CHAPTER 8: "Can $10,000 Buy Back Conscience?"

Fuming, I stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind me.

In the hallway, I could feel the stares of pity from others, but I didn't stop. My head was spinning, my thoughts chaotic.

My words earlier had been strong, but deep down, I knew my marriage with Daniel was irreparable. Refusing to divorce was merely my way of making things difficult for him.

No matter how hard tomorrow is, I have to keep moving forward.

Even without a man, I can survive.

I went to the fifth floor to the hospital director's office to end my leave. Even though I had just suffered a miscarriage, I needed to return to work. Men are unreliable; I could only rely on myself. I needed money—not just for me, but for my mother. The doctors had said she still had a chance to wake up, and I couldn't let that hope slip away.

When I stepped into the office, I saw Chloe Lane there as well. My first instinct was to leave, but after hesitating, I forced myself to walk in.

Chloe gave me a fleeting, smug glance, then casually walked over to the water dispenser to fill her cup.

After I explained my request to return to work, the hospital director, Preston Lane—Chloe's father—looked troubled. After hemming and hawing, he finally spoke.

"Kate, here's the thing. We've recently received multiple complaints from patients about your work attitude. As per hospital policy, I'm sorry to inform you that you've been let go."

I was stunned.

I hadn't worked for months—how could there possibly be complaints?

"Dad, here's your water," Chloe interrupted, setting the cup in front of him with an innocent smile.

Preston Lane was indeed Chloe's father. I had known that. But I had always believed that, at the very least, he had a shred of professionalism. Clearly, I was naïve.

"Kate, you see," Preston continued, feigning a helpless tone, "the hospital has its rules. We can't make exceptions for one person, can we?"

Chloe leaned casually against his chair, her gaze brimming with arrogance and satisfaction.

"Got it," I said, my voice clipped.

I turned to leave, my vision blurring and my balance unsteady. Despite my dizziness, I held my head high.

It wasn't that I didn't want to fight for myself; I just refused to beg in front of that mistress.

As I stepped out, I saw Daniel standing in the hallway.

Clearly, he had known about my dismissal all along—perhaps he had even orchestrated it.

I treated him as if he were invisible and walked past him without a word.

At the corner leading to the inpatient ward, someone grabbed me roughly by the arm.

"Kate, if you have any shame left, you'll disappear from our lives. Daniel is the father of my child—stop clinging to him like a leech!" Chloe's voice was sharp, and her nails dug into my arm, black polish gleaming ominously.

Looking down at her hand, I felt disgust churn in my stomach. Memories of their deceit and filthiness flooded my mind, making me nauseous. I shook her off forcefully.

"Chloe, don't push me too far."

People passing by began to pause, their curious gazes lingering.

Daniel approached, pulling Chloe back. Without a trace of emotion, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a bank card.

"There's $10,000 here. Sign the divorce papers, move out of the house, and I'll give you the PIN."

The card had already been prepared. How thoughtful of him to plan every detail for this moment.

I hadn't even noticed his betrayal until it was too late. What a fool I had been—the biggest fool in the world.

I didn't reach for the card. I just glared at them both, my anger simmering.

To my shock, Chloe snatched the card from Daniel's hand and flung it at my face.

The cold, hard edge of the card scraped across my cheekbone, leaving a sharp sting.

I clutched my face, feeling the pain, and stared at the card lying on the floor. Gradually, my rage gave way to a deep, chilling sense of futility.

I finally understood why they could commit such vile acts and still stand so brazenly. As Chloe had said in the bathroom, I had no family, no backing. Even if I suffered, I couldn't do anything about it.

When Daniel had proposed to me, I had warned him to think it through. After all, I came with a comatose mother as a responsibility. But he had said so many flowery words, promising a shared future and unwavering support. His resolve then had been as firm as his current determination to cast me aside.

Back then, I had been overwhelmed with gratitude.

Now, I was overwhelmed with sorrow.

I fixed Daniel with a cold, bitter stare.

"Daniel, do you really think $10,000 can buy back your conscience? Even if your conscience is dirt-cheap, how will you compensate for the years of my youth that you wasted?"

I tried to keep my emotions in check because losing control would mean losing to them. But despite my efforts, my voice still trembled with grief and fury.

Daniel, knowing he was in the wrong, struggled to respond.

Chloe, however, sneered. "Your youth? Kate, don't be ridiculous. A man would be better off as a monk than marrying someone like you."

Her words stung. I turned my gaze to Daniel, whose face showed a flicker of embarrassment. Clearly, he had shared our private life with her.

The last shred of disappointment in my heart crumbled. I looked back at Chloe.

"You're right. Marrying me might be worse than being a monk. But he's nothing more than a pile driver in your bed."

It was probably the most venomous thing I had ever said.

Chloe's face contorted with rage. She charged at me like a lunatic, shoving me hard.

I fell backward into a corner filled with medical waste. Broken glass shards scattered across the floor dug into my hands, legs, and back as I tried to break my fall.

The pain was excruciating, but I gritted my teeth and refused to make a sound.

The commotion drew more onlookers.

Chloe moved to strike me again, but Daniel restrained her.

"Enough, Chloe. Stop it." He wanted to avoid a bigger scene, always so concerned about appearances.

"What's wrong? Feeling sorry for her?" Chloe taunted, her tone acidic.

Daniel didn't reply, but I chuckled bitterly.

"We were married for two years. Isn't it normal for him to feel sorry for me?"

"Shameless!" Chloe broke free from Daniel and raised her hand to slap me.

I braced myself to take the hit, but it never landed.

Opening my eyes, I saw Chloe's wrist firmly held by another hand—Lucas's hand.