" You might not live like a princess , but you sure know how to fake dying like one . Brain cancer ? So dramatic . " " Maybe you should've been an actress . " " Listen to me . You have 24 hours . If I don't see the money by this time tomorrow … " He stepped closer to Hailey , his voice a low threat . " I'll go pay a little visit to that surgeon husband of yours . And that doting adoptive father and brother . " He didn't give her a chance to argue , simply turning and walking out . He left Hailey trembling in the vast , empty villa . She snatched a champagne flute from the coffee table and hurled it against the wall . Glass shattered everywhere as she gasped for breath . Why ? Why did everyone else get to have a happy , perfect family ? 1/3 Why was she stuck with a gambling - addicted mother , forced to play the pathetic invalid just to get some money ? She had worked so hard to push Clara of this family . She would not go back to scraping by . Never . Hailey stormed back into the bedroom and threw on some clothes . After faking it for so long , she could finall mov freely . All she wanted now was to liquidate the assets she'd conned ut of Clara . Transfer the money to an offshore account , and then disappear for good . That way , her creditors would never find her . And neither would Clara's father and brother . She had to act now . Hailey hailed a cab to the bank , her heart hammering against her ribs . At the counter , she handed the card to the teller , her hand trembling with anticipation . Soon , Clara's money would be hers . Soon , she would be free . The teller swiped the card , then looked up , a strange expression on her face . " Ma'am , the name on this account doesn't match your ID . " " Are you sure you have the right card ? " Hailey froze . " How is that possible ? My family already transferred ownership to me when we did the paperwork ! " " Are you sure you didn't make a mistake ? " The teller shook her head , her expression serious . " Ma'am, the owner of this card is still listed as Ms. Clara Vance . " " Also , this account has been frozen by the court . It was requested by her mother , who is the executor of her estate . " Hailey's mind went blank . Executor of her estate ? Her mother ? How could this be ? She had watched Clara sign the transfer agreement with her own eyes ! She'd gone over that agreement again and again to make sure . Had Clara pulled some kind of trick at the last minute ? Wait , there was still the studio and the villa ! Hailey bolted from the bank , dialing a friend with trembling hands . She needed to confirm this immediately . She sat on the bank's front steps , waiting anxiously . A few minutes later , the call came back . " Hailey , those assets you mentioned ? The owner is still listed as Clara Vance . " 2/3 " Three days ago , her mother - acting under power of attorney - filed to have all of Clara's assets frozen . " It was as if a clap of thunder went off inside her head .