Chapter 1

My mother was dying, and only a costly surgery could save her. So I broke myself for three months to fund it. I clawed my way to top sales rep and seized the million-dollar bonus.

But half an hour before her surgery, my bonus account read zero.

I immediately called my boss-my boyfriend, Jake.

He answered, voice lazy. "Chloe really wanted a vacation, so I took the money and chartered a private jet to Ibiza.”

My body froze, then I screamed, my voice laced with panic.

"That's my bonus! My mom needs that money to save her life!"

A beat of silence. Then Jake's voice turned to ice.

"It's just a million bucks. Save your drama.You missed a day last month, so I'm writing it off as Chloe's trip bonus."

I begged him to return the money. He just hung up on me.

Watching the nurses cover my mom with a cold white sheet, I dug out the scam call I'd received that morning and dialed it back.

"Ms. Maya, I'm so sorry for your loss."

The doctor placed a hand on my shoulder, his voice heavy. My hands trembled, watching in disbelief as the nurse wheeled my mom out.

The doctor spoke with regret.

"I'm so sorry. We did everything we could. Ten minutes...just ten more minutes might have made all the difference."

I was holding my mother's cold hand when my phone, silenced for hours, vibrated.

Jake's voice, bright and clear, spilled into the sterile silence of the room.

"Chloe, meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you."

In the background, fireworks exploded in a distant celebration.

I slumped to the floor. Losing my dearest loved one. Facing the deepest betrayal from the one I loved. The twin blows twisted in my chest like a thousand knives. The pain was unbearable.

I don't know how long I sat there before my phone rang again. Fumbling to stand, I accidentally answered.

"This is the Food and Drug Administration. We have confirmed the presence of a prohibited contaminant in your product line. As a first-time violation, you may avoid immediate seizure by posting a fifty-million-dollar bond. Failure to comply will result in the closure of all associated facilities."

I glanced at the number and instantly recognized it as a scam call.

I was about to hang up when the image of my mother on the operating table flashed before me. Because of Jake. Because of stolen money.

I paused, wiped my face with a trembling hand, and made my voice sound carefully concerned.

"Are you sure you have the right company? I'll send you our product information and company details in a bit. Please double-check. If there's really an issue, contact our company owner directly."

The person on the other end hummed in acknowledgment.

"Alright, send over the company info as soon as possible so we can verify it."

There was so little credible information in their words; it was hard to believe them based on just a few sentences. But with detailed product information, it would sound much more convincing.

I hung up, found the company's product detail file on my phone, and sent it to them without hesitation.

Afterward, I walked toward the morgue.

I found my mom and sat beside her.

"Mom, I'm so sorry. I was blind, I trusted the wrong person, and it cost you your life. I swear, I will make them pay."

Over the next three days, I handled my mom's funeral. During this time, I received a message from Jake, asking me to contact the factory and our partners to verify if there were any product issues.