Chapter 3

I quickly hung up and flipped my phone face down, struggling to stand upright.

Leo ran in, clutching an old notebook with yellowed edges, heading straight for the living room.

That was my journal from when I was pregnant with him, documenting the three hundred-plus shots I'd taken to protect the pregnancy and the joy of counting his fetal movements.

I'd always kept that journal cherished in the living room's glass display cabinet.

I walked out of the guest room and saw Leo placing the journal directly under the plate Bella was holding.

"Bella, the table is a bit wobbly. I'll use this to prop it up so your food won't spill."

Blood rushed to my head. I strode over, intending to pull the journal out, but Bella deliberately pressed down on its edge.

She looked up, feigning innocence, but a subtle smile played on her lips.

"Eleanor, I'm so sorry. Leo said this was just an old, worthless notebook, so I used it as a coaster. Don't be angry with the boy. I'll just help you wipe it clean later."

The bottom of the plate scratched deep marks into the cover. The moment my fingers touched the journal's edge, Leo forcefully shoved me.

Unprepared, I stumbled backward and hit the wall. A dull pain shot through my back.

"Why are you scaring Bella? What's a few old notebooks worth anyway? Dad can just buy you new ones."

Leo stood in front of Bella, glaring at me with open hostility.

Daniel walked out of the kitchen, carrying a cup of hot milk. Without asking for an explanation, he frowned and reprimanded me.

"Eleanor, what's gotten into you first thing in the morning? You've completely ruined the atmosphere. What's the big deal if an old journal is used as a coaster? Is it worth laying hands on a child over?"

My fingernails dug deeply into my palms, blood seeping from my skin.

"That was my journal from when I lay in the hospital for half a year, fighting to give birth to Leo."

My voice was dry and tight. Daniel's eyes flickered with an unnatural expression, but he quickly hardened his face.

He pulled out his black credit card from his wallet and tossed it onto the dining table, sliding it towards Bella.

"Bella, after you eat, let Leo take you shopping. Use this card for whatever you want. Consider it compensation for the trouble you went through today."

He was using my money to please another woman, to compensate her for the 'shock' of using my journal as a coaster.

A metallic taste of blood rose in my throat. My legs gave out, and I slid down the wall, clutching my chest.

Cold sweat trickled down my forehead. I gasped for air, but it felt like I couldn't breathe.

Leo, standing by, rolled his eyes and snorted.

"Dad, look, she's acting again. Every time she can't win an argument, she pretends to be sick. That trick is so old. Bella, let's ignore her. We'll go buy a big Transformer."

Daniel looked at my pale face and trembling body, his brow furrowing. He took a step forward, but Bella grabbed his sleeve.

"Daniel, I feel a bit dizzy. Maybe I haven't adjusted to the time difference yet..."

Daniel immediately turned to steady Bella, not sparing me another glance.

I gritted my teeth, swallowed the metallic taste in my throat, and used the wall to slowly push myself up. I walked to the dining table.

Right in front of them, I forcefully pulled out the crumpled journal.

The cover was already stained with grease. I didn't look at it again, simply lifted my hand and tossed it into the nearby trash can.

Daniel's face changed as he saw the journal in the trash. He opened his mouth to speak but forced himself to remain firm, scolding me.

"Absolutely illogical, your temper is getting stranger and stranger."

Then he put his arm around Bella's shoulders and left with Leo.

Hearing the car drive away, I retreated to the guest room and collapsed onto the bed. Only after the dreadful palpitations subsided did I pick up my phone.

I dialed a number I hadn't called in a long time.

"Mr. Davies, it's Eleanor. I want to divest all my indirect shares in Vance Corporation."

When Daniel started his business, I sold my house and borrowed money to raise capital for him. The shares had always been registered under his name.

Mr. Davies quickly agreed, scheduling a meeting for tomorrow afternoon.

Just as I hung up, a new message arrived from my attending physician at the Central Hospital.

"Ms. Vance, your test results are in. Your heart failure has worsened significantly. Conservatively, you have less than three days. Please come to the hospital for admission immediately."

Three days. I stared at the numbers on the screen, my dry lips curling into a bleak smile.

Good. Divesting the shares and completing the donation procedures would be enough.