Loved Him 5 Years, I Dumped the Cheater

Chapter 3 Dancing with Shadows

The following 48 hours passed in a haze, as if I were no more than a phantom drifting through the motions of life, a ghost existing without purpose.

Joshua appeared convinced that his threats from the other night had been successful. So long as I maintained my silence and compliance, he offered me the illusion of his benevolence.

He wired half a million dollars to my account, accompanied by a curt w******p message.

Joshua: Get yourself a new purse. Stop moping around.

Gazing at the digits on my screen, a wave of contempt surged within me.

Without a second thought, I sent the money back to him.

Barely a heartbeat later, my phone buzzed.

It wasn't Joshua. It was Mary.

Her voice crackled with animosity the moment I picked up.

"Sarah, what childish stunt are you pulling now with Joshua? Isn't half a million enough for you? What's your price?"

Clenching my jaw, I retorted, "Mrs. Ford, I demand a measure of respect."

"Respect? You think you're entitled to it?" Mary scoffed. "Your sickly sister's been bleeding the Ford family dry. How dare you act all self-righteous?"

Drawing a deep breath, I said, "I'll repay every single cent of those medical expenses. Soon, I'll take Chloe out of the hospital."

"Repay? With what? Your body?"

Her tone suddenly twisted into venom.

"You want to discharge her? Be my guest!"

The call ended abruptly.

A mere half-hour later, St. Elara's Hospital was on the line.

The nurse's voice was frantic, "Ms. Lynn, you need to come immediately. Mrs. Ford's people have removed your sister from the ICU."

"What?"

I bolted from my apartment, driven by a desperation bordering on madness.

When I finally reached the hospital, Chloe was already relegated to a spare bed in the hallway.

Wrapped in a thin blanket, she lay curled up, her face a ghastly shade of blue beneath an oxygen mask, shivering.

"Sarah," Chloe's voice quivered when she saw me, tears trailing down her cheeks, "they said I don't deserve the ICU."

My heart felt like it was being torn apart.

I approached the nurses' desk ready to put up a fight, but the attending physician gently pulled me aside.

"Ms. Lynn," he sighed, "Mrs. Ford has made her decision. It's not just the ICU. She has also halted Chloe's special medication. Without it, Chloe won't make it through the holiday."

Frustrated, I pulled my phone out and dialed Joshua's number.

The line rang endlessly before someone finally picked up.

But it wasn't Joshua's voice that greeted me.

"Who's this?" A sweet, melodious voice asked curiously.

It was Sofia.

"Joshua's phone is left in the car. He's getting cupcakes for me. Can I help you?" Her happiness was unmistakable.

I pressed my lips together, holding back any words.

With no answer from me, Sofia repeated, "Hello?" sounding slightly puzzled.

In the background, I heard the noise of a car door opening, followed by Joshua's soothing voice.

"Who's on the phone, Sofia?"

"Not sure, they're not saying anything."

"Just ignore it," Joshua reassured, dismissing it as a nuisance call.

The phone was abruptly taken, and Joshua's voice dropped, frigid and commanding. "So?"

I fought to steady my voice. "Joshua..."

There was a brief pause on the line.

Then Joshua spoke, his tone intentionally quiet but simmering with anger.

"Sarah, didn't I tell you not to use this phone number?"

"Joshua, your mother has cut off Chloe's medication and left her out in the hallway!" I nearly shouted.

He let out a small, dismissive laugh.

"And? That medication was financed by the Ford family. My mother has the right to give it or not. What's the issue?"

"Joshua, without it, Chloe could die!" My voice cracked as I pleaded.

"Then plead with me," he replied, his voice icy. "In 30 minutes, be at the gates of Roses Oasis, waiting for me. Sarah, you have no one else but me. I'm making you kneel to show you reality and keep you compliant. Fail to be there in half an hour, and the medication is gone for good."

The call ended abruptly with a series of cold beeps.