Chapter 4Abandoned Hope

Lilianna and the couple quickly understood what I was trying to do.

"We've seen enough. We're interested."

Rosalia was still completely lost. "What do you mean you've seen enough? What are you talking about? Nathalie! Answer me!"

I ignored her and walked out first.

Even after the elevator doors closed, I could still hear her shouting after me. I knew she was panicking.

Looking at the satisfied expressions on the couple's faces, I finally felt a weight lift from my shoulders.

That afternoon, I signed the paperwork with Lilianna. The sale closed, and the full payment was transferred directly into my mother's bank account.

Throughout the day, Blaine's family bombarded me with messages.

Rather than asking me to come home, they demanded to know what I'd been doing that morning and who those people were.

I never replied. Instead, I sent them a single reminder: "Don't forget to pick up your parents' health screening reports at the hospital."

Seeing the endless stream of question marks and missed calls on my phone, I let out a quiet laugh and put it away.

Christmas was the Ramsey family's annual dinner.

Early that morning, Blaine called and ordered me to come home. It was a Ramsey tradition for every relative to gather for dinner on Christmas.

And the only person who ever cooked and cleaned afterward was me.

This year, I answered with just two words: "Keep dreaming."

"Nathalie! Do you really think this family can't function without you? All we did was tell your mom to stop treatment! You've been throwing this tantrum since Christmas Eve. Haven't you had enough?

"Fine. If this is how you want to play it, don't blame me."

Blaine hung up in a rage.

A moment later, a new message appeared in the family group chat.

"@Everyone, because someone insists on being unreasonable, this year's family annual dinner has been moved from our house to the Red Star Hotel. Nathalie will be paying for the entire dinner. 8:00 p.m. tonight. Don't be late."

Then he sent me a private message.

"Honey, this is your punishment for not listening. We'll just use your mom's medical fund to pay for dinner. My mom's been craving lobster."

I didn't respond. Instead, I kept reading about late-stage cancer online. Doctors advised against rich, heavy meals and greasy foods.

At eight that evening, the celebration began.

To rub it in, Aviana started a livestream.

"Emmy, too bad you couldn't make it. Look at this lobster! This one's $3,800."

"Uncle, I know you couldn't make it home from California this year, so I ordered a bottle of premium bourbon just for you. Hope you like it."

"Mom, stop eating the cheap stuff! Have more lobster, oyster, and sashimi. That's where all the nutrition is!"

Rosalia nodded as she stuffed another piece of sashimi into her mouth. "Okay... okay..."

Without warning, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed.

"Mom? Mom! Call an ambulance!"

The dinner descended into chaos, and the livestream abruptly ended.

I'd expected this all along, so I was already waiting outside the ER. A few minutes later, Blaine and his family came rushing in, and Rosalia was rushed in for testing.

Cancer.

Late stage.

The treatment would cost a fortune.

Outside the ER, Aviana broke down the moment the diagnosis came back, sobbing that they had to save their mother.

Blaine's hair was a mess, his eyes bloodshot.

"If we have to, we'll sell the house. I'll put it on the market tomorrow. We'll do whatever it takes to pay for Mom's treatment."

"Sorry to interrupt." I stepped out from the corner.

My phone was looping the voice message Rosalia had sent in the family group chat the other day.

"When people get old, they shouldn't burden their children. What's the point of treatment? It's nothing but a waste of money."

I yawned. "Honey, I already sold the house. Maybe your mom should stop treatment, too. It'd just be a waste of money."