixty grand? You call that settling? My brother's compensation should be at least 300 grand. And that house, joint property, is worth at least 500k. If you want to cut ties, hand over the money. Otherwise, forget it."

"It's true, Ryan and I both paid the down payment for the house, but his share was only 20 grand," I said flatly.

"No way," Jason said, his eyes bulging. "Ryan had a solid job. How could a woman like you come up with that kind of money?"

"Jason," Linda interrupted, then looked at me. She said, "When you two were dating, my son covered most of the expenses. Of course, he didn't have much saved up. But you can't just ignore all the good things he did for you."

I gave a sarcastic laugh and replied, "Yeah, he paid for everything, street food stalls, bargain dresses from the wholesale market, and cheap coffee on sale. He was really generous. That's why I'm giving you an extra 40 grand, just to settle the score."

Linda started to say something, but stopped.

"Emily, you're way out of line. If you don't give my mom 300 grand, I'll storm into your office tomorrow and raise hell. Let's see if a heartless woman like you can still keep her job after that," Jason said.

I gave him a slow clap, my voice thick with mockery. I said, "If that's how you see me, then I guess I'll just be the villain you want."

I shoved the bank card and contract back into my bag.

I stared Jason down and said, "Go ahead and show up at my office. Just be ready to deal with the cops."

Without another word, I turned and walked out, leaving Linda crying her eyes out behind me.

"Oh heavens, what did the Brooks family do to deserve this? How did we end up with such a cold-blooded woman? Why did my son have to die, and not you, Emily? Why?" Linda said and wailed.

"Emily, you'll never get a happy ending," Jason shouted after me, his voice echoing with rage.

But none of their vicious words touched me. I was completely unfazed, my heart steady as a rock.

I crashed at Beatrice's place for the time being. When she found out Ryan was still alive, she nearly choked on her water.

"That bastard's got some nerve. If he didn't want to be with you, he could've just divorced you. Pulling a stunt like this is just despicable," Beatrice said, her voice full of disgust.

I swirled my wine glass, a mocking smile on my lips. I said, "Without money, he won't last long."

A few days later, instead of Ryan making a dramatic comeback, I got a call from one of his coworkers. Apparently, Linda had shown up at the office, demanding an advance on the work injury compensation since the paperwork wasn't done yet.

Since she was an elderly woman, the company didn't want to stir up any trouble, so they agreed to give her 30 grand.

When I heard the news, I couldn't help but laugh. They were hell-bent on going down this path, no matter how bad it got.

Whatever. In the end, they would only be digging their own graves.

After work that evening, I spotted Jason downstairs at Beatrice's place. He was flanked by a bunch of punks dressed like troublemakers, looking like they were up to no good.

"Emily, hand over 300 grand and we'll leave you alone," Jason said, fixing me with a chilling glare. "But if you don't, don't expect me to remember you were ever family."

I said with a scowl, "You think a few threats are enough to scare me? If you don't want to wreck your own life, you'd better get out of here."

"So you'll die for money?" Jason said through gritted teeth. The punks started cracking their knuckles, grinning like hyenas. They said, "Forget it, Jason. This chick doesn't know her place. Let us teach her a lesson; she'll be begging to cooperate in no time."

With danger closing in, I didn't waste another word. I spun around and dashed for the stairwell.

Beatrice had rented a place in a rundown apartment complex to save money. There was no entry system, no security guards, and the stairwell was cramped. I had barely made it up a couple of flights before they grabbed me.

"Let go of me," I shouted, thrashing desperately, but no matter how hard I fought, the punk's grip was unbreakable.

"Pretty and got some fire. I like that," one of them said.

"Don't hog her, bro, let the rest of us have a taste, too," another said.

Their vile words made my skin crawl. I wished I could just disappear right then and there.

"Jason, I'll pay you. Just make them stop, please," I shouted, my voice trembling with desperation.

Jason hesitated, then relented. He said, "Alright, guys, back off. She's giving in."

But those guys were completely blinded by lust and ignored Jason completely. One of them just kicked him aside, sending Jason sprawling on the floor.

They tore my clothes apart, grinning like predators. It was clear what they were after; they wanted to take me right then and there.

Despair washed over me. After everything I'd been through to start over, was this really where it would end? Was I really about to die here?

"What?" someone called out.