My wife, Heather Conner, secretly steals the funds I've saved up for our daughter, Naomi Hartman's surgery. After that, she books a high-class hotel for Jared Winters, the low-income student she has been sponsoring, just so she can celebrate his birthday with him.

When I find out about it, I demand that Heather return all the money to me. But she slaps me immediately and blames me and Naomi for causing her trouble on purpose.

"This is the first birthday Jared and I are celebrating together! Since it's such a big day, it's only natural that I hold it in a grand and lavish manner!

"Instead, you two insist on undergoing that stupid surgery just when I've booked the hotel instead of scheduling it at any other time! You really are vile!

"I've already inquired with the doctor about the surgery. Turns out it's completely optional! I might as well put the money to good use by giving Jared an unforgettable birthday instead of having you waste it on a useless surgery!

"Even if Naomi does end up dying, that means she's fated to die anyway! You can't blame anyone for her death!"

Heather just abandons Naomi, who's still fighting for her life. She then drives Jared to the hotel, where they spend the night watching a beautiful fireworks display.

With 12 critical notices issued by the doctor in my hand, I kneel before Monica Brown, the richest woman in the city.

"I'm willing to marry into your family as long as you pay me 35 thousand dollars' worth of wedding gifts!"

My daughter, Naomi Hartman, suffered sudden heart failure and needed immediate surgery.

I bolted home and asked my wife, Heather Conner, for the bank card where I had been saving money for Naomi's surgery. I had been depositing money into that account every month, so there should have been at least 13 thousand dollars in there, excluding interest.

Heather was squatting on the balcony, hand-washing underwear for Jared Winters, the impoverished college student she had been sponsoring.

When I asked for the card, she tossed the underwear into the basin, frowned, and spat, "No money!

"A regular surgery costs a few thousand dollars at most, so what surgery is that, costing more than ten thousand dollars?

"Jared's birthday is coming up in a few days. I booked a birthday package for him at a hotel, so the card's empty.

"This isn't Naomi's first episode either, so get the doctor to prescribe some pills and stop being dramatic."

I fixed her with a deadly stare and gritted my teeth as I demanded she cancel the birthday package. She had to get the money back for Naomi's surgery.

But she insisted Naomi's condition wasn't serious at all and that surgery was unnecessary.

While we fought, Jared returned from class. He was the impoverished student Heather had been sponsoring for years. To save him from dormitory expenses, she had him live in our house.

Jared kicked off his shoes and flopped onto the couch, whining about how exhausting class was and demanding that I massage his shoulders.

I ignored him and dragged Heather aside, insisting she cancel the booking at the hotel.

"The doctor made it clear that she needs surgery, or she won't make it past tonight. She's your flesh and blood and the baby you carried for nine months, Heather.

"She's still so young, so please have some mercy on her. She hasn't even had the chance to live her life yet, and she still has dreams she hasn't fulfilled. Can you bear to see her die?"

Seeing the clear flicker of conflict on her face, I pressed harder, and she finally gave in.

But Jared stepped forward from the side and hooked his pinky around hers before cautiously saying, "Naomi happily went to school this morning, Heather. You haven't heard anything about an accident from the school, so why is Miles suddenly asking for money the moment he comes home?

"If Naomi's really sick, just cancel the birthday party package. I've never celebrated my birthday before, so I guess it doesn't matter anyway.

"Though I've always envied people who throw lively parties to celebrate their birthdays, and this is the first birthday we will be celebrating together, it's fine. I guess I'm just fated not to celebrate birthdays.

"But I still have to warn you, Miles Hartman. Naomi's too young to tell right from wrong, so if you teach her to fake illnesses just for money, you're going to ruin her."

After comforting him, Heather suspiciously turned to me and demanded a doctor's note as proof. But I had rushed home for the money in such a panic that I hadn't thought about grabbing paperwork.

So, I told her to bring the money and come to the hospital to see for herself.

Jared muttered that I was lying because I couldn't produce proof, then started whining about being tired and hungry. He wouldn't stop pestering Heather to cook for him.

Heather believed him. She shoved me aside and walked into the kitchen to start washing vegetables.

I was nearly pacing around in frantic worry. When I looked up, I saw Jared grinning at me with his lips curled up smugly.

"Easy, Miles. Heart diseases can't be cured, and if she dies, it just means she wasn't fated to live. Serves her right!"

The rage I had been holding back finally exploded in my chest. I grabbed the basin from the floor and flung the water straight in his face.

"Since your mouth spews nothing but filth, let me wash it for you!"

He was soaked from head to toe with the wet underwear slapped onto his head. Screaming, he ran toward the kitchen and cried loudly about how I was bullying him.

Heather heard the noise and rushed out of the kitchen. When she saw his miserable state, she angrily demanded that I apologize. "Jared's just a kid, so why are you picking on him?

"Who do you think you are to lose your temper over something so small? Apologize now!"

Jared stood there trembling. His eyes were red-rimmed as if he had just suffered a grave injustice.

Heather's heart ached so much for him that she insisted I get on my knees and apologize.

I pressed my lips together and refused outright. Just as I was about to speak again, the phone in my pocket rang with a call from the hospital.

"Is this Naomi's family? She's on a ventilator, and if we don't start the surgery now, it'll be too late!"

Without hesitation, I turned and ran straight out the door. I didn't stop even when Heather shouted after me.

By the time I finally arrived at the hospital, the doctor told me that Naomi's situation was so critical that she had been taken into the operating room.

I signed a stack of consent forms before the nurse shoved a pile of bills at me and urged me to pay at once.

I wandered the hospital hallways in a daze, calling and texting every relative and friend just to beg for money. But no matter how humbly I pleaded, I only managed to scrape together two thousand dollars.

For a moment, I was so dazed that I considered asking a nurse if I could sell a kidney or part of my liver to cover the rest of the bills.

At a corner of the hallway, I wasn't paying attention and ran into a woman in high heels. Both our surgery documents were scattered onto the floor.

As I apologized and helped gather the papers, she stared at me with a strange look and then tentatively called my name.

My mind was too blank to think, so all I could do was give her a blank stare without recognizing who she was.

She took the papers from me and introduced herself with a smile, "I'm Monica Brown. I was your senior in college and presented you with an award during the anniversary gala."

Monica's father had been the city's wealthiest tycoon. As a result, she had always been a prominent figure on campus.

I heard her father died a few years ago. As his only child, Monica had inherited his fortune and become a billionaire herself.

Looking into her eyes full of smiles, I didn't know what came over me, but the first thing I did was ask to borrow her money. "Monica, my daughter's sick and needs surgery. Could you lend me eight thousand dollars? I swear I'll pay you back, and I can even write an IOU.

"There's nothing else I can do. She's on the operating table right now, waiting for this money to save her life, and I've seriously run out of options."

Monica froze for a moment. Perhaps she could see how close I was to breaking down because she couldn't bring herself to refuse.

She took out her phone, exchanged numbers with me, and wired ten thousand dollars.

"From your bill, I noticed that the surgery costs ten thousand dollars. Pay for it with that money, and don't worry about the rest. I don't need the money either, so whether you pay it back doesn't matter at all."

Compared to Heather, Monica was a literal life-saving angel. I promised to pay it back and even tried to kneel in thanks.

Startled, she quickly helped me up and said she had to leave for company business.

I rushed to the nurses' station, borrowed a pen and paper, and scribbled an IOU. After chasing her down, I shoved it in her hands.

Monica hadn't wanted to take it at first, but I begged until she hurriedly accepted it and left.

With the money she lent me, I paid for Naomi's surgery.

After nearly three hours, a nurse finally wheeled Naomi into the ICU. The doctor told me that the surgery was a success and that she could be transferred to a regular room the next day if she did fine after a short observation.

Looking at Naomi's pale face while she slept, I collapsed in tears and crouched in a corner, sobbing into my hands.

I applied for leave from work and stayed at the hospital to care for her.

Naomi was clearly a fighter. She woke up the day she was transferred to a regular room and called for me in a soft voice, like a kitten's.

Seeing her pale little face, I fought back tears and carefully fed her soup. She lost her appetite after a few sips, closed her eyes, and fell asleep again.

I finished the rest of the soup and took the trash out.

When I came back, I saw Heather holding Jared's hand and peeking through the door. Up close, I heard Jared complaining to her in dissatisfaction that I was a liar.

"I told you Miles was lying. Naomi hasn't had an episode in ages, so how could it have been such a coincidence that she gets sick right before my birthday?

"Miles probably thinks celebrating my birthday's a waste of money, but he could've just said so instead of using Naomi to lie to you.

"Thank goodness Naomi's fine, and you can relax now. But this kind of behavior from Miles is unacceptable. Who knows if he'll try to lie to you again…"

Naomi was in the hospital room, hooked to monitors, yet Jared still claimed that she was faking her illness.

I couldn't listen to another word he said and lifted my foot to kick him hard in the ass.

Jared yelped as he tumbled into the hospital room and slammed his face hard against the floor.

Heather rushed over to help him up and angrily demanded that I apologize.

I refused to waste a single word on them, so I grabbed the test reports from the bedside table and turned to look for a nurse. Naomi had several tests to complete, and if we delayed any longer, the doctors would be off duty.

Heather reached out to block the door and refused to let me out. Then, she began accusing me of being heartless.

"Naomi's perfectly fine, yet you insisted on hospitalizing her and even jinxed her to die. How's a vicious man like you fit to be her dad?

"If Jared wasn't smart enough to see through your lies, you would've completely fooled me. Now, you've laid hands on him twice, so get on your knees and apologize to him.

"Besides, you're going to discharge Naomi and bring her home right now, or I swear I'm not going easy on you!"

Furious, I laughed and snatched up the medical records from the bed before pointing to the doctor's notes.

"If you say I'm lying, take a good look at the doctor's instructions. Naomi might already be dead if I hadn't managed to borrow the money, and yet you want me to apologize to him. Is he even worthy of my apology?"

Heather reached for the records, but Jared shoved himself between us. Covering his face, he threw himself into her arms and began moaning in pain.

"Look at my face and see if it'll leave a scar, Heather. It's fine if it does. I deserve this because it's all my fault that I spoke up and made you fight.

"I was just worried about Naomi, and I don't want Miles to ruin her. Just hit me and scold me all you want. I can take it."

He grabbed her hand and forced her to slap him twice. His already swollen cheeks immediately flushed red and showed streaks of blood.

Heather was heartbroken. She dragged him out and insisted on taking him to a doctor.

Just before leaving, she glanced back at me and warned that unless I apologized to Jared and took Naomi home, she wouldn't pay a single dollar of Naomi's hospital bills. With that, she led Jared away without hesitation.

I briefly watched them leave before heading out to find a nurse and schedule Naomi's tests.

By the time she was done with all the tests, night had fallen. I requested a nurse's help to keep an eye on her so I could run home, shower, and grab a change of clothes before returning for the night.

After arriving home, I scanned my fingerprint and entered the passcode, but the door wouldn't open. With only one more attempt before the security system went into a permanent lockout from too many failed tries, I frowned and called Heather.

Jared's voice came from the other end when the call was picked up. He arrogantly threatened that unless I knelt and begged him, I wouldn't be allowed inside.

"Heather says you've made too many mistakes and owe me an apology, so you need to be taught a lesson.

"Let's do it this way… Put your phone on the ground, and I want to hear you bang your head against the floor three times. I'll tell you the passcode if it's loud enough.

"Don't try any tricks, or I'll tell Heather, and it won't stop at just three."

I muttered a curse under my breath and told him to hand the phone to Heather. When she took it, she told me the same thing Jared did. She even urged me to hurry up and do as told, or I should forget about stepping into the house.

I sneered and spat, "Dream on!"

After hanging up, I called the property management team and had them send their men to pick the lock.

The apartment was registered under my name, so all the staff knew who I was. When I told them I had forgotten the passcode, they didn't ask questions and reset it for me.

Now, I was curious to see who would end up apologizing to whom.

After taking a shower, I packed Naomi's daily toiletries and rushed back to the hospital. I had just entered the room and barely sat when two police officers arrived and snapped handcuffs around my wrists.

"Someone reported you for a break-in and theft. Please come with us to assist with the investigation."