Chapter 3

The employees outside grew louder with their gossip about me.

Just then, my mom walked in, asking in disbelief, "How is that possible? Alex, didn't you just give me jewelry from an auction two days ago?"

I'd forgotten—we were supposed to have dinner at a restaurant together after work today.

Moore laughed mockingly. "What auction? Your son bought that with loan shark money!"

"Enjoy it now, you'll be crying later!"

"Thank goodness the baby in my belly isn't from your family, or it would be cursed too!"

"What?!" My mom's face filled with shock. She grabbed Moore as she tried to leave. "What did you say?!"

Moore disgustedly shook off her hand. "Are you deaf? I said the baby in my belly isn't from your family!"

My mom already had high blood pressure. Moore's push made her stumble backward.

She clutched her heart and collapsed to the floor.

I rushed forward, supporting my mom. "Mom! What's wrong?"

Moore spat. "Always acting. Planning to fake illness and extort money from us? Let's get out of here, this is so unlucky!"

She finished speaking and hurried out with Ruth and Howard.

My mom's face was pale. She couldn't say a word before slowly losing consciousness.

I couldn't worry about anything else. I picked up my mom and ran to the hospital.

In the emergency room, the doctor examined my mom. "She has high blood pressure. Emotional stress caused her blood pressure to spike. She needs to be hospitalized for observation."

I walked out of the hospital room and called my dad, who was on a business trip abroad.

"Hello, Alex?" My dad's voice came through.

I explained everything that had happened.

The phone went silent for a few seconds. Dad said, "I'll book a flight back immediately. They'll regret this."

"Take good care of your mom. Leave everything else to me." Dad paused. "I'll also deal with Howard and Moore's family."

After hanging up, I sat by the hospital bed and canceled the authorization on the credit card I'd given Moore.

That credit card was for Moore to buy groceries. I'd told her she could spend ten thousand a month.

She only knew I paid off the balance each month, but didn't know the card's actual credit limit was a hundred million.

My phone suddenly buzzed. Howard had sent several Twitter messages.

First was an intimate photo of him with Moore.

Then several voice messages: "Really sorry, but you owe too much. I can't help you. But I suggest you could work as a male escort to pay off the debt."

"Being a male escort would even let you practice your skills. Moore said you're no good in bed, so she came to me."

I laughed without anger. "I treated you pretty well, didn't I? This is how you repay me?"

Howard laughed heartily. "At first I thought you really were some rich kid, that's why I became your friend!"

"If I'd known you were the type to borrow from loan sharks, I wouldn't have given you the time of day."

I stopped responding and blocked him on Twitter.

The next morning, I went home planning to pack some things before returning to the hospital to stay with my mom.

As soon as I opened the door, Moore, Ruth, and Howard were standing in the living room again.

Moore slapped me. "You have some nerve coming back. Didn't we agree to meet at City Hall today? How dare you not show up!"

Ruth also kicked me. "Just as I predicted—he doesn't want to divorce because he wants us to help pay the hundred million!"

I pushed them away, gritting my teeth. "My mom was hurt by you and is hospitalized, and you're still worried about the divorce?"