Chapter 3

After that day, Ethan and Chloe constantly talked about taking me for check-ups and pulling strings to find specialists.

They put on a show of being devoted children, worried sick about me.

But in reality, they deliberately delayed every check-up.

They even secretly changed my appointment times.

Important bone marrow re-examination dates were secretly changed again and again, postponed repeatedly, and finally, simply missed.

I suddenly remembered how before, they’d held up their phones, constantly filming me.

Completely ignoring how my skin had already ulcerated from the illness, red and broken in patches.

The pain at night was excruciating. The slightest movement tore at my flesh, making even the blanket unbearable.

During filming, Chloe would gently dab ointment on my sores, crying into the live stream about how much it pained her to see me suffer.

But as soon as the camera was off, they wouldn’t even spare me a glance.

I’d whimper in pain, and they’d only complain that I was noisy, that I was a burden, that my rotting appearance was an eyesore.

Forget applying medicine or wiping me down; they wouldn't even bother to hand me a glass of water.

One time, I was in such agony that I begged Chloe to help me change a bandage.

But she recoiled in disgust, her brows furrowed.

“It’s so gross. Don’t touch me. Can’t you just deal with it for a few days? It’s not the first time.”

Ethan was even more direct, waving his hand impatiently.

“Don’t bother. Medicine isn’t free, you know? Just endure a few days, it’ll pass.”

All those tears shed on camera, all that feigned sympathy, were just an act for the netizens.

When the doctor made rounds, I pretended to know nothing.

“Doctor, why haven’t my last bone marrow re-examination results come back yet?”

As soon as I spoke, Ethan’s face changed, and he hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over.

“The doctor is busy; maybe they haven’t sorted them out yet. Dad, don’t worry, we’ll ask them for you.”

The doctor frowned, looking puzzled.

“The re-examination date was long ago. Didn’t you say the patient wasn’t feeling well and canceled it?”

That sentence, clear as day, was recorded verbatim by the camera.

The comments were still a chaotic mess, defending them, but my heart had turned to stone.

I pretended my phone was dead and reached for Ethan’s phone.

“Let me call a relative.”

He reluctantly handed it over. My fingers swiftly swiped open his bank statement.

A large, unfamiliar transfer stood out, marked as ‘advance payment’.

Scrolling further up, recent cash withdrawal records—amounts, times—

They perfectly matched the records of my retirement savings that I had secretly checked.

My retirement savings were being slowly drained by them.

Late at night, I suddenly developed a high fever, my body burning hot.

I desperately pressed the call button, the bell ringing repeatedly, but no one came in.

Dragging my heavy body, I slowly shuffled out of the hospital room.

My “children” were arguing in hushed tones in the hallway.

“How much longer do we have to endure this, Bro? I’m really starting to break.”

It was Chloe’s annoyed voice.

“Just hang in there. This is a critical time. Once this period is over, everything will be fine.”

Ethan gently persuaded her.

“He’s lucid one moment, confused the next. What if he slips up on camera one day and all our previous efforts go to waste?”

“Don’t worry, he’s so far gone, he wouldn’t be able to cause any trouble. Just wait patiently.”

After confirming the camera captured their conversation, I quietly retreated back to my room.

The comments were silent for a moment before someone hesitantly typed:

【Did anyone just hear voices outside?】

【It sounds like the siblings chatting? Too quiet to hear clearly.】

【They’re probably worried about their dad. Taking care of a sick person is hard work, after all.】

【It sounds a bit like complaining, but that’s normal. Anyone would have complaints after caring for someone for so long.】

Seeing that doubts were finally appearing in the comments, a faint smile touched my lips.

This was only day one. These two’s true faces would soon be impossible to hide.

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