At a Stephens Group construction site, I was struck by falling debris that punctured my uterus.
The ten-million-dollar workers' compensation settlement had barely hit my account before my parents transferred every last cent.
"You're never going to have children now. What's the point of keeping the money? Better to give it to your sister so she can pay off her gambling debts. After all, she's the only one who can still bear children. When you're old and need someone to take care of you, you'll be depending on her kids anyway."
"That's right. It's your fault for always being the top student. Your sister felt so inferior she dropped out and picked up a gambling habit. Paying her debts is the least you can do!"
Gambling was a bottomless pit. I fought them tooth and nail, but when nothing worked, I had no choice but to call the police.
That was when my sister kicked me square in my injured abdomen, a smug grin plastered across her face.
"Go ahead, call the cops. Think about it. You got a chunk of flesh crushed, and they paid out ten million? That's because Logan Stephens has a thing for me. The money was a favor to me. Calling the police won't change a thing. That money was always meant to be mine!"
I froze.
After my accident, the CEO of Stephens Group had held me in his arms, eyes red-rimmed, and sworn he would take responsibility for me for the rest of his life. And now my sister was claiming he had feelings for her?
...
The wound on my lower abdomen had been stitched and bandaged, but the pain still throbbed with every breath.
At least the settlement had been ten million dollars, more than ten times the standard amount.
With that kind of money, I could go abroad and find a cutting-edge clinic for treatment.
But when I tried to book a plane ticket, the screen flashed: Insufficient balance.
Ten million dollars. Every single cent, gone.
A buzzing filled my skull. My hand trembled around the phone. From beyond the bedroom door, I heard my sister Ethel Swanson's voice, shrill with glee: "Mom, Dad, thank you so much! With this ten million, I can finally pay off all my debts. No more hiding!"
My parents' voices carried their usual indulgent warmth.
"Oh, sweetheart, you've always been so thoughtful. It was just a transfer. No trouble at all."
"That's right. You're the apple of our eye. Nothing we do for you is ever too much."
I yanked the door open. The three of them stood there, a picture of domestic bliss, and something inside me cracked. Fury. Disappointment. A bitterness so deep it burned.
"Mom. Dad. That ten million was my compensation. You transferred it without even asking me? Give it back."
The smiles on my parents' faces hardened. They looked at me the way they always did when I inconvenienced them.
"We're family. There's no 'yours' and 'mine.' If we don't use this money to pay off Ethel's debts, you think the loan sharks will just leave her alone? Why can't you stand to see your sister catch a break?"
Anger flared white-hot in my chest. "I can't stand to see her catch a break? Every dollar I've earned for years went to this family or to covering her gambling debts. But she keeps doubling down, every single time. I'm done."
"Abigail Swanson, have you lost your mind?" Cole Swanson's eyes bulged as he jabbed a finger at my face. "You're not even a whole woman anymore. You're useless! Your sister is the only one who can give us grandchildren. If you won't help her, do you want the Swanson bloodline to end?"
I drew a long, steadying breath. "I need this money because of what happened to me. I need it for treatment abroad. Give it back, or I'm calling the police."
"You ungrateful wretch!" He jabbed his finger so close it nearly touched my nose. "I should've drowned you when you were born, you heartless animal!"
A sharp pain lanced through my chest. I held my ground.
"You have three minutes to transfer the money back. Then I'm calling the police."
"Abigail, sweetheart."
Leah Swanson pushed Cole aside and rushed toward me.
"I carried you for nine months. I raised you through blood, sweat, and tears. For my sake, just help one more time. Please?"
"I'm begging you. I'll get on my knees if that's what it takes..."
She started to lower herself, bending at the knees, and instinct took over. I reached out to catch her, my gaze sweeping across the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes, the silver threading through her temples. My throat tightened.
For a long moment, I said nothing.
Then I steeled myself.
"Mom, you do this every time. You guilt me into bailing Ethel out. But this time I genuinely need this money. I'm begging you. Please stop pushing me."
