Chapter 4

The next morning, first thing, I canceled every one of the James family's supplementary cards.

I made it very clear to the bank's account manager: no one was to have them reinstated, Joshua included.

Ten minutes later, Christine called.

She was at a counter in some department store, her voice shrill enough to split an eardrum.

"Martha, what is this? My card won't go through!"

I sat in the car, looking out the window, my tone level.

"The bank said cash flow was tight. I had them shut off for now."

"Who do you think you're fooling? Your family's loaded!"

"The Pruitts are wealthy," I said. "What does that have to do with you?"

There was silence on the line for a couple of seconds.

Then she dropped the act completely.

"My brother spent seven years with you! You got sick, and he's the one who stayed by your side. So what if you buy me one bag?"

I heard her inner voice, sharp and mean.

【Once my brother takes over the Pruitts, the first thing he'll do is throw her out. When she comes crying and begging me, I won't even let her through the door.】

I hung up on her.

At the office, my secretary Penelope Swanson's eyes were red when she saw me.

"Miss Pruitt, Manager James notified all the departments yesterday. He said you weren't well, and that from now on he'd be signing off on every project."

I stopped where I was.

Yesterday I was still in the hospital, being told I had "only three months left."

And he already couldn't wait, crowning himself inside my own company.

"Call all the directors in for a meeting," I said.

In the conference room, Joshua arrived fast.

He saw me in the head seat and froze for a beat, then came over with his brow furrowed.

"Marty, why are you at the office? You have to rest right now."

【She shouldn't be here. Didn't Dr. Perry scare her off?】

I looked at that face of his, still handsome, still gentle, and the last thread of hope in me died for good.

It wasn't something I'd imagined hearing.

He really did know the diagnosis was fake.

He really was waiting for me to die.

I slid a document across to him.

"Manager James, as of now, all of your approval authority is suspended. You'll be subject to an audit."

His expression changed.

"Why?"

"Because the Pruitt Group isn't a signboard you drag around out there to make yourself look good."

The room went silent in an instant.

I went on. "One more thing. Every private dinner you attended in the Pruitt name, every partnership you promised, every gift you accepted. I want it all listed out and handed back."

Joshua clenched his fist.

【What the hell does this bitch know?】

I looked up and gave a small laugh.

"I'm only sick."

"I'm not dead."