When Love Became A Transaction

She stayed at the hospital, a loyal sentinel at Liam' s bedside. My call

need

't lea

ldn't un

a weight her heart couldn't bear. Her doctor diagnosed her with stress-induced cardiomyopathy, a condition they literally called "

ing as she held a cup of tea. "First my grandson, now this. Every t

eling like a hot poker on my skin. I would nod and thank them, the lie a bitter taste in my mouth. I was a ghost haunting my own lif

call from Ol

Olivia's post-operative check-u

er know," I

Given its late stage, there was significant scarring. I need to be frank with you, Mr. Miller. Based o

y child, and in doing so, had destroyed any chance of ever having anothe

ck feeling. I had given Olivia control of our joint savings account years a

nt was ne

nsfers to offshore accounts. And then, the most damning evidence: massive payments made directly to a priva

rked double shifts for, the nest egg for our child's college fund, all of it funneled to him.

k, modern building that reeked of money. I told the front desk I

ar. And the scene inside broke th

areful and tender. She was smiling, a real, genuine smile I hadn't seen on her face in months. Liam

saying, his voice smooth. "I don

ou, Liam," she said so

for me?" he asked, his voice dro

eath

"It wasn't a problem. It was

eatment phase is done, things will be different. We'll have all the money we nee

madness. It was a plan. A cold, calculated, monstrous plan. My son's death wasn't a tragic, misguided

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