Chapter 1

My daughter suddenly collapsed and urgently needed surgery.

When it was time to pay, I discovered that the education fund, which I had painstakingly saved up for her, was gone.

Desperate, I called my husband, Declan, the hospital director, to ask if he could expedite the process.

He dismissed me coldly, "Adeline, how could you joke about our daughter's life out of jealousy?"

"You expect me to break the rules?"

In tears, I tried to reach him again, but his phone was off. My daughter never woke up.

Later, I found out that Declan had used my daughter's life-saving money to buy a house in a good school district for Rosalie's son.

And on the day of her cremation, he spent the entire night watching fireworks with Rosalie and her son.

At the hospital.

Watching my daughter's heart rate plummet, I was so desperate that I fell to my knees.

"Dr. Wesley, please operate on my daughter. I promise I'll pay the fees soon."

Dr. Wesley gently pushed my hand aside, looking troubled.

"Sister-in-law, please don't put us in a difficult position. We can't perform the surgery without payment."

"Director Declan didn't approve it over the phone."

"And he specifically instructed us not to let you cause a scene here."

"Is this causing a scene?"

"This is life and death!"

"The patient's heartbeat is weakening," an abrupt voice sent chills down my spine.

The alarm from the monitor filled me with terror and confusion.

Yes, I could call Declan's Rosalie, Nora; they were likely together.

With trembling hands, I dialed Nora's number.

After what felt like an eternity, she answered.

"Adeline, Declan is bathing Finn right now. If it's urgent, I'll get him to answer."

I closed my eyes, trying to suppress my fury.

"Tell him to come to the hospital immediately!"

Declan must have heard me, as he shouted angrily on the other end.

"Adeline, aren't you done with your drama?"

"You're taking this too far."

"No," I cried out in desperation.

"Our daughter needs you. Come back quickly; she doesn't have much time."

Before I could finish, the call was disconnected.

Tears streamed down my face as I watched my daughter slipping away.

As I hesitated, wondering whom to call next, the nurse's urgent voice rang out again.

"The patient's heart has stopped."

"No, it can't be!"

I screamed and rushed to my daughter's side.

"Zoe must be in pain, just asleep. She wouldn't leave me."

I shook her frantically.

"Zoe, wake up and look at Mommy, please?"

But no matter how hard I tried, her eyes remained closed.

Overwhelmed with grief and anger, I fainted.

When I awoke, my daughter had been taken to the morgue.

I pushed through the pain in my head and stumbled there.

I could only touch my daughter's cold body.

No!

I couldn't accept it.

My Zoe was alive.

Just a while ago, we were playing games happily.

How could she leave me?

I didn't know how long I had been crying, my eyes swollen.

With trembling hands, I dialed Declan's number again.

But he kept rejecting the call immediately.

I laughed bitterly at myself.

Why was I still hoping?

Suppressing my deep sorrow, I called my best friend.

She was the one helping with my daughter's arrangements.

At the crematorium, she said with red eyes.

"Maybe, try calling again."

"After all, he is Zoe's biological father."