Chapter 4

James's aura turned cold as it gathered around him. He put the marriage certificate back in his inner pocket and looked at Joshua striding toward him.

Joshua stopped a few steps away, hands in his pockets, wearing a cynical smile. "I heard you spent a hundred million to take away my fiancée?"

"Anna isn't yours," James said without moving, his tone firm and resolute. "She never was."

Joshua sneered and stepped forward half a pace. "Henry took my deposit and promised to let me see her today. James, isn't this basically stealing my wife?"

He shook his head. "For a woman who dumped you because you were poor, you spent a hundred million? Isn't that a bit too expensive for revenge?"

James's eyes turned cold and sharp. He reached into his suit pocket and pulled out the marriage certificate.

"Look carefully." His voice was icy and commanding. "Anna is now legally my wife."

He stared at Joshua and continued, "So stay away from her from now on."

Joshua paused, then smiled lightly. "Fine, you win. Since you two have a marriage certificate, I can only wish you well."

He smiled on the surface, but his eyes darkened. James, you used a hundred million. Don't think you'll get off easy at the board meeting.

The car screeched to a stop at the sanatorium entrance.

I didn't wait for Ade to come around and open the door. I pushed it open myself and rushed inside, the electronic ankle monitor cold against my skin.

I didn't pause, heading straight for the oncology chief physician's office.

Dr. Ryan's brow furrowed immediately when he saw me.

"Anna, you're here." He put down his pen, his tone heavy. "Your mother's condition is very bad. The cancer cells are spreading faster than we expected. She's still in the ICU being resuscitated."

My heart sank, but I kept my voice as steady as possible. "Please do everything you can, no matter what."

Dr. Ryan sighed, his finger tapping the payment notice on his desk.

"Anna, I understand how you feel. But... the treatment fees are already two periods overdue. The latest targeted drugs and emergency treatment costs aren't cheap. The finance department has been pressing for payment."

I immediately picked up my phone and called Henry.

It rang several times before being answered. The background noise was chaotic, like he was at some entertainment venue.

"Why hasn't the medical bill been paid?" I said directly.

"What's the rush?" Henry's voice was casual. "James's hundred million hasn't arrived yet, has it? When the money comes, we'll pay naturally."

Nola's shrill voice cut in. "Exactly, what are you nagging about? Mom's in the hospital; she's not going anywhere. What's wrong with waiting a couple of days? It's a hundred million. Once we get it, how could we be short this little bit?"

My knuckles turned white as I clenched them, anger surging from the bottom of my heart.

This is the family I traded myself for.

I took a deep breath, suppressing the metallic taste in my throat, my voice even colder than before. "Mom is being resuscitated. She can't wait. We need money now."

"Then just wait." Henry was getting impatient. "James married you, go ask him! Why are you asking us for money? The agreement is signed anyway; it has nothing to do with the Andrew family." With that, he hung up.

I put down my phone and looked at Dr. Ryan's inquiring gaze. Without explaining a word, I opened my handbag, pulled out a bank card, and pushed it in front of the doctor.

"There's fifty thousand here. Use it to pay part of it first," I said.

Dr. Ryan looked at the card and shook his head. "Anna, this isn't enough, nowhere near enough. The upcoming ICU costs require at least three hundred thousand to cover the arrears first, and going forward it's even more..."

I knew it wasn't enough.

After three years of wandering, being able to save this much was already hard.

My chest felt so tight I could barely breathe, but I knew I couldn't break down. Mother was still in there.

I thought of something.

I immediately opened my handbag, took out the red certificate, and handed it to Dr. Ryan.

"Is this enough?"

Dr. Ryan froze for a moment, took the marriage certificate, opened it, and his pupils widened slightly.

In the photo, James and I stood side by side, his expression stern, mine calm.

There was a moment of silence in the office. I could hear my own steady but somewhat labored breathing.

Dr. Ryan placed the marriage certificate back on the desk. When he looked at me again, his eyes had changed.

"Mrs. Smith," he changed his form of address, "I understand the situation. Saving lives comes first. Regarding the fees, I'll immediately apply to the hospital for special consideration, explain the situation, and ask the hospital to advance the payment to ensure treatment isn't interrupted. Please rest assured."

"Thank you." I took back the marriage certificate and put it back in my bag, feeling ice-cold inside.

This certificate was the contract I'd just signed to sell myself, yet now it had become my only hope.

The surgery was successful.

When I was allowed to visit, the sky was already turning gray-white.

My mother, Cora Andrew, lay in a bed surrounded by equipment, tubes attached to her body, her face as pale as paper.

When she saw me, her somewhat cloudy eyes suddenly burst with light. Her lips moved, making an extremely soft sound, "...Anna?"

"Mom." I held her hand and pressed it against my cheek.

Her hand was cold, her joints protruding, so thin it was frightening.

"It's me. I'm back."

"Good that you're back... good that you're back..." She gripped my hand back, her eyes filled with the joy of reunion after a long separation.

My heart trembled slightly. I'd been gone for three years, making her worry for three years. I'd failed her.

Tears welled up in my eyes. I tried desperately not to let them fall.

Cora's lips curved slightly. "Good child, don't worry, I'm fine..."

I nodded, holding her hand even tighter.

Her eyes filled with tenderness. "You've gotten thinner, my daughter. These years, you must have suffered so much..."

Her voice grew hoarser as she spoke, until she almost lost it completely.

It was terrifying to hear.

I quickly shook my head.

"No, Mom, I'm fine." I tried to keep my voice steady. "And someone has been protecting me all along."

I released her hand and took out the red certificate from my bag again, opening it and placing it in front of her.

"Mom, look." I pointed at James's stern profile in the photo. "I got married. He treats me very well."

Even if these were lies, I had to say them. I didn't want her to worry about me.

Cora's eyes widened slightly, a glimmer of light flashing in them. "It's good that someone is protecting you."

She struggled to get out these words, a tear falling from the corner of her eye.

I closed the marriage certificate and put it away, then tucked in her blanket in. "Mom, just rest easy."

My phone vibrated at that moment. The name on the screen made my breathing freeze for an instant.

I picked up the phone, walked to the window, and answered.

James's cool voice came through the phone.

"Time's up. You should come back now."