Chapter 4

Ethan POV

After Amelia collapsed, the corridor instantly erupted into chaos.

Nurses pushed over an emergency bed, and doctors rushed over quickly. Mr. Cross lunged forward to catch Amelia's slipping hand, his voice breaking as he shouted, "Save her! Save my daughter first!"

I stood frozen in place, the authorization cancellation form still lying at my feet.

Someone from the prep area was also calling out. "Ethan, Sienna Rhodes is about to enter the operating room. They're still waiting for your confirmation."

I looked down at that sheet of paper, then at Amelia being wheeled away.

This time, I didn't immediately go to Sienna's side.

I bent down to pick up the form, clutched it in my hand, and chased after the emergency room.

Outside the emergency room, Mr. Cross blocked my path.

"Give me that."

I didn't hand it over right away, keeping my voice low. "She was just emotionally worked up. Wait until she wakes up, then we'll talk."

The fury in Mr. Cross's eyes seemed to ignite all at once.

"She collapsed because her body couldn't take it after you gave away her surgery. She's not throwing a tantrum at you!"

I felt my expression darken. "I said I'll find her a better opportunity."

Mr. Cross reached out and snatched the form from me, his hand trembling.

"You already made one decision for her. You can't decide for her a second time."

The doctor came out quickly, his tone grave.

"Her indicators are still dropping. Today's surgery could have stabilized her. Now we can only try to save her. Whether we can get her back on the list. We need to look into it as soon as possible."

My expression finally changed.

I had always treated this as a temporary concession, thinking we could make it up later. The doctor's words crushed all those "laters" into immediate consequences.

Just then, Maya came running over.

"Ethan, Sienna is about to go into the operating room, and she keeps asking for you! She's very emotionally unstable right now. She can't handle any shocks."

Mr. Cross heard this and looked up at me.

"Sienna Rhodes can't handle shocks, but my daughter can handle having her surgery taken away?"

Maya immediately responded, "Someone inside is waiting too. If something happens to Sienna, who's going to take responsibility?"

I looked toward the emergency room, then toward the surgical area.

I hesitated for a moment, then said quietly to Mr. Cross, "You stay with Amelia. I'll go confirm things quickly and come right back."

Mr. Cross didn't stop me.

He just watched me turn away, his gaze so cold it was as if he no longer recognized me as a person.

When I arrived at the surgical area, Sienna had already been wheeled inside. Maya said with red eyes, "Sienna was terrified the whole time that Amelia would actually take the surgery back. Her hands were shaking before they pushed her in."

I felt irritated but didn't contradict her.

I knew the thing Sienna feared was the opportunity Amelia had lost.

The operating room light came on.

The people on Sienna's side seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. There was still no news from Amelia's emergency room.

When I returned outside the emergency room, Mr. Cross was sitting in a waiting chair, his back bent low.

That bag of hospital documents sat beside him, pressed down firmly by one hand.

I spoke up. "I just went to confirm..."

Mr. Cross didn't look up.

"Are you done confirming?"

I felt my throat tighten.

Mr. Cross finally looked at me, his voice hoarse beyond recognition. "Is her life now safely placed ahead of my daughter's?"

I was about to speak when the emergency room door opened.

The doctor informed us that Amelia was temporarily out of danger, but her condition going forward wasn't optimistic. We had to find another opportunity as soon as possible.

Mr. Cross supported himself on the armrest and stood up. "Can we transfer to another hospital?"

The doctor said, "The family needs to decide quickly."

I instinctively stepped forward.

But Mr. Cross moved in front of me first and handed the authorization cancellation form to the doctor.

"This time, I'll sign."

My outstretched hand froze in midair.

The emergency room light was still on.

Her father, Mr. Cross, stood between the doctor and me, blocking me out of the family decision-making position for the first time.