Chapter 5

No matter how many times I explained or begged the detectives, it was useless.

The investigation was pending.

I couldn't leave.

My heart was in my throat as I worried about Leo.

Did his fever go down?

Did he take his medicine on time?

Was he crying in the dark, calling for his mommy? Did I have enough money left in my account to keep him in the ICU?

The terror and anxiety gripped my chest, tightening until I could barely breathe.

But things only got worse.

The stress, combined with riding in the freezing rain all night, caught up to me. A raging fever took over my body.

I shivered violently in the cold cell, my vision blurring, unable to even hold a pen to write a statement.

*No. I can't go to prison.*

*What will happen to Leo?*

He had just survived a major surgery. He was only four years old. He couldn't survive without me.

But my body was giving up. Just as I felt myself slipping into unconsciousness, a guard's voice echoed through the metal bars.

"Chloe Miller, you're free to go. Your bail has been posted."

It was Luke.

He rushed in, supporting my weak body as we walked out of the precinct. But as we reached the lobby, we ran right into Carter.

Carter’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Luke's hand supporting my waist. His voice dripped with malice.

"Chloe, your son is literally fighting for his life in the emergency room."

"And you're already out here throwing yourself into another man's arms?"

My heart stopped.

I looked up at Luke, my eyes wide with panic.

Luke pressed his lips together, throwing a furious glare at Carter before looking down at me reassuringly.

"It’s an infection-induced fever. His vitals dropped, and things got complicated... they had to rush him back in."

"But the chief of pediatrics is personally leading the procedure. He’s going to be okay."

The news hit me like a physical blow. My knees buckled, and I would have collapsed if Luke hadn't caught me.

I gripped Luke's sleeve, sobbing hysterically.

"Take me there. Luke, please, I beg you."

"Leo is so small... he can't leave me..."

I sat outside the operating room, my face pale as death, staring at the bright red "In Progress" sign.

Every second felt like an eternity. I was trembling so hard I could barely sit upright.

"Chloe, please sit down. You're still running a high fever..."

I shook my head blindly, my eyes glued to the double doors.

Seeing that I refused to leave, Luke had no choice but to step away for a moment to grab me some water and a warm blanket.

Carter had followed us to the hospital. He stood a few feet away, watching me with a tense, conflicted expression. He eventually walked over to Luke, demanding answers.

"Why is she raising a kid alone? Did she tell you?"

"Did that rich foreign guy dump her? Did he leave her with nothing, not even child support?"

Luke remained silent, ignoring him.

This only made Carter more agitated. He finally asked the question that had been burning in his mind:

"What kind of disease does the kid have? Why is Chloe so desperate for money?"

Luke knew everything about Leo's parentage.

But right now, he didn't have the patience to deal with Carter's ignorance.

Holding back the urge to punch Carter in the face, Luke turned to walk away.

Suddenly, a nurse rushed out of the operating room, her voice filled with panic.

"Miss Miller!"

"Miss Miller, wake up!"

Both Luke and Carter froze, then bolted toward the bench.

I had fainted, sliding off the seat onto the cold floor. Clutched tightly in my hand was Leo's unsigned critical condition notice.

The nurse held me up, looking at Luke frantically.

"Dr. Evans, the blood bank is completely out of O-negative blood. Can we get an emergency transfer from another hospital?"

"The boy is hemorrhaging!"

In the face of life and death, even Carter's anger vanished.

Seeing the dying child who carried half of Chloe's blood, his heart softened.

He stepped forward, rolling up his sleeve.

"I'm O-negative. Draw my blood."

The nurse's face lit up with relief, and she immediately reached out to guide him.

But Luke stepped in, blocking Carter with a fierce, iron-clad grip on his shoulder.

"No!"

"You are his biological father. You cannot donate blood to him!"