Chapter 3

Arthur frowned, a flicker of discomfort in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by cold indifference.

"Evelyn, calm down. Leo has acute heart failure; he'll die if he doesn't get a transplant immediately. Lily's condition is relatively stable; she's supported by a bypass machine and can perfectly wait for the next donor."

Stable?

I scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping my lips, tears splashing onto the back of my hand.

"She was in pain all night yesterday and couldn't sleep. This morning, she even coughed up blood! You call that stable?"

I grabbed the collar of his scrubs, my nails digging into his flesh.

"Arthur, Lily is your biological daughter! Are you really going to kill your own daughter for an outsider's child?!"

Serena trembled beside him, tears streaming down her face like a broken dam.

"Ms. Hayes, every fault is mine. I begged Arthur to save Leo... Leo is only seven years old, he hasn't even truly seen the world yet..."

She started to kneel.

Arthur pulled her back, protectively holding her behind him, then turned to glare at me, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Evelyn, that's enough! Serena is a single mother, struggling enough as it is. Why do you have to be so relentless? What happened to your kindness and generosity?"

Kindness and generosity.

I looked at the man I had loved for seven years and suddenly felt he was utterly foreign.

Seven years ago, he was a struggling medical student, and I was the heiress who hid my identity.

For his words, "I want to save lives," I willingly devoted myself to him, quietly paving the way for him using my family's connections.

His entry into the prestigious St. Mary's Medical Center, his access to those core research projects---all of it was funded and facilitated by me.

Yet, he believed it all came from his own hard work.

"Give Lily back her heart," I released him, my voice cold as ice.

"Impossible." Arthur adjusted his collar, resuming the air of a superior Vice Director.

"I am the hospital's Vice Director and a leading expert in cardiothoracic surgery. From a medical ethics standpoint, the patient with the more severe condition gets priority for the donor organ. I've already signed off on this, and I'm about to go into surgery."

He paused, a hint of condescension in his voice.

"Don't worry, I'll arrange the best conservative treatment for Lily. When the next donor becomes available, I'll personally perform her surgery."

"The next donor? Lily's blood type is Rh-negative! Do you have any idea how rare a match is? We waited three years for this heart!"

I shrieked.

Serena, hiding behind Arthur, softly sobbed, "Ms. Hayes, I'm so sorry... When Leo gets better, I'll make sure he works tirelessly to repay your kindness..."

Repay?

A 'repayment' bought with my daughter's life? I find it utterly repulsive!

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.

Arthur scoffed, "Who are you going to call now? Your socialite friends? Evelyn, this is a hospital, not a playground for your tantrums."

The call connected. I ignored him and spoke into the receiver.

"Activate top-level clearance. Lock down all operating rooms at St. Mary's Medical Center. Notify the legal department to revoke all of Dr. Sterling's medical privileges."

Arthur froze, then laughed as if he'd heard the most absurd joke.

"Evelyn, have you lost your mind? Who do you think you are? Even the Director wouldn't dare to use St. Mary's top-level clearance so casually, you---"

Before he could finish, the elevator doors dinged open at the end of the hallway.