Chapter 3

Selecting the fireworks, I heard a peal of laughter. I looked back and saw Alex standing not far away with Grace in his arms.

After one glance at the fireworks in my hand, Alex sneered. "The stuff you chose is so cheap."

Instantly, the smile on my dad's face froze. My dad put away the change and asked, "Alex, how can you make out with another woman right before my daughter?"

Grace in Alex's arms flinched. With contempt, she said, "Mr. Shittu, you don't know that, do you? Your daughter asks Alex for 30 thousand dollars, and she won't marry him for a penny less. Are you selling your daughter? Alex doesn't have so much spare money. I will feel honored if he can spend 20 thousand dollars on our wedding."

Hearing this, my dad blushed with anger, and his lips quivered.

My heart skipped a beat, and I hurried over to shield him.

"Selling a daughter? Grace, do you know what Alex said to my parents when he was penniless?" I shouted.

I looked at Alex and said word by word, "He said that he would give me happiness as long as my dad invested in his company."

I then raised my voice so the passersby could hear me. "Alex, you can't part with your money. Do you know that my parents have prepared 600 thousand dollars as my dowry?"

Awkward, Alex kept changing his expression. His Adam's apple moved, but not a word was uttered. Regret flashed past his eyes.

People around us talked, so Grace's face turned scarlet red.

For fear that my dad would get the heart attack, I pulled my parents to leave.

However, Grace gripped my wrist with one hand and pointed to the car not far away with the other one.

Desperate, she shouted, "I saw you get out of that car. That car is a real limited edition. There are only three in this country, and it's known to all that Thomas Brown in Clockery has just bought one."

Grace shifted her gaze to my dad with contempt. "Your daughter is amazing. She can flirt with a 70-year-old man and plan to marry a young one at the same time."

The onlookers exchanged their opinions excitedly and even used very harsh words on me.

"Nonsense!" My dad was so furious that his chest heaved up and down violently. His finger pointing at Alex was shaking. "My girl isn't that type of woman. You..."

Before he finished his speech, he suddenly held a hand to his chest. Then, his face quickly turned pale.

"Dad!" My heart tightened. I caught his body slumping to the floor as a cold sweat broke out on my forehead.

My mom panicked. She then fumbled for the pills in my dad's pocket.

Alex sneered. "Stop pretending."

Holding my dad in my arms, I raised my head and glared at Alex with hatred in my eyes.

He was clear that my dad's heart was too weak for any provocations.

My hands kept shaking, so I failed to call the ambulance as I wished.

Tears flooded out of my eyes.

When I was in despair, a black Rolls-Royce stopped before me.

Danny got out of the car. I looked at him and stammered, "Dan, Danny, my dad..."

Alex saw Danny. With a smug smile, he said, "Danny, look, I was right. Except me, no man wants her."

Danny coldly squinted at Alex.

Then, he came to my help. He comforted me by saying, "Everything will be fine. Come, let's rush your dad to the hospital first."

He picked up my dad who was unconscious.

When he closed the car door, he shot Alex and Grace a stern glance and said, "You two had better pray for Mr. Shittu now. If anything bad happens to him, I will make you two sorry."

Alex opened his mouth to argue, but Danny already started the car.

The operation lasted for one whole night.

The lights in the operating room finally went out. Danny took one step forward and looked into the room. The line on the ECG became flat.

"I am sorry. We have done what we could," the doctor said.

My heart skipped a beat. Then, I slumped onto the floor.

The funeral was held the next day. My dad's photo was placed in the center of the mourning hall.

Dressed in black, I looked at the photo numbly. I had no tears anymore.

I didn't know when Alex had arrived. He looked down at me and said, "What's this? May, you do impress me. You even joke about your dad's life."

My body shivered. "Alex, my dad died because of you..."

"Me?" Alex interrupted me and sneered. He leaned over and said, "He shouldn't have helped you set me up if he was so vulnerable. Do you try to guilt me with his feigning death?"