Chapter 4
In the emergency room, doctors frantically pressed on my chest.
But my heartbeat grew weaker and weaker.
The attending physician shouted:
"We need to operate now!"
But the prize money hadn't arrived yet. My account only had a few hundred dollars. Hospital policy only allowed standard emergency care.
As consciousness faded, I seemed to see Mom.
Mom, you knew I could die any second. Why did you keep deliberately answering wrong and wasting time?
Mom, don't you love me?
The doctor's CPR grew more forceful.
I could almost hear my ribs cracking.
Mom, I really can't hold on much longer...
If you could just come see me one last time, I wouldn't blame you.
But I waited and waited.
Shot after shot of epinephrine was injected into my veins, yet my breathing still gradually weakened.
The monitor beeped.
Hospital policy: no money, no surgery.
The doctor called the production team furiously:
"Didn't they answer correctly? Why hasn't the prize money arrived?"
But the production team was helpless too.
"We wanted to transfer the money directly to the hospital account, but her mother insisted on cash!"
"They're probably rushing to the hospital with the cash now."
The breath I'd been barely holding onto finally gave out.
My heart monitor flatlined.
Then I heard my family arguing.
"Chloe's hanging by a thread—why did you insist on cash?"
Mom said self-righteously:
"Three years ago, you got scammed out of two hundred dollars online!"
"Online payments are so dangerous, and you still haven't learned?"
"Cash is safest. Today I'm teaching you a good lesson!"
Dad was frantic, rushing forward:
"Fine, fine! Cash is safe!"
"But what about Chloe? Every second she waits puts her in more danger!"
Mom said reluctantly:
"Stop talking!"
"If Chloe's in danger, it's because you cursed her!"
"She was fine this morning—how could something happen this afternoon?"
In the emergency room, the doctor was pulling a white sheet over my face.
Oblivious, Mom pushed open my hospital room door.
"Chloe! Mom brought the money!"