“I am aware,” I said.

“If you think I am going to pay for another single doctor’s visit, you are mistaken,” he said.

“I don’t need your money anymore,” I said.

“Then you can leave,” Father said, pointing toward the gate. “Get off my property. You have twenty-four hours to pack your things.”

Chloe stepped forward, grabbing my arm.

“No,” Chloe said to Father. “If she goes, I go.”

Father looked at Chloe, his expression unyielding.

“Then you will both starve,” Father said. “Because without my name, neither of you is anything.”

I looked down at my phone, which had just vibrated in my hand.

A new email notification lit up the screen.

I tapped it open, reading the name of the sender.

I looked up at Father, a cold calm settling over me.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Father,” I said.

Father turned his head slightly, his gaze dropping to the glowing screen of my phone.

The blue light cast a cold shadow across his sharp cheekbones.

“What is that?” he asked, his voice flat.

“It is an email from Robert Vance,” I said.