This time, even if it costs me everything, I will protect my daughter.
After staying with her for a while, I went to the nurses' station and hired a senior caregiver with fifteen years of pediatric nursing experience.
I gave her strict instructions—she was not to leave my daughter's side for even a moment.
In my previous life, I didn't learn the truth until after Nora was gone.
The reason she'd had that accident, the skin abrasion that led to the infection—it was because Elijah had devoted all his attention to his precious first love and her son.
He'd promised to watch over our daughter, but his negligence had been criminal.
She could have held on longer. She should have had more time.
He was the one truly responsible for her death.
With Nora properly cared for now, some of the weight lifted from my chest.
It was time to make my next move.
By the time I got home, darkness had fallen.
Elijah sat on the couch, his expression sour, his tone dripping with passive aggression.
"Oh, so you do remember where you live? I thought you'd abandoned this family entirely."
Caroline Lambert was there too. The moment I walked in, she rolled her eyes with theatrical disdain.
I ignored them both and headed toward the bedroom to grab a change of clothes.
But Elijah stood and blocked my path.
"Cassandra. Your mother's gold jewelry—where is it? It's gone."
I stopped mid-step and let shock flood my face. "How would you know it's gone?"
He faltered, his gaze sliding away. "I went to the old family house today to clean up. The box was empty."
"Where did you put it? Nora's surgery requires money urgently. I was going to discuss selling the jewelry to help cover the costs..."
As if. In my last life, he'd stolen that gold to shower gifts on Anita Pruitt.
This time, when he couldn't find it, he'd panicked.
I let out a cold laugh, cutting him off. "Selling gold won't cover it anyway. If you're serious about raising funds, sell your car."
"Absolutely not!" Elijah shot to his feet. "I need that car for work! It's how I make money!"
That's when Caroline chimed in.
"If you ask me, that money-pit of a girl isn't worth treating at all. Even if she recovers, she'll just be a burden. Better to let her go peacefully and try for another child."
She'd said the exact same thing after Nora died in my previous life.
Back then, I'd been drowning in grief, too shattered to respond.
This time, I wanted to tear her apart with my bare hands.
But I reminded myself: if I want these people to pay, I have to endure.
I forced a hollow smile. "Mother, Nora is your own granddaughter."
"So what if she is?" Caroline spat out a sunflower seed shell. "A sick child is just a debt collector from a past life! Look at what you and that girl have done to my son—dragged him down until he's a shadow of himself!"
Elijah stood beside her in silence, clearly endorsing every word.
I looked at the two of them and, strangely, found myself smiling.
"Actually, the money issue is already resolved."
Both of them turned to stare at me.
"I won the lottery." I kept my voice light, almost bored. "A scratch-off ticket. Fifty million dollars."
The living room went deathly still.
A few seconds later, Elijah lunged toward me. "Are you serious?! Where's the ticket? Let me see it!"
I didn't show him the original. I only let him see the photo on my phone.
His eyes practically pressed against the screen, his breathing growing ragged.
Caroline crowded in beside him, and for the first time, something resembling a smile cracked across her pinched face.
When I mentioned I'd be claiming the prize alone, Elijah's panic was immediate.
"That's out of the question! A sum that large—I'm coming with you."
His eyes gleamed with naked greed. "Besides, I've been thinking about upgrading to a G-Wagon..."
I cut him off.
"No need. Our prenuptial agreement is very clear—we keep separate finances. This prize money is my personal property. It has nothing to do with you."
Elijah's expression curdled.
That agreement? He was the one who'd insisted on signing it.
