Chapter 3: No Way Out

Milan's POV

I was adopted. My parents' biological daughter had been kidnapped when she was three years old.

Three months ago, she'd come home, and everything changed overnight. The parents who'd once doted on me became strangers, pouring all their love and attention into Mili as if making up for lost time—as if I'd never existed. Every decision, every gesture of affection now bent in her favor, and I was expected to step aside with a smile.

Mili wanted everything that had been mine. My dresses, my purses, my bedroom. I was willing to give her all of it—after all, it had always rightfully belonged to her.

But this?

Mili was leaning into his arms, clinging to him tightly. Tyrone didn't push her away. Instead, he stroked her hair as they kissed beneath the tree, looking every bit the picture of young lovers.

That bastard must have seduced her.

My head roared. Without thinking, I threw open the car door and stormed over to them, yanking Tyrone away and kicking him hard between the legs. "What the hell are you doing?"

Tyrone stammered, his face draining of color, unable to form words.

I raised my hand to slap him, but Mili caught my wrist. "Isn't it obvious? Tyrone and I are dating."

Her matter-of-fact tone left me reeling. "Mili, why would you do this?"

Her delicate features twisted with fury. "Why? You have the nerve to ask me why?"

"You stole my life! Tyrone should have been my fiancé!"

I clenched my jaw. I understood her anger—everything she said was true. I did owe her. But more than anything, I couldn't stand the thought of her being deceived by this piece of trash.

"Don't you know what kind of person he is? He's just using you! Do you have any idea how filthy his private life is? He'll destroy you!"

But the moment the words left my mouth, Mili's lips curved into a smile, her eyes glittering with mockery.

"Everything you just said... I already know."

My eyes widened. She knew?

She continued, enunciating each word carefully. "Who do you think sent you that video? Who do you think was fucking him in it? Impostor—don't be ridiculous. Who are you putting on this little act for? It's pathetic."

It hit me like a sledgehammer. I covered my mouth.

She hadn't been tricked by Tyrone. She'd known all along—and she'd done it anyway.

And what drove her to do it was hatred. Hatred for me.

She looked at me and took Tyrone's hand.

"Tyrone, tell her. Who's the woman you love most?"

I turned to Tyrone—the man I'd loved for years. Even now, part of me desperately wanted him to tell me this was all a joke, that none of it was real.

But instead, he pulled Mili closer and said without shame, "I love you, of course. My Mili. The woman I was always meant to marry was the real heiress of the Atlantici family—Mili Atlantici. Not some fake."

Each word drove into me like a blade. My breathing grew rapid and shallow, and the pain in my stomach intensified.

Heidi shrieked beside me. "Milan! What's wrong? Why are you breathing like that?"

I tried to speak, but before I could get a single word out, everything went black.


When I woke again, I was staring at a pale hospital ceiling.

I was still wearing the same clothes from before I'd collapsed. An IV line was taped to the back of my hand.

"Milan! You're awake!" Heidi jumped up from the chair beside the bed and rushed over, hovering anxiously.

The memory of what had happened came flooding back. "Where are Mili and Tyrone?"

She hesitated. "Tyrone wanted to take you to the hospital, but Mili twisted her ankle, so that bastard carried her off instead. I'm the one who brought you here. You've been unconscious for three days! And no one came to see you—not once!"

Hearing this, I felt nothing. No surprise, no heartbreak. Just... emptiness.

"I'm hungry."

Heidi looked at me with something like admiration. "Damn, girl. Ice cold." She gave me a thumbs-up. "What do you want to eat? I'll go get it."

Before I could answer, the door to the hospital room opened.

My attending physician, Dr. Dante, walked in carrying a thick stack of files. His expression was grim.

My heart sank. Could things possibly get worse?

Dante sighed, his eyes full of pity.

"Miss Milan, I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"

I thought for a moment.

"The good news, I guess."

"The good news is that your recent tests show the cancer cells in your body have been suppressed compared to your last scan. They've stopped spreading—for now. For a late-stage gastric cancer patient, this is nothing short of a miracle."

The cancer had stopped spreading. That meant I might live longer than expected. I might have more time to do... something.

The thought gave me a sliver of courage.

"And... the bad news?"

"The bad news is that your medical account has been frozen. I'm sorry, but we can no longer provide you with treatment."

Heidi's jaw dropped.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I thought I must have misheard.

I hadn't done a single thing to deserve it—hadn't taken my medication, hadn't followed any treatment plan. All I'd done after getting my test results was find someone to go down on me. There was no way a blowjob could cure stomach cancer. This was nothing short of a miracle.

It wasn't until Dante left and a nurse came in to tell us we needed to vacate the room that I realized he wasn't joking.

Heidi demanded answers from the staff, but all they could offer were apologies before ushering us out, leaving the two of us staring at each other in stunned silence.

My condition had improved, yes—but without treatment, it would only deteriorate again.

And when the test results had first come back, Dante had told me the treatment would cost over ten million dollars a year. There was no way I could afford that on my own. By freezing my account, my parents had essentially signed my death warrant.

Heidi offered to pay for my treatment, but I refused. "Forget it. I don't want to spend what's left of my life trapped in a hospital. Heidi, I just want to walk around outside for a while. Alone."

She wiped her eyes. "Okay. I support you."

With her help, I checked myself out. She invited me to stay at her place, but the moment we left the hospital, her father called and demanded she come home immediately.

I knew what that meant. Her father would never allow someone like me—a discarded fake—to associate with his daughter anymore.

Heidi wanted to refuse, but I stopped her. "What if it really is something urgent? Don't worry about me. I'm not going to drop dead that easily."

After she left, I couldn't keep up the brave face anymore. The sky darkened, and exhaustion crashed over me in waves as I wandered aimlessly through the streets.

I didn't understand. Yes, my identity had been a lie—but the love I'd given them over the years had been real. I'd thought of them as my family. How could they be so heartless as to just... let me die?

I wasn't their biological daughter, but they'd raised me since I was a baby...

I wiped away tears and, distracted, walked straight into someone.

"I'm so sorry—"

But when I looked up, my stomach dropped.

Standing in front of me was a heavyset man in a black leather jacket emblazoned with a skull. Behind him were three more men dressed the same way.

"Hey, sweetheart. Not cool to go around bumping into people like that."

I took a step back.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

But before I could move, his hand clamped down on my shoulder.

"Since we've run into each other, why don't you come play with us for a bit?"

Disgusting.

I didn't hesitate. I drove my knee straight into his groin.

He howled in pain and doubled over, releasing me. I turned and ran.

"Get that bitch!"

Their footsteps pounded behind me. I ran blindly, my heart hammering.

"Help! Somebody!"

It was late, and the streets were nearly empty. The few people who saw me being chased by three dangerous-looking men didn't dare intervene.

Despair clawed at me. I glanced back—they were less than thirty feet away.

My stamina was gone. Was I really going to fall into their hands?

My legs gave out. I stumbled forward, bracing for the impact—

But it never came.

Someone caught my arm and pulled me upright.

It's over. They've got me.

Resignation washed over me—until I heard the voice of the person holding me.

"You were so damn fierce when you were slapping me the other day." His voice dropped, low and unhurried, "What happened to all that attitude, hm?"

That familiar voice. I looked up to see Sorensen's handsome face, his expression laced with amusement.

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