Chapter 8 · Millions in Debt, Tricked by My Own Brother

Chapter 8

Stephen slammed a stack of reports down on the desk.Those were my initial diagnostic records, which he'd pulled up after stopping me yesterday, plus a few urgent tests he'd rushed through after that.His face was stormy."Stomach cancer. Mid to late stage," he said. "If you'd come in two weeks earlier, surgery plus chemo might have given you a chance."He paused for a moment. "Now it's too late. The cancer's already spread to your liver and the lining of your abdomen."The exam room was dead quiet.The air conditioner buzzed softly."How long do I have?" I asked.He took off his reading glasses and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. "Best case, one to two weeks. If things get worse, it could be any day."I sat there, feeling as if my body had lost all its weight.It was like I was nothing but a sheet of paper, waiting for any stray wind to blow me away.I only had one to two weeks.That meant I probably wouldn't be around when Ryan got back from Riverside City, "all better.""Your body's in really bad shape. Years of poor nutrition and hard work have pretty much destroyed your immune system. That's why the cancer got so aggressive," Stephen explained.He looked at my face. "What kind of life have you had these past years?"I didn't say anything.He let out a sigh. "Your mom helped me a lot back then."I looked up at him.He kept going, "Back when I was working at the county hospital, I was so broke I could barely get by. Your mom covered my training expenses for ten years. That's how I managed to achieve anything in oncology."When she passed away, I was overseas and couldn't get back in time. All these years, I've always wanted to repay her kindness, but I couldn't reach anyone from your family."He studied my face. "When I saw your name yesterday, I thought I had the wrong person. You're so thin, unlike your mom when she was young."I kept my head down. "I understand my situation now, Dr. Reed. Please keep this a secret."He shot up from his chair. "How could I keep it a secret? You need to be admitted right now. I'll reach out to some colleagues and see if there's anything we can do to save you.""That's not necessary.""You—""I don't have the money for a hospital stay," I said. "And I don't have time for that, either."I stood up and bowed to him."Thank you for honoring my mom's kindness," I continued. "When I'm gone, please issue a death certificate and send my ashes to the Cooper Estate, addressed to Ryan Cooper."Stephen's lips trembled."Claire," he called out.But I already pulled the door open and walked out.The hallway was crowded with people coming and going.A mother and daughter walked past me, the little girl tugging at her mom's sleeve, begging for candy.I took a few steps, then stopped and braced myself against the wall.It wasn't sadness.I simply didn't have any strength left.November 17th was my birthday. And it was my last one.My phone buzzed.It was a message from Emily.Emily: [Claire, today's our birthday. Come to the Grand Crest Restaurant. Ryan's throwing me a huge party. You should see it for yourself.]There was a smiley emoji at the end.I stared at the smiley on my screen.It seemed to glow, like a blade that couldn't cut flesh, but still made me feel sick deep down.I didn't reply.I left the hospital and hailed a cab, telling the driver to take me to the Grand Crest Restaurant.It wasn't because Emily invited me.I simply wanted to see with my own eyes what kind of madness I'd fed with my life these past four years.The hall on the third floor of the Grand Crest Restaurant was blazing with lights.I stood behind the emergency exit door at the end of the hallway, peering through the glass.There were at least a hundred guests inside.All of them were Ryan's old business associates.I recognized a few faces.The same people who used to turn their backs on me when I was desperate for help were now all smiles, raising their glasses.Emily was center stage.She wore a pink dress and a sparkling crystal tiara.Behind her was a seven-foot-tall wall of fresh flowers.There was also a seven-tiered cake, pink and white, with Emily's name in big letters on top.Ryan was right beside her, standing tall.He was dressed in a silver-gray suit with a dark red tie, looking sharp and confident.He looked like a completely different person from the "invalid" who used to drool in his wheelchair every day.Emily closed her eyes, pressing her hands together in a wish."My wish is to be Ryan's little princess forever, and the only daughter of the Cooper family," she said.Applause broke out all around.Ryan produced a red velvet box from his suit pocket.He opened it.My fingers clenched around the metal frame of the fire door.It was the golden locket, the one that used to have my name engraved on it.But the front had been polished smooth, and the "Claire" on the back had been scraped off, replaced with "Emily.""This is the Cooper family's heirloom," Ryan said gently, holding up the locket. "From today on, you're my only sister."He fastened it around Emily's neck himself.Emily lifted her face, tears streaming down her cheeks."Ryan, I'm so touched," she said.The whole room stood up and applauded.I turned around and leaned against the cold metal door of the emergency exit.The stairwell ahead was dull and covered in dust.My phone buzzed again.Emily kept blowing up my phone with messages, one after another.Emily: [Claire, you didn't come? What a pity.]Emily: [The golden locket is gorgeous. Ryan said it was always meant for me.]Emily: [You can stop worrying about the family now. I'll look after Ryan.]Emily: [Keep working hard out there, but don't push yourself too much.]And then the last one. [By the way, Ryan had someone drop off a birthday gift for you. It's already at your place, so don't forget to grab it when you get back.]My hand holding the phone started to twitch.I didn't cry or reply.I walked down the emergency exit stairs.

Chapter 8