Chapter 3

Dylan was such a diva. Even after he got better, he insisted on staying in the hospital for extra recovery and had all sorts of demands about what he ate and drank.

So for the past six months, I worked a regular job during the day and then pulled extra shifts at a food stall at night, squeezing every minute out of the day to make ends meet.

Even while he was stuck in the hospital, James would secretly take on some light handiwork behind my back, just to help out.

But to someone like Dylan, who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, everything we did for him didn't mean a thing. It wasn't even worth a dime in his eyes.

Two security guards grabbed me by the arms and dragged me toward the exit.

I opened my mouth, still trying to explain myself.

Dylan shot me a dark, warning look. "You look pretty pitiful right now.

"If you pull this again, don't expect me to show you any mercy."

The security guards kicked me out and put me on the blacklist, as Dylan told them to.

I sat outside the hospital, feeling totally lost.

I don't know how long I sat there, but before I knew it, James was pulling me into a hug.

He said softly, "I've been looking everywhere for you. You scared me to death.

"What happened? Why are you crying?"

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I buried my face in James's chest and broke down, sobbing my heart out.

I explained, "What are we gonna do, James? They put us on the blacklist.

"We came all this way for your treatment, and now I've totally ruined everything."

I told James everything, and his face just kept getting paler and paler.

"So this hospital belongs to the Cooper family?" James asked.

"Yeah," I replied, my voice trembling.

The next second, he pulled me into a tight hug, holding me close. "Victoria, let's not get treated here. Let's go home, okay?

"There are other hospitals that can do this surgery. I don't have to stay here, right?"

I sniffled, trying to hold back my tears. "But this place has the best doctors in the whole country. If worst comes to worst, I'll just go beg Dylan again."

But before I could finish, James cut me off with a kiss.

He was so emotional, kissing me fiercely, like he was afraid to let go.

Finally, he softly brushed his lips against the corner of my mouth, whispering, "Don't mention him.

"Look at me, Victoria. Promise me you won't bring him up again, okay?"

I melted into his soft, caring gaze, and it just made me even more determined.

Ten years together, it felt like barely any time at all.

James was the best thing that ever happened to me. I couldn't let anything bad happen to him because of me.

So the next morning, I tracked down Logan, the doctor treating James, in the parking lot.

"Here's seven thousand dollars, Dr. Pierce. Please, I need you to take me to see Henry," I pleaded. "I have something really important to tell him."

Logan glanced at the cash, then at me, taking in my serious expression.

He ended up pointing at the security camera. "Miss Parker, did I do something to offend you?"

*****

Logan was a good guy. He didn't take my money, but he still took me to see Henry.

I laid everything bare to Henry, holding nothing back about the past six months, including what those two guys, the fat one and the skinny one, said about accusing Charlotte.

Henry Cooper furrowed his brows, gave a few instructions to his butler, then looked at me. "Thanks. So, what do you want?"

"I want you to help arrange surgery for my boyfriend," I replied.

"That's it?" Henry asked, looking genuinely surprised.

I nodded, feeling a little awkward. "Honestly, that's already a lot. Plus, your grandson already gave me 300 thousand dollars as a thank-you gift."

"He only gave you 300 thousand dollars?" Henry asked, still in disbelief.

"The reward for finding him was 3 million dollars. And he only gave you 300 thousand?" Henry blurted out.