No matter who reached out first this time, one thing was clear that Ben still had feelings for Jamie. Simply pushing her away, as they had tried before, wouldn’t work. The allure of what one couldn’t have would only keep his interest simmering. She might keep him at bay for a while, but could she really keep him away forever? If they crossed paths again, the spark could reignite instantly.Make him despise you. Make him give up on you completely. If you can do that, I’ll cover all of Charlie’s medical expenses, along with a lifetime of living costs for both of you. If you can’t… then neither of you has a reason to go on. Mrs. Lucas coldly sealed both Jamie’s and her son’s fate in a few chilling sentences.If Mrs. Lucas wanted to harm Charlie, she had countless ways to do so. Jamie, an ordinary person, couldn’t possibly stand against the power of the Lucas family.Her only option was to follow Mrs. Lucas’s orders and make Ben detest her. But he already resented her deeply. He simply refused to let her go. In that case, what more could she do?I’m giving you three months, Mrs. Lucas added, rising and collecting her bag. In three months, Ben will return for an arranged marriage. You must sever all ties by then. My patience is limited, and this coffee is on me. With that, Mrs. Lucas left, leaving Jamie alone. Jamie sat at the table, unmoving. Both cups of coffee remained untouched. She had no appetite for it now. Mrs. Lucas’s words replayed in her mind over and over.She knew that Winnie was planning to marry him in three months. It wasn’t hard to imagine that Ben might turn their wedding day into an unforgettable spectacle for both sisters. That gave her only three months. Jamie stayed at the café for a long time, lost in thought, until she remembered Ben’s earlier demand. She hurriedly left.The café was right next to a bus stop, and she hesitated briefly between taking the bus or a cab home. In the end, she chose the bus. Her funds were already limited, and a cab would leave her completely broke. After getting off the bus, she ran the rest of the way home. Despite rushing, she arrived two minutes late.Ben was already seated on the sofa, with Winnie beside him, beaming. Whatever they had been discussing had clearly delighted her.Hey, you’re back! Winnie looked up and spotted Jamie, pushing a fruit platter toward her. This is some fruit he just sliced. Come have some.Jamie gave a slight nod.How’s Charlie doing? Winnie asked.He’s doing fine, Jamie replied, keeping it vague. With Ben nearby, she didn’t want to discuss Charlie’s condition openly, though she wasn’t sure how to change the subject. Just as she was about to pivot the conversation Winnie pulled a card from her bag. I sold all the jewelry today, so every cent is loaded onto this card. Use it for Charlie’s treatments. Mid-month is coming up, and Jack will get his paycheck then. We’ll keep just enough for 0 in household expenses, and you can take the rest. How much more do you still need for Charlie’s treatments? Ben interjected. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the ꜰindηovel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Winnie sighed. We’re still short by a lot. His condition is serious, and the treatments require new medication from overseas. They’re not covered by insurance, so it’s all out of pocket. Otherwise, Jamie wouldn’t be so stressed. No matter how hard she worked, her earnings could never keep up with the expenses.