Chapter 3

Outside, the rain was pouring down.

Daniel put me into the car, stomped on the accelerator, and sped towards the city hospital.

The car's heater was on, but I was still shivering uncontrollably.

The wound on my left shoulder was numb.

I clutched the check tightly, as if holding onto Leo's last hope.

"Audrey, are you insane? He told you to be a live target, and you just went along with it?" Daniel roared while driving, his voice laced with suppressed trembling.

I looked out at the blurred night scenery.

"Daniel, I had no choice."

"The hospital gave a final ultimatum. If the money isn't paid tonight, they'll pull the plug on Leo's ventilator."

"My dad already died in jail. I can't lose Leo too."

Daniel slammed his hand on the steering wheel, his eyes red.

"I told you I'd find a way to get the money! Why won't you just take my money?!"

"Because I can't pay you back," I said softly.

Three years ago, when the Davis family went bankrupt and my father was imprisoned, everyone shunned me.

Only Daniel, the poor student I once sponsored, now an elite lawyer, stood by me, battling against Ethan Hayes's oppression, trying to help me.

I already owed him too much.

The car screeched to a halt at the hospital entrance.

I pushed open the door and stumbled into the lobby.

"Nurse! I'm here to pay! A hundred thousand, arrange my brother's surgery immediately!"

I rushed to the payment window, slapping the blood-stained check onto the glass.

The nurse on duty glanced at the check, then at my blood-soaked appearance, startled.

She quickly took the check to verify it.

A few minutes later, the nurse returned with the check, her face somewhat troubled.

"Miss Davis, this check... it's been frozen."

*Boom.* My mind went blank.

"What did you say? Impossible! This is a Hayes Group check!"

"The bank just informed us that the issuer revoked the payment order," the nurse said, looking at me sympathetically.

Ethan Hayes.

It was him.

He still wouldn't let me go.

All the strength in my body seemed to drain away in an instant, and I slid down the cold wall to the floor.

"Audrey!" Daniel rushed over to support me.

I grabbed Daniel's collar, tears finally streaming down my face.

"Daniel, he stopped the check... he stopped the check..."

"What about Leo? What will happen to Leo?!"

Just then, my phone rang.

It was a voice message from Serena.

My hands trembled as I opened it.

"Audrey, Ethan said if you want the money, crawl back to the Hayes family mansion."

"As soon as you crawl to the door like a dog, that hundred thousand will be instantly transferred."

In the voice message, Ethan Hayes's cold scoff could also be heard.

I gripped my phone tightly, my knuckles white.

"Audrey, don't go! I'll contact people to borrow money right away!" Daniel snatched my phone.

I pushed him away, helping myself up by leaning on the wall.

"There's no time. Daniel, please watch over Leo for me."

I turned and ran back out into the rainy night.