Chapter 4

I looked at them, out of hope.

Grayson looked back, holding his ground.

"A transfer needs more than the parents' consent. Those of us on the attending team have to talk it over first."

"Once we've walked you through the specifics, if you still insist on transferring, we'll—"

I cut him off.

"You just want to stall me, don't you?"

"You watched Julian grow up. Can you really do this to him?"

Grayson fell silent.

I shoved the door open.

My voice climbed several notches.

"If my son can't be transferred for his surgery today, then I'll die right here in your hospital!"

Heads started poking out all down the corridor.

I wanted to blow this up as loud as possible, so they wouldn't dare pull anything behind my back.

But before I could say another word, Bella went white in the face, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

Zachary's heart shot into his throat. He caught her, panicking, and shook her gently.

"Bella, are you all right? Don't scare me!"

"Get her into the emergency room, now."

Grayson reacted fastest.

Zachary paced back and forth outside.

Some people out there already had their phones out, filming.

"Breaking: doctor tries to give his own son's matched bone marrow to his mistress."

"What was going through his head? Cold-blooded man."

"His poor wife."

Zachary felt humiliated, and he turned all of it on me.

"You still don't think you've made a big enough scene?"

"If you'd been a little more gracious, none of this would have happened. Bella's collapsed now. Happy?"

My chest heaved. I forced down the urge to march over and slap him, and gathered up the documents and the medical file instead.

I looked at him, cold.

"Move. I'm going to file the paperwork."

Zachary had assumed I'd give up on the idea. Seeing me still push it, he let out a disbelieving laugh.

"You're still at it?"

"Honestly, if it weren't for the child, we would never have been together at all."

"I did you a kindness marrying you. That's the only reason you didn't end up a pregnant woman nobody wanted."

I clenched my fists.

"That night was all my fault? You were the one who couldn't think past your own urges. Taking responsibility for me was the least you owed."

"I already told you. Transfer my son, and I'll give you the divorce. You can have your first love."

At the word divorce, Zachary's face turned uglier.

"I told you, I'll find Julian new marrow. Stop using divorce to threaten me."

"Julian must miss you. Go to his room and keep him company."

I drew a long breath. I wasn't going to waste any more time here, so I turned and went back to Julian's room.

Zachary thought I'd backed down. He sat on a chair in the hallway and let out a light breath.

The next second, he saw a tall man walk into the room behind the hospital director.

He had a bad feeling.

By the time he came in, the director had already signed off on my discharge request, and those specialists stood behind the man, bowing and scraping.

I was standing at the man's side, one of his arms around me.

My face full of joy and gratitude.

The man saw Zachary.

A flicker of contempt crossed his face.

But he still spoke, smiling.

"Dr. Henson, hello."

"I'm Doris's first love. Percival Swanson. And I'll be her future husband."

"I've already drawn up your divorce agreement. Sign it as soon as you can."

The lawyer beside him produced the document.

Zachary looked like he'd been struck by lightning, every trace of color draining from his face.