She Stopped Loving And Started Shining

Roselyn left the Clayton Estate and returned to the old house she'd inherited from her parents.

She'd barely had time to settle in when the hospital's billing department called.

"Ms. Todd, there isn't enough money left in Liam's account. If the unpaid balance isn't cleared by five this afternoon, we'll have to stop his chemotherapy and specialized medication."

Liam Todd was her brother and the last family she still had in this world.

A rare chronic blood disorder had left him seriously ill. During the past six months, his doctors had warned Roselyn at least three times that he might not make it.

"All right. I'm coming now."

Roselyn rushed to the hospital on legs that could barely support her.

When she reached the billing counter, she discovered that the bank had frozen her card, making it useless.

Her fingers shook as she looked down at it.

Brendan had given her that card, and its account had covered Liam's treatment for the past two years.

This was his way of making her crawl back to him.

Cutting off her brother's medical care was the fastest and cruelest way he could force her to return.

Roselyn took a steadying breath and held back her tears. Then she pulled out her personal card, which contained the small amount she'd saved before getting married.

"Try this card instead."

Those savings were all she had left, and they would only cover one more round of treatment.

Once the payment went through, Roselyn felt completely drained.

She didn't want Liam to worry. Instead of entering his room, she watched him read through the narrow window in the door.

As long as her brother remained alive, she could endure anything.

Roselyn had just turned to leave when someone seized her wrist.

She looked up and found Brendan glaring at her.

"Brendan? What are you..."

He didn't let her finish. Without saying anything, he dragged her toward the deserted stairwell.

"Let go," Roselyn insisted as she fought against him, but Brendan shoved her into the cold wall.

He stepped closer and trapped her between his body and the wall. Anger darkened his face as he spoke in a mocking voice.

"Give it up, Roselyn. Did you leave me because you thought I'd chase after you?" Brendan grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. "No one bought your act, so now you're trying something new?"

"I wasn't lying," Roselyn replied hoarsely.

"Shut up." Brendan gave a cold laugh and looked at her with disgust. "Is all this because Mila came back and I had dinner with her? Are you really so desperate for my attention that you'd go this far? I'm sick of your little performances."

He stood close enough for Roselyn to smell his cool cologne. A bright red lipstick stain showed above his collar.

Mila had put it there.

Brendan had refused to save her. Then he'd cheated on her and broken her trust.

Yet here he was.

He acted as though he'd done nothing wrong and she had made mistakes.

"I'm nothing like you, Brendan," Roselyn said as bitter disappointment filled her voice. "I'd never betray someone by cheating on them. And I wouldn't turn my back on anyone who needed my help."

"What did you just say?" Brendan's face hardened, and his stare turned colder.

Roselyn shoved his hand aside and headed for the door.

Exhaustion had taken everything out of her. She couldn't keep arguing when nothing would ever change. All she wanted was to escape the man who made her feel trapped.

She'd barely turned away when Brendan grabbed her wrist.

He yanked her against him, and her back struck his solid chest.

"Don't you dare walk away from me!"

Roselyn curled her hands into fists until her nails cut into her palms. "You disgust me."

"Don't test me!" Brendan shouted. "I've paid for Liam's treatment all this time. Keep acting like this, and I'll make sure no hospital in Andogend takes him in."

His threat cut straight through Roselyn.

This was the man she'd once loved with all her heart.

He was willing to hold her brother's life over her head just to control her.

"Then stop paying. There's no need to threaten me." Roselyn met his surprised stare, and her hoarse voice remained firm. "I'll repay every cent you spent on Liam within three months. After that, neither I nor the Todd family will have anything to do with you."

Brendan's phone rang before he could respond.

Mila's name appeared on the screen.

His gaze shifted as he answered the call in front of Roselyn.

Mila's tearful voice came clearly through the phone. "Brendan, I fell... My foot hurts so badly, and there's no one here with me. Could you please come and get me?"

Roselyn watched the coldness leave Brendan's face the moment he heard Mila.

"Where are you? Stay there. I'm coming right now!"

After ending the call, Brendan turned around and walked away without looking back.