Chapter 5

Avery's POV

New York's first heavy snow fell in the deep winter.

In my third month of confinement in the villa, I received a call from the prison.

"Miller family? Inmate Dylan had a serious conflict with another inmate and suffered a comminuted fracture in his right leg, compounded by a severe infection. The prison's medical conditions are limited. He must be granted medical parole immediately, or he faces the risk of amputation. Please have a guarantor sign as soon as possible."

Ethan had grudgingly given me back my phone so I could receive hospital calls. Hearing this news, my mind went blank. I rushed out of the guest room without even putting on shoes.

I sprinted to the study on the second floor and violently pushed open the door.

Ethan was sitting in front of his computer, on a video conference with several doctors.

"Ethan, please, save my brother!" I rushed to the desk, my voice piercing. "He needs medical parole, only you can sign for it, please let him out to get treatment for his leg!"

Ethan unhappily covered his microphone and looked at me coldly. "Get out. Can't you see I'm in an important meeting?"

"My brother is going to be amputated!" I was so anxious I reached out to grab his sleeve. "If you just sign, I'll do anything you ask, I'll give you all the remaining shares of the Miller family, please..."

"Avery!" Ethan violently flung my hand away, his eyes cold.

"Your brother deserves what he gets! He caused trouble in there, why should I pull strings to get him out? Besides, Celeste burned her hand with a cookie the other day, causing a small blister, and I'm having Swiss specialists consult on it. I don't have time for your brother."

I froze.

I looked at the world-renowned dermatologists on the screen, then at Ethan's cold, heartless face.

My brother facing amputation was less important than a small blister on Celeste's wrist?

"Ethan, are you even human?!" I trembled, screaming in despair. "That's a leg! He's a lawyer, how will he live without a leg?!"

"That's his problem," Ethan put his headphones back on, his tone indifferent. "Someone, take her back to her room. Don't let her step out without my permission."

Two bodyguards walked in and forcibly dragged me out.

I was locked in the guest room, frantically banging on the door and windows until my hands were bloody, until my throat was hoarse and I couldn't make a sound.

No one outside responded to my despair.

Twenty-four hours later, the door finally opened.

Ethan stood at the doorway, looking at me, curled up in a corner and covered in blood. His brow furrowed even deeper.

"Stop making a scene," he threw a phone in front of me. "The prison called."

I lunged like a madwoman, trembling as I pressed the answer button.

On the other end of the line, the lawyer's voice was heavy. "Ms. Miller, I'm sorry... because the optimal treatment window was missed, Mr. Miller's right leg... has undergone amputation."

The phone clattered to the floor.

I didn't cry, didn't make a scene. I just sat on the floor, staring blankly at the falling snow outside the window.

Ethan suddenly walked over to me, trying to pick me up. "Avery, it's just one leg, the Thorne family can support him. As long as you behave from now on..."

"Don't touch me."

My voice was soft, but it carried a chilling calmness.

I slowly turned my head to look at Ethan. In those eyes, all the love, hope, and even hatred I had once felt for him, vanished completely at that moment.

"Ethan, my brother's leg, my mother's life. I'll remember it all."