Chapter 4

By the time I sprinted back to the pediatric recovery ward, Maya’s fever had already spiked.

Her small face was flushed a violent red, while her lips were dry, cracked, and peeling.

She struggled to open her eyes, weakly lifting a trembling arm toward me.

"Mommy..."

I rushed to the bedside, scooping her hot body into my arms.

"Why is her temperature this high?!"

The floor nurse looked miserable.

"Her fever hit 102 at noon. We recommended an immediate transfer to the sterile isolation unit, but the family refused to sign the admission consent."

I gritted my teeth. "Who refused?!"

The nurse glanced nervously toward the door. "Her grandmother said to wait and see."

I marched out into the corridor. Brandon’s mother was sitting casually on a bench, picking at a takeout container as if nothing was wrong.

I smacked the plastic container straight out of her hand.

"Maya has a dangerous fever! Why didn't you sign the isolation transfer?!"

Evelyn glared at me, her tone nonchalant.

"The doctor said to monitor her first."

"Monitor what?! Her immune system is completely depleted after the harvest! A fever means an active, life-threatening infection!"

Evelyn scowled. "Chloe, stop being so dramatic. Kids get fevers all the time!"

"Leo’s treatment is bleeding us dry. You move Maya to isolation, and that’s another couple thousand dollars out of pocket!"

I stared at her, my vision blurring with rage. "A couple thousand? Your grandson’s life is precious, but my daughter’s life is garbage to you?!"

Evelyn’s face darkened instantly.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that! Maya is just a girl—she’s tough, she’ll pull through! Leo is different. He’s the only boy, the heir to the family!"

I shook with fury, nausea clawing at my throat.

Rachael stepped out of the elevator right then, holding her phone up, clearly recording.

"Chloe! What are you screaming at Mom for?!"

"The doctors said to monitor! You’re the one insisting on an expensive isolation ward. Are you just trying to hike up the bill again?!"

She leaned toward the crowded waiting area, raising her voice to a shriek:

"Look, everyone! She’s desperate! She’s trying to bully my mother-in-law into signing more blank checks!"

A crowd gathered within seconds. Whispers rippled through the hallway.

"Isn't she the doctor who got suspended today?"

"Yeah, heard she exploited her own kid to extort her in-laws."

A freezing dread settled into my bones.

Inside the room, a weak, frightened cry broke out.

"Mommy..."

I spun around and bolted back inside. Maya’s eyes were losing focus, her tiny chest heaving.

"Mommy... I’m so cold."

I wrapped her in the blanket, but her skin burned like fire against mine.

"Mommy’s here, baby. Mommy is taking you to isolation right now."

I scooped her up and strode toward the door.

Rachael blocked my path. "What do you think you’re doing? You don't have a signed order! You can’t move her!"

"Get out of my way."

She tilted her chin up defiantly. "If you touch that bed without authorization, I will report you to the board again right this second!"

Evelyn grabbed my other arm. "Chloe, stop this madness! We won't pay for this!"

In my arms, Maya weakly pressed her face into my neck, whispering through cracked lips:

"Mommy... don't spend any more money on me."

"It doesn't hurt anymore..."

Those words drove into my heart like a rusted blade.

I clutched her tighter, tears choking my voice.

"Mommy will spend everything. Mommy will pay whatever it takes."

Before I could take another step, Brandon appeared at the entrance.

He stood in the doorway, his face dark and imposing.

"Chloe, haven't you made enough of a scene?"

I stared at him, my heart bleeding out. "Sign the paper, Brandon. Sign it right now."

He scowled. "Rachael said we should monitor her first."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Rachael said?!"

"Is she the doctor, or am I?!"

Cornered, his face twisted in annoyance.

"You’re suspended. You don't have the authority to call the shots here."

Suffocation gripped my lungs.

In my arms, Maya’s body suddenly gave a violent jolt.

The monitor let out a high-pitched alarm, and the nurse screamed:

"Her oxygen is crashing!"