The One He Gave Up On Was His Own Mother

Chapter 4

I didn't sleep a wink all night.

Early the next morning, a sharp, urgent banging rattled my door.

I pulled the door open, and in walked Kian, his arm slung around Mia's waist, a divorce agreement crumpled tight in his hand.

Mia looked at me and spoke in that sickly sweet voice of hers. "Aria, if you keep digging your heels in like this, Hazel's just going to suffer for no reason. Why not just sign the papers now? At least then you can run to the hospital and pay for her treatment right away."

I shot her an icy glare before fixing my gaze dead on Kian. "Kian, the one in the hospital is Eliza!"

Kian scoffed. "Looks like you're really backed into a corner. Spouting lies that ridiculous. Cut the crap, and don't even think about trying to pull some cheap trick."

"You've got two choices right now. First, sign the papers, agree to a clean break with nothing, give up all our joint assets and custody of Jasper. I'll transfer you twenty thousand for medical fees, and you can go save Hazel right this second. Second, refuse to sign. I've already got guys posted outside her hospital room, and they can snuff her out whenever I say the word."

I clenched my fists so tight my nails dug into my palms, forcing down the panic bubbling up in my chest. I knew there was no point trying to tell him again that the sick woman was his own mother—he'd never believe me right now.

But Eliza had treated me with nothing but kindness all these years, never once making things hard for me. I couldn't just stand by and watch her die because she couldn't pay her medical bills.

Even if Kian had cheated and betrayed me, I couldn't let a woman who'd always been good to me come to harm.

When I stayed silent, Kian's patience wore thin fast. He lifted his phone, showing me the screen—he was on a call with the hired guard he'd posted at the hospital.

"Slap that old hag twice first. Let Aria hear it."

Two crisp, sharp smacks echoed from the speaker, followed by a faint, pained whimper.

I stared at Kian, rage boiling so hot my eyes burned bright red. "Kian, you bastard!"

Kian just shook his head like he didn't care at all. "Still got the energy to yell at me? If you don't sign in the next ten minutes, I'll tell them to yank her oxygen tube straight out. If she can't be saved after that, don't blame me."

My whole body shook uncontrollably, and I bit down on my lip, forcing myself not to make a sound.

But I'd clearly underestimated just how heartless Kian could be. When he saw the stubborn set of my jaw, he gave another cold, ruthless order.

"Cut all the power to that old b***h's life support machines! I've got to teach you a lesson, otherwise you'll think I'm just messing with you."

The ragged, gasping choke of Eliza fighting for air cut through the speaker, and it felt like someone was ripping my heart straight out of my chest.

Mia tossed a divorce agreement at my feet. "Just sign it, and Kian won't really let Hazel die. You two were married for so many years, after all—he's still got that little bit of sentiment left."

Kian's brow furrowed, irritation oozing off him. "Still not signing? Then I guess you'll be heading to the hospital to collect Hazel's body."

Hot tears pricked the corners of my eyes, and I screamed, my voice cracking and shaking. "I'll sign!"

Triumph flashed bright in Kian's eyes, and he flicked a pen at me carelessly. "Was that so hard? Stop wasting time and sign. The money's yours the second you're done."

Mia stood off to the side, a barely concealed smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth as she faked a sympathetic tone. "C'mon, Aria, look on the bright side. Splitting up is a relief for both you and Kian, and Hazel can get the treatment she needs. It's a win-win, really."

I scribbled my signature on the paper in a frantic rush. "Transfer the money to me right now!"

Kian picked up the agreement and double-checked the signature over and over to make sure it was real. Only then did he slowly pull a thick stack of cash out of his wallet and toss it lazily onto the floor. Crinkling bills scattered everywhere across the tiles.

"I only got ten thousand in cash on me. I'll send you the rest later, as I see fit, once you move out of this apartment for good."

I squatted down and scrambled to grab the bills off the ground.

Mia curled up into Kian's arms, staring at me with the smug, arrogant look of someone who'd just won a game. "You better hurry to the hospital, Aria. Don't keep Hazel waiting too long."

I didn't even bother wasting time on their cold, sneering taunts. I clutched the ten thousand in my hand so tight my knuckles went white, grabbed my coat, and bolted out the door like my life depended on it.

But the second my foot crossed the threshold, I heard Kian's phone buzz nonstop.

"Is this Kian? Eliza was taken off her medication earlier due to unpaid bills. We did everything we could to resuscitate her, but we couldn't save her. She's been pronounced deceased. Please come to the hospital as soon as possible to handle the remains and arrange the funeral."

Kian's smug grin froze solid on his face. His mind went completely blank, and he just stood there rooted to the spot, unable to move.