Chapter 2

Carol froze, stunned.

She hit redial. This time, it rang forever before finally connecting.

"Mom, I told you I'm busy! I'm in the middle of an important business deal!" Vanessa's voice dripped with irritation. "What's so urgent it can't wait? Both of you, blowing up my phone!"

Carol couldn't contain her anger as she confronted her daughter.

"Wait until you're finished? Does your father have to die before you'll make time for us?!"

The line went silent for a few seconds before Vanessa responded.

"What are you talking about? Did Jake go running to you again?"

"Yes, Jake is right here with me." Carol looked at her husband's gaunt face, her voice shaking. "He told us everything, Vanessa. Your father..."

"Mom," Vanessa cut her off sharply. "Let me guess—you're going to tell me Robert's deathly ill in the hospital, needs a fortune for treatment, and somehow I'm the one who took that exact amount?"

Her words came slowly, each one dripping with sarcasm.

Carol had initially doubted my story. But seeing her daughter's reaction, her heart turned to ice.

"What are you talking about? It's true! Robert is really sick!"

Vanessa wasn't buying it. "I thought Jake was just being petty, making up lies to get his money back. I never thought you'd team up with him to scam me. Mom, when did you become so greedy?"

I stood there watching Carol's face turn bright red. Seeing her helpless frustration, I felt nothing but despair.

"That money's seed funding for company research. Brandon's a professional—I've seen his plans and projections. If this works, the company could be worth millions more! Robert gets annual physicals and he's perfectly healthy! Stop using him to manipulate me—it won't work!"

Cough... cough, cough, cough...

In the hospital bed, silent Robert suddenly erupted into a coughing fit, blood spotting his lips. He stared at his wife's phone, eyes filled with despair

.

"Robert?!" Carol rushed to his side in a panic.

"Doctor! We need a doctor!"

The blood on the sheets terrified Carol.

That's when I learned the full severity of Robert's condition. The doctor said it was advanced stage. To survive, he needed surgery and long-term specialty medications—costs that would bankrupt most families.

The call was still connected, and Vanessa heard the commotion. Just as she started to ask what was happening, Brandon's voice came on the line.

"Vanessa, this is Mr. Stevenson."

She hesitated, then ultimately took Brandon’s side.

Robert’s condition deteriorated—his daughter’s words had exacerbated his illness. It took over an hour of treatment to stabilize him, and now he was in the ICU.

Naturally, the medical bills would skyrocket.

Carol paced outside the room, frantic, calling her daughter repeatedly, but the calls went straight to voicemail.

To save Robert, I made a painful decision: “I’ll sell the company. It should net around twenty million. That should cover the ongoing expenses.”

Even though Vanessa had made me look like a fool, a human life was on the line. Besides, I was an orphan—ever since I married Vanessa, Robert and Carol had treated me like their own son.

Carol hesitated. “But that’s your life’s work, Jake… can you really walk away from it?”

“Better than standing here helpless.”