Chapter 3The Price of My Heart

I started searching:

"Can a minor write a will?"

"How to stop parents from collecting a life insurance payout?"

"Slayer rule in life insurance."

The search results gave me one crucial piece of information:

If a beneficiary intentionally causes the death of the insured, the insurance company will deny the claim.

I stared at that sentence for a long time.

Then, I started keeping a diary.

But not an ordinary diary.

It was an evidence log.

Using that old iPad, I began recording audio and video.

Every time they discussed my insurance. Every time they reduced my medication. Every time they updated the countdown on the whiteboard.

I recorded it all.

Three days later.

The number on the whiteboard changed to 44.

And just as promised, Victoria cut my medication.

I used to take three pills a day. Now, she only gave me two.

"Mom, I'm missing a pill."

Victoria was peeling an apple for Noah, not bothering to look up.

"The doctor said you can reduce your dosage at this stage."

"The doctor never said that."

Victoria's knife paused.

"I am your mother. If I say we reduce it, we reduce it."

I didn't say anything else.

I went back to my room and turned on my voice recorder.

I saved the conversation I had just captured.

File name: "Evidence_004_Med_Reduction".

That evening, Edward came home.

He brought a stranger with him.

A man in a sharp suit, carrying a briefcase, wearing a professional smile.

"Lily, this is Mr. Sterling. He's a claims advisor for the insurance company."

Edward's tone was exceptionally gentle.

Whenever he was gentle with me, it meant he needed my cooperation.

"Mr. Sterling needs to do a quick health assessment for you. Be a good girl and cooperate, okay?"

Mr. Sterling knelt down and smiled.

"Hey there. I'm just going to ask you a few quick questions, alright?"

"How are you feeling these days? Any discomfort?"

I glanced at Edward.

His eyes carried a distinct warning.

I smiled back at the advisor.

"I feel pretty good. Just a little chest tightness sometimes."

"Are you taking your medication? Right on schedule?"

"Yes, on schedule. Three pills every day. I haven't missed a single one."

The corners of Edward's mouth twitched upward.

Victoria visibly exhaled a sigh of relief.

Mr. Sterling finished his notes and shook Edward's hand.

"Don't worry, Mr. Brooks. I'll have the paperwork sorted immediately. If... God forbid... something unfortunate were to happen, I'll make sure the payout is expedited."

"Thank you, Mr. Sterling."

After seeing the advisor out, Edward patted me on the head.

"You did great today. As a reward, you can watch an extra thirty minutes of TV tonight."

Thirty extra minutes of TV.

That was my compensation for cooperating in the "rehearsal of my death."