Chapter 5
In my tiny apartment, I gathered the last of my money and sent it off.
Over five years, I had sold everything I could. Days were spent working, nights singing and serving at clubs. Finally, all my debts were cleared.
But my body was wrecked.
Whatever.
Rain fell outside. I curled up in bed, clutching the clothes my mother had left me. It still carried her warmth.
Just then, my phone rang, dragging me out of my thoughts.
It was Philip Baird, my attendit Purchase completed
“Isn’t today your chemo day? Why didn’t you show up?”
“I’m dead.”
“Anastasia!”
“I have no money. I’m not doing it anymore.”
Half an hour later, I found myself in an ambulance again, headed to the hospital. And there was that old softhearted doctor, Philip.
“Dr. Baird, you’re not secretly in love with me, are you? You’re 20 years older than me. You have quite a unique taste,”
“You’re sharp–tongued as always. I’ll cover the cost this time. I’ll also figure out the rest later. You just focus on staying alive,” he said.
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Chapter 5
“You’ve been a doctor so long you’ve practically turned into a charity case yourself. No wonder no one marries you.”
“Where’s the meds I prescribed last time?”
“They’re gone.”
“Gone? That was a month’s supply! You finished it all?”
He covered his eyes and sighed. “You were fairly stable before. How did things get so bad in a month?”
I stared at the chirping birds outside, feeling alive or dead made no difference.
“You’re in really bad shape right now. It’s hard to tell how long you’ll last… Maybe seven days, a month, or three months.
“These are new meds. Take three pills at most when it hurts the most. Remember, three is the limit,” Philip said.
Before he could finish, I opened the bottle and dumped a handful into my mouth.
It didn’t matter how many I ate. As long as it eased the pain, it was all the
same.
Whether seven days or three months, it made no difference to me.
Once I finished the medicine, I went to Mesa Cemetery. My father was buried there. This was my third visit since he passed.
Mainly, I wanted to see the plot I had chosen for myself, I would be buried next to him after I died. At least I wouldn’t be too lonely,
But to my shock, I saw my mother’s tombstone. Tears fell instantly.
Chapter 5
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I crouched down, touching her smiling photo and sobbing so hard it tore me apart.
I hadn’t cried like this in ages.
My father was gone, and my mother had lost her mind. I had carried a mountain of debt and was finally almost free, but now I was dying from a terminal illness.
And, to top it all off, some worthless man had cheated on me.
I grabbed my phone and dialed a number I had kept for ten years.
The call connected quickly.
“Have you made up your mind?” His voice was calm as a blade.
“Edward, you and Julian both deserve to die.”
There was a three–second silence on the other end of the line, then a cold laugh.
“If we’re the villains, then what does that make you and your father? You should be the one to die before me.
“But someone as malicious as you usually lives a long time. And if you ever do die before me, don’t worry–I’ll make sure your funeral is
spectacular!”
“Edward, I won’t let you off, not even as a ghost.”
Chapter 6
