They Loved Me Too Late

Erin Harrington marries Adrian, the most powerful heir on the East Coast, that morning. By afternoon, he annuls the marriage because Chloe asked. Adrian's friends mock Erin while she holds the marriage certificate and divorce papers. When she tries to ask why, her brothers Nolan, Alexander, and Julian block her path. Chloe has suffered, Erin has had everything, and Adrian belongs with Chloe. Erin does not fight. She gets into the car.

Her phone buzzes. The hospital has secured an emergency bed and needs confirmation by tonight for a transfer and surgery. Half a year ago, Erin was diagnosed with a bone tumor. She delayed treatment because she could not leave New York or Adrian, and she could not tell her family. Three times she tried. Chloe fainted at dinner; a planned dinner was cancelled because Chloe was in a bad mood; Alexander was busy with Chloe's media crisis. Erin accepts the transfer and surgery.

Dr Claire, the only person who knew about the tumor, calls. Surgery is risky but urgent. Erin contacts her lawyer Naomi and activates a plan prepared months earlier: sever ties, transfer assets, change identity, and let the Harringtons believe she died during treatment. Naomi warns there is no going back.

In the car, Julian notices Erin is pale. For a moment, she hopes he might accompany her to the hospital if she shows him her medical records. Instead, he accuses her of pretending to be sick for attention and demands she apologize to Chloe after her competition. Erin stops explaining. She decides to let them hear news of her death.

She asks to get out for her pre-surgery blood test. Julian thinks she is trying to jump from the moving car. He grabs her wrist, locks the door, and calls her attention-seeking. Chloe sends Julian a message asking him not to blame Erin. Erin closes the hospital appointment slip and stops proving herself.

At the Harrington Estate, the living room is decorated with champagne and flowers for Chloe's celebration. Alexander warns her off causing more trouble for Chloe. Claire calls because Erin missed her pre-surgery blood test. Chloe walks over with red eyes and claims Erin tried to jump out of the car because of Chloe's marriage to Adrian. Julian says nothing to defend Erin. Adrian pushes Chloe behind him. Her brothers side with Chloe and demand an apology.

Erin refuses. She remembers giving Chloe her identity, her presence, her brothers, and finally her husband. She is leaving tomorrow, and she will not go quietly. She walks toward Chloe and says, "I don't want things that others have already had." Then she slaps her. It is the first debt Erin is collecting before she leaves. The black box with her wedding ring, estate keys, and family credit card will leave with her. If she survives, she sends them back. If not, they go with her parents' photo.