The bright morning sun streamed through the wide glass windows of Saint Jude Hospital. Outside, the city of Seattle was waking up to a cool breeze, but inside Room 304, the air felt heavy and freezing cold.
Chloe Miller lay perfectly still in the narrow hospital bed. She was only nineteen years old, with pale skin and light freckles dotted across her nose. Her arms were bruised, and a steady heart monitor beeped rhythmically beside her head.
Just three days ago, Chloe had barely survived a terrible car crash on the stormy coastal highway. Everyone said it was a tragic accident, but Chloe knew the dark truth behind the smashed glass and bent metal.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed down the polished oak floor of the hallway. The door swung open with a sharp click, breaking the quiet humming of the medical equipment on the wall.
A tall elderly woman stepped into the bright daylight of the room. She wore an expensive maroon blazer, gold earrings, and a icy look that could freeze warm water in seconds.
This was Evelyn Vance, Chloe's ruthless stepmother. Evelyn had married Chloe's wealthy father five years ago, right before he mysteriously passed away from a sudden, unexplained illness.
Evelyn walked straight toward the bed with long, confident strides. She did not look like a grieving mother; she looked like a hawk zeroing in on a helpless little bird.
Chloe tightened her grip on the clean white bedsheets. Her heart began to beat faster, making the heart monitor sound a little quicker in the bright room.
Evelyn: Look at you, sitting in this quiet bed like a victim.
Chloe: Why are you here, Evelyn?
Evelyn: I came to see if my dear stepdaughter was finally ready to act like a sensible adult.
Chloe: You should not be in my room after what happened.
Evelyn: Oh, don't be dramatic, Chloe. Accidents happen on slippery roads all the time.
Evelyn leaned close over the metal bed rail, her maroon blazer brushing against the mattress. Her face was only inches away from Chloe's pale forehead as she lowered her harsh voice.
Evelyn: You think you're clever, don't you?
Chloe: I know why you came here today.
Evelyn: You have always been in my way, ever since your father signed that stupid will.
Chloe stared back into Evelyn's cold eyes without blinking. She remembered the big family mansion, the private estate, and the millions of dollars her father had worked his whole life to build.
When her father died, Evelyn took control of the family business and tried to kick Chloe out onto the street. But the legal documents clearly stated that Chloe would inherit the whole trust fund on her twentieth birthday.
That birthday was only one week away. And that was exactly why Chloe's car brakes had suddenly failed on the sharp mountain turn three days ago.
Evelyn: You should have stayed away from the family lawyers, Chloe.
Chloe: My father wanted me to have his life insurance and the house.
Evelyn: Your father is dead, and dead men don't make decisions anymore.
Chloe: But the law does, Evelyn.
Evelyn smiled a nasty, crooked smile that showed her white teeth. She reached into her leather handbag and pulled out a thick envelope full of legal papers.
Evelyn: Sign these surrender papers today, or your life will become much harder than a simple car stay.
Chloe: I will never sign anything for you.
Evelyn: You don't have a choice anymore, little girl.
The room felt smaller as Evelyn pressed the papers closer to Chloe's weak hands. But before Evelyn could say another cruel word, a loud voice shouted from the open doorway.