Chapter 423

In the hospital room, Chloe Valentine waited eagerly for good news from her mother and brother. Instead, she was met with two grim faces.

"Hand over the three million Nathan gave you," Linda Lombardi demanded, arms crossed. The bandage on her forehead stood out starkly.

Chloe's pupils constricted. "Mom, your head—"

"All thanks to you!" Linda snapped. "If it weren't for you, we wouldn’t have clashed with Nathan!"

The mask of maternal warmth had finally slipped.

Tyler rolled up his sleeves, revealing bruises. "Nathan hit us hard. You didn’t warn us—was this your plan all along? Keep the money for yourself?"

"I didn’t!" Chloe’s voice trembled. "How could I have known he’d—"

Linda sneered. "After being with him so long, don’t play innocent."

Tyler grabbed her hospital gown. "You’re paying our medical bills. Nathan admitted he gave you three million!"

Chloe bit her lip. "I only have twenty thousand left..."

"Bullshit!" Linda yanked the blanket off. "Where’s the card? Here? Or here?"

She knew her daughter too well—just as she’d known her younger self.

Chloe tried to stop her, but Tyler shoved her back onto the bed.

"Stay put! We nearly died for you. Compensation is the least you owe us!"

Linda ransacked the room until she found a bank card hidden in the backpack’s lining.

"Got it!"

Tyler’s eyes gleamed.

"Give it back!" Chloe struggled to get up. It was her last lifeline.

The three million had dwindled to just over a million.

Tyler shoved her hard. "You hid it well!"

Linda dragged her son toward the door. "Why waste words? My daughter, my money!"

"Mom! Please don’t go..." Chloe staggered into the hallway, her voice breaking. "Take it all... just don’t leave me..."

Only retreating footsteps answered her.

Chloe collapsed to the floor, tears streaming.

At the Evans Group’s penthouse, Nathan received the update. A cold smile curved his lips.

He dialed the hospital director. "Freeze her accounts."

"But Miss Valentine’s treatment—"

"Need me to repeat myself?" Nathan twirled a pen. "You know what to do."

That evening, the head nurse entered Chloe’s room with a bill.

"Miss Valentine, you’re discharged."

Chloe stared blankly out the window. "I’m waiting for him."

"Extended stays require a deposit." The nurse placed the form on the bedside table. "Please settle this promptly."