Chapter 3

A flicker of surprise flashed in Chloe’s eyes, quickly replaced by a smug smirk.

"Ha. Now you're inventing asthma for your dad?"

"Why don't you claim your mom's having a heart attack while you're at it?"

"Let me tell you something: if you want a ride down, wait until the crew puts out the fire in this building."

"Won't take long. Just another thirty minutes or so."

Looking at my father's grayish face, I knew he didn't have thirty minutes left.

Since Daisy had gone through the trouble of ordering her crew to abandon us, she had definitely been reborn too.

I dashed to the rooftop railing, scanning the ground below for any way out.

Through the haze, I spotted an inflated rescue cushion deployed directly beneath our side of the building.

The drop was terrifyingly high.

I didn't have a second to hesitate.

I hoisted Dad up and dragged both parents toward the edge.

"Mom, you jump first."

"Then I'll hold Dad and jump right behind you."

Mom's face twitched with terror.

Seeing the blazing fire less than an arm's length away, she gritted her teeth, hoisted herself over, and jumped.

The moment she hit the center of the cushion safely, I scooped Dad into my arms and leaped over the railing.

Thud!

We slammed hard into the cushion and tumbled off onto the grass.

I sprinted toward the nearby bystanders, begging to borrow a car, but nobody would hand their keys over to a stranger covered in blood.

The entire block was barricaded by police tape, and there wasn't a taxi in sight.

Just as sheer panic began to swallow me, I spotted Dad's longtime physician friend, Dr. Lewis, who had just been evacuated from the lower floors.

I scrambled over and dropped to my knees before him.

"Dr. Lewis, please save my dad!"

"His asthma flared up, his inhalers are burned inside the apartment, and he needs an ER right now! Please drive us to the hospital!"

Dr. Lewis gasped, rushing over to examine my father.

"My god, why is he so pale?!"

He spun on his heel toward the parking garage, but Chloe appeared out of nowhere and cut him off.

Having descended in the helicopter, she crossed her arms with an arrogant sneer.

"You actually believe this clown?"

"He's putting on a show to play you. Don't fall for it—the guy is full of filthy schemes!"

Dr. Lewis shoved her aside in white-hot fury.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"I'm a licensed physician! Do you think I can't recognize a patient in critical respiratory distress?"

"You are obstructing emergency medical care! I will have your badge and your license for this!"

Hearing the threat of legal action, Chloe visibly flinched.

"Oh, really? Just because you say you're a doctor makes you one?"

"I could claim to be the Chief of Surgery, doesn't mean I know what I'm talking about!"

Panicking, she pulled out her phone and dialed Daisy on speaker.

"Chloe, what's going on?"

Hearing Daisy's cold voice sent chills straight down my spine.

In a terrifying flash, I saw her blood-crazed face again, butchering my family for another man.

"Daisy, Ethan is claiming his dad is having an asthma attack and wants to rush to the hospital."

Daisy's sharp reprimand cut through the speaker like a blade.

"Why the hell did you let him out of the building?!"

"Didn't I make it clear that he was not to leave that rooftop? Now that he's down, do not let him take off!"

"Asthma? It's just another pathetic scam to get my attention!"

With that, she hung up without an ounce of hesitation.

Mom broke down entirely, her voice hoarse and broken.

"What did we ever do to deserve this?!"

"We treated that girl like our own daughter!"

I dug my nails into my palms, my chest aching with bitter disgust.

She was right. We had given her everything. What right did she have to treat us like dirt?

Suddenly, Dr. Lewis let out a terrified shout.

"His airway is closing! We're losing him! Move, now!"

Dad began foaming at the mouth, his eyes rolling back as severe convulsions racked his body on the asphalt.