Chapter 10

My steps halted as I spotted Sharon outside Mom’s hospital room, and a small glimmer of hope rose in my chest. Mom had always treated Sharon well. Even if she hated me, surely she wouldn’t take it out on her, right? Sharon stood by the window, gazing inside with her assistant, Todd Smith, by her side. "I didn’t expect Mrs. Leroy to be this seriously ill," Todd remarked. A flicker of warmth stirred in my heart, and I almost stepped forward to invite Sharon in to see Mom. But then Sharon scoffed in disdain as she glanced at her phone. "Serves her right. Do you really think she didn’t have a hand in Wesley’s death? This is karma." My legs felt like they were made of lead, and I couldn’t move an inch. I suddenly felt like a complete fool. I should have known. Sharon hated me so much. Even if she had once cared, it had long been worn down by bitterness. After that, she turned and walked away, showing no signs of regret. I took a moment to steady myself before entering the room again. Seeing Mom peacefully asleep reignited my determination. The surgery was over, but there were still mountains of medical bills waiting for me. For her sake, if nothing else, I had to keep going. My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. "Kaelan, can we meet?" It was May Cabello. May was one of Sharon’s rivals and one of the few people who believed in me back when everything fell apart. I had something I needed to discuss with her too, so we arranged to meet at a nearby cafe. … After about ten minutes, May arrived. She paused when she saw me, looking uncertain. "Kaelan? What happened to you? You look terrible." I gave a wry smile, unwilling to get into it. May didn’t press further. "I’m actually here to talk about a business opportunity. Right after you went to prison—" She stopped, clearly trying not to hurt my pride. I shook my head and encouraged, "Go ahead. I don’t care about that stuff anymore." May sighed in relief and continued. "I want to hire you to lead my latest project. You can name your price." I felt a mix of emotions. My criminal record was a stain on my life. It would be nearly impossible to find a decent job. May must have known that and was offering me an opportunity. However, instead of accepting, I shook my head. I needed fast money, and the best way to do that wasn’t by becoming an employee—it was through partnership. "May, I want to make it on my own. If you trust me, let’s partner up. What do you think?" She looked surprised at first, then a look of admiration passed over her face. "All right, Kaelan. I trust you." "What the hell are you two doing?" Sharon was suddenly standing across from us, with Javin at her side, a smug look on his face. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but May immediately shot back. "What’s the matter, Ms. Tatham? Since when do we have to report our business to you?" Sharon ignored May entirely, her eyes boring into me. "Kaelan, are you that low? You’ll do anything for money?" I frowned. "Sharon, we’re just talking business. Don’t twist things." Sharon let out a cold laugh, her anger building with every second. "Business? What, you’re going to conduct business in bed too? What kind of work does a murderer have to offer? Can’t you even come up with a better excuse?" Relishing the drama, Javin chimed in, "You’re a gigolo, and you know it. We’ve always known what kind of person you are." My blood started to boil, but I forced myself to stay calm. I stood up, not wanting May to be dragged into this any further. "You see filth because you’re filthy. May, let’s go. Don't waste your breath on them." May and I moved to leave, but Sharon wasn’t done. She grabbed my arm, refusing to let me go. Javin gritted his teeth, grabbed the coffee cup from the table, and dumped it over my head. The hot liquid splashed over me, soaking my hair and leaving brown stains all over my white shirt. I didn’t need a mirror to know how pitiful I looked. Sharon quickly let go of my arm, wrinkling her nose in disgust before turning her fury back on me. "Who said you could leave? Are you that eager to get into bed with her?"