Chapter 3
Audrey's POV
The next three days were the darkest of my life.
Daniel froze every account I had. Every card, every cent. Lily's medication was running out, and I went to pharmacy after pharmacy across the city — only to have my card declined at the register. Every single time.
I called Joel. I begged him for two thousand dollars.
"Joel, please. Just two thousand. Lily's running out of her medication."
Silence. Then his voice came back, cold and sharp.
"Audrey, all you have to do is sign the paper. Daniel's got a new card ready for you — higher limit than before. Why are you making this SO hard?"
"That's our MOTHER'S grave!" My voice cracked. "Joel, that's OUR mom. You remember how she raised us by herself? You remember how she held your hand before she died and told you she was so PROUD of you?!"
"Oh my GOD, get over it, Audrey." He cut me off, annoyed. "She's GONE. You think she knows where she's buried?"
"And honestly? Daniel's trying to help you. Look at yourself — you're being stubborn as hell over a grave, and your daughter's health is on the line. You think that's what Mom would've wanted?"
"Joel—"
"I've got a meeting. Think about what I said. Daniel's right. You're being selfish."
He hung up.
I stood outside the pharmacy, staring through the glass at Lily waving at me from inside. She had no idea. The inhaler in her little hand might not last the week.
On the third night, I threw the signed transfer agreement in Daniel's face.
He didn't look at me. Just picked it up, skimmed it, nodded. "See? That wasn't so hard."
Then he pulled a credit card from his briefcase and tossed it onto the table — like tossing change to a beggar.
"There. Ten-thousand-dollar limit. Now you can't say I don't provide."
I didn't touch it. I felt like part of my soul had quietly packed up and left.
But they weren't done with me yet.
Saturday night was the annual charity gala at Lily's private school. I was on the parent committee. I had no choice.
I put on the dress Daniel had bought me five years ago and walked into the ballroom holding Lily's hand.
The moment I stepped through the door, every pair of eyes in the room turned on me like needles.
At the center VIP table, Daniel stood in a tailored suit, champagne in hand, laughing easily with the school's board members.
The woman on his arm wasn't me.
It was Lydia.
She wore a stunning red gown, her arm looped through Daniel's, looking right at home — like she'd been doing this for years.
And around her neck was my grandmother's sapphire necklace.
The only thing my grandmother had ever left me. The heirloom I kept locked in our safe, waiting to give Lily when she turned eighteen.
The blood rushed straight to my head.
I let go of Lily's hand and crossed the room.
"Take it off." I stopped in front of Lydia, my voice coming out raw and low.
The guests around us went quiet. Heads turned.
Lydia stepped back behind Daniel. "Audrey, please — don't do this. Daniel lent it to me. Tonight's important and he said I needed something... appropriate."
"That necklace belonged to my GRANDMOTHER." I reached for it.
"Are you out of your MIND?!" Daniel grabbed my wrist, hard enough to bruise. He leaned in close, voice ice-cold. "Look at yourself. You really think YOU deserve to wear this necklace?"
"You STOLE it from me and put it on your MISTRESS — and you're asking if I DESERVE it?!"
I was done pretending. My voice rang across the ballroom.
Whispers spread. Someone pulled out their phone.
Then Joel pushed through the crowd. He didn't help me — he grabbed my arm and hauled me toward the exit, calling out to the guests around us as he went.
"I'm so sorry, everyone. My sister hasn't been well — she's on antidepressants. She's having an episode. Daniel's been so patient with her, but she just keeps lashing out. I'm really sorry."
"Joel, you BASTARD! What the hell are you SAYING?!" I struggled, but he didn't let go.
"Audrey, STOP." His voice dropped to a hiss. "I'm closing my next funding round with Daniel TONIGHT. You trying to tank my deal? Keep this up and I'll have security throw you out myself."
I looked at Joel's face — tight, furious, calculating. Then at Daniel across the room, whispering something soothing to Lydia. When he glanced back at me, his expression was pure contempt.
This was my family.
For money. For status. They'd grind me into the floor without blinking — strip every shred of dignity I had left, brand me unstable in front of a room full of people — and not lose a minute of sleep.
"Mommy..."
A small voice behind me.
I spun around. Lily stood at the edge of the crowd. Her face had gone white. Her breathing was fast and shallow. Both hands pressed against her chest.
"Lily!" I tore free from Joel and ran to her.
Her asthma. It was hitting fast — maybe the heavy perfume in the air, maybe the fear, maybe both. She went limp in my arms, fighting for air, her lips already turning blue.
"The inhaler — I have a backup in my bag!" I tore through my purse.
It wasn't there.
I looked up. Straight at Lydia.
Lydia blinked. "Oh God, I'm so sorry, Audrey — I wasn't feeling great this afternoon and I used the inhaler. I thought there was another one. I didn't know—"
"You MURDERER!" The scream tore out of me. "Daniel, call 911! RIGHT NOW!"
Daniel stood there, frowning down at Lily in my arms. "Audrey, stop making a scene. Lily's asthma isn't that serious. You're using your own kid for sympathy. That's pathetic."
"She can't BREATHE! Are you BLIND?!" I held her tighter as her body went heavy against me.
Her lips were purple now. Her eyes were rolling back.
"Enough. Joel, get her out of here."
Daniel turned, put his arm around Lydia's waist, and walked back toward the stunned board members with a calm smile.
"Apologies, everyone. Just a little family drama. Shall we?"
