Chapter 4 - Cracks in the Foundation
With Marcus out on bail and his reputation destroyed, the reality of poverty hit Chloe hard. She had always been the pampered younger sister, used to getting whatever she wanted. She wanted my husband, so she took him. She wanted my money, so she waited for my daughter to die.
But now, she was living in a damp studio apartment on the bad side of town, heavily pregnant, with a disgraced man facing ten years in federal prison.
Chloe tried to call me again, this time from a burner phone.
“Elena, I made a mistake,” she sobbed. “He’s changed. He screams at me. He blames me for everything. He says if I hadn't gotten pregnant, you never would have found out.”
“You made your bed, Chloe. Now you have to give birth in it.”
“Please! Just a few thousand dollars! I’m your sister!”
“My sister died the day she laughed in my dying daughter’s hospital room,” I said smoothly. “Do not call this number again.”
I hung up, feeling lighter than I had in years. I turned my attention back to the bed. Lily’s eyes fluttered open. She looked at me, her gaze a little clearer than the day before.
“Mommy?” she croaked.
“I’m here, sweetie.”
May you like
“I’m hungry.”
It was the first time she had asked for food in three weeks. Tears blurred my vision as I hit the call button for the nurse. The treatment was working.
