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Following Diane’s advice,I bought a $1 pudding at a convenience store and texted Ethan that my resignation had been approved.
Barely opening the wrapper,I got a voice message from him.
“Jasmine,what did you buy?”
I sent a photo of the pudding.
“Why waste money on ice cream?Water is good enough,isn’t it?”
“You don’t care about my money at all.”
His tone was sharp.He asked when I’d move in—his dad was already there,and he expected me to take care of him.
I asked about his dad’s condition.After a long pause,he mumbled about“mobility issues.”
The online comments and Diane were right.He wanted me to work for his family for a measly $500.
I refused.
Immediately,the family card was frozen.
Ethan raged,“You won’t care for my dad but spend my money?You’re a nurse—taking care of people is your job.At the hospital,you deal with dozens of patients.At home,it’s just my dad,and you’re still complaining?”
“Your parents are gone.You’ve got no one else.Keep acting up,and I won’t put up with you.Move in right now,or we’re done.Who’d want a lazy freeloader like you?”
His true nature came out when he thought he had me cornered.
I stared at the will from my lawyer,threw away the pudding,and replied,“Fine,we’re over.”
I sent him $1 back,blocked him,and deleted his contact.
The lawyer met me at a café near Elite Gardens,a luxury condo complex.
“Your aunt,Ms.Laura Hayes,before passing,left all five properties in Elite Gardens to you.She was abroad for treatment and couldn’t meet you in person,so she entrusted me with this task.”
I looked at the towering,glittering condos,feeling like I was dreaming.
Aunt Laura,unmarried and had no children,but she was very successful.
Three years ago,she was treated for lymphoma at our hospital,growing close to me like a mother.When she condition improved,she moved to a foreign research institute,hoping for a cure.Unfortunately,she didn’t make it.
“On top of that,all her other assets—shops,jewelry—are yours,”the lawyer added,showing a stack of property deeds and gem photos.
“But compared to Elite Gardens, they're not as valuable.”
Elite Gardens was the symbol of wealth.Most couldn’t afford even a tiny part of it with a year's salary.
I used my savings to pay the lawyer’s fees and complete the paperwork.
Next day,I went back to work.Nursing was hard,but seeing patients recover gave unmatched fulfillment.
Due to my breakup,Diane gave me three days off.
Excited to experience luxury living, I decided to move into the empty penthouse in Elite Gardens.
Dressed in a T-shirt,shorts,and flip-flops,lugging bags,I arrived—and saw Ethan.
He was arm-in-arm with a slim woman in a tight dress,snapping selfies.
Spotting me,he smirked.“Jasmine,already reduced to cleaning here?”
