Chapter 3When His Devotion Came Too Late

I took new photos.

My hands were shaking, making the pictures slightly blurry. I took another one.

Every second was a matter of life and death.

I submitted again.

Five minutes later, rejected.

Rejection reason: Requested amount too large, requires detailed expense breakdown, accurate to individual medication prices.

I was going insane.

The surgery hadn't even happened yet, the doctor was still in emergency treatment-where was I supposed to get an itemized breakdown accurate to individual prices?

I messaged Victoria on SnapChat.

"Please, approve it first. This is life-saving money!"

"I'll provide the details later. Victoria, this is a human life!"

Victoria sent back a cute emoji.

"Clara, it's not that I won't help you."

"That's just how the finance system works. It's difficult for me too."

"You've always been too careless. You can't bring those bad habits from poverty into a wealthy family."

"Adrian said he needs to teach you discipline."

I knelt outside the operating room, phone in hand.

Like a mangy dog with its spine torn out.

I sent Adrian texts, voice messages.

"Adrian, I'm begging you."

"As long as you give me the money, I'll listen to whatever you say from now on."

"I won't make trouble anymore. I won't be jealous of Victoria anymore. Please, please save my dad."

Half an hour later.

Adrian finally sent back a voice message.

The background was noisy, his voice carrying the irritation of someone slightly drunk.

"Do what Victoria says."

"Stop bothering me."

At that moment, the operating room light went out.

The doctor emerged, removed his mask, and shook his head regretfully.

"I'm sorry. If the payment had come through just ten minutes earlier so we could have administered the medication..."

I didn't hear the rest.

I only felt the world suddenly go quiet.

That old man who'd raised me through hardship, who picked through trash to pay for my education-

He'd died in this prosperous city because of an approval form with "incorrect formatting."

As his body gradually grew cold, so did my love for Adrian.

For three days, I handled the aftermath. Cremation, burial.

I didn't tell Adrian.

Because there was no point.

Wasn't he afraid I'd scam him for money?

From now on, I wouldn't ask him for a single cent.

I looked at the "charity text" Adrian had just sent.

A smile curved my lips.

He thought I was playing games to get his attention again.

Little did he know-this was the last bit of dignity I was giving him.

A red dot suddenly appeared on my social media.

Victoria had posted something.

The photo showed high-end Japanese cuisine and a man's hand wearing a Patek Philippe watch on his wrist-the same one I'd once wanted to give Adrian.

Caption: "Thanks to my boss for bringing me to such a nice restaurant. Some people only know how to beg for money. So annoying."

I liked the post.

This was the first time I'd ever liked one of Victoria's posts.

The next second, Adrian's call came through.

He'd probably seen my like and thought I was being passive-aggressive.

I didn't answer.

He sent a message instead.

"Clara, who are you being sarcastic for?"

"Don't make people misunderstand Victoria. She's just doing her job."

"Delete that like immediately, or I'll cancel your card."

Doing her job?

Doing her job murdering people?

I laughed.

I opened that post and left a comment below it.

"Miss Snow climbed to the top by withholding life-saving money from the boss's wife. What a windfall. Hope you two are locked together forever-bitch and dog, happily ever after."

Post.

Block.

Turn off phone.

The world went quiet.