I ignored her and took my mother to the emergency room. Thirty minutes later, I saw Derek’s newest update.
In the video, Camilla and Derek were kissing passionately at the city’s priciest bar, shouting, “I’ll pay for everything!”
“Pay for everything?” This bar cost at least $2,000 per person. I scoffed and blocked Camilla’s family payment service and credit card.
A few hours later, Camilla angrily called me, “Ted! Why did you cancel my card?! Come pay the bill now!”
I laughed in frustration and said, “We’re getting a divorce and you still want me to pay for your things? Camilla, do you think I’m crazy?”
She paused, then said, “I’ll pay you back tomorrow when I get my $700,000 prize! You’re really arguing over that?”
I said nothing, hung up and blocked her number. Did she really think I’d still spoil her? Did she really think all that money was hers?
After hanging up, I called another number. “Hello, Detective Herbert? I need your help with a case.”
***
The next morning, I sat by my mother’s bedside. She was pale, unconscious and in very bad shape.
The doctor said she had suffered mental shock and physical trauma and needed rest to have any chance of waking up.
I nodded and went out to buy breakfast, but then I saw Camilla and her group. I suddenly remembered the hospital was close to the lottery prize center. They stopped when they saw me.
Camilla glared at me angrily. “You blocked me after $700,000! You’re unbelievable! I had to promise the bar in front of everyone that I’d pay it today! I’ll get back at you after I claim the prize!”
She was with several heavily made-up girlfriends. I had warned Camilla to stay away from them, but she secretly stayed in touch. They shot me a few nasty sideways glances.
“I heard your mom had a stroke and is in the hospital. It costs thousands a day. If you can’t afford it, just take her home and let her die.”
“Look at his grim face. He’s probably begging Camilla for money to save her.”
Derek put his arm around her. “Camilla, don’t be soft. That worthless family should be wiped out. Let’s go claim the prize. Once we have the money, we’ll deal with him slowly.”
Camilla’s eyes lit up. She sneered, “Ted, you’re nothing without me. I’ll show you what $14 million can do today!”
“You’ll be furious,” Michelle said smugly as she followed.
Just then, a van stopped in front of us and three to five burly men got out. The leader, a muscular man with tattooed arms, growled, “Last night’s bar bill was $700,000 and you promised to pay today.”
Camilla startled and snapped, “What are you afraid of? I’m not running away!”
Derek quickly shielded Camilla. “Relax! It’s just $700,000! We’ll pay once we leave. Listen, we’re the bar’s VIPs now! If you disrespect us again, I’ll fire you!”
They rolled their eyes and walked into the prize center.
Camilla confidently gave the lottery ticket to the staff. “Hi, I want to redeem a $14 million prize.”
The staff took the ticket, checked it carefully and scanned it. After a beep, the machine said, “Invalid lottery ticket.”
