Chapter 3

I froze. Ryan was on vacation? He never mentioned it to me.

I didn't think twice, pulling out my phone and calling Ryan again.

Once, twice, ten times...

All I got was the cold, automated voice: "Hello, the number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later..."

Refusing to give up, I opened SnapChat and suddenly noticed Ryan's profile picture had changed to a white puppy.

I recognized that puppy. It was Chloe Davis', his junior colleague.

As if by an unseen force, I clicked on Chloe's SnapChat. Her story had just updated.

The caption was for that little white dog, Buddy: "Don't be scared, Daddy and Mommy are with you."

At that moment, I didn't have time to question their relationship. I just wanted Ryan to come back and save Brenda.

Taking a deep breath, I called Chloe.

It rang twice before she picked up. Before she could speak, I quickly said,

"Hello, is this Chloe Davis? I wanted to ask if Ryan Miller is with you? Please tell him my mother-in-law was stabbed, and her condition is very serious. He's urgently needed for surgery."

My voice was practically begging, but then Ryan's annoyed voice came through the phone.

"Ashley, are you ever going to quit? What kind of timing is this to cause trouble?"

"I can't believe how cold-hearted you are! Buddy is having a difficult labor, her life is critical. What's wrong with me, a doctor, helping her deliver her puppies?"

"At a crucial moment like this, why are you still making up stories about my mom getting stabbed? You need to know where to draw the line with your crazy schemes."

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I pushed them back, trying to persuade him gently.

"Mom really is at the hospital, your hospital right now. Your chief of staff said no one else can do this surgery. Her condition is critical. If you don't come back soon, she might..."

She might really be gone forever.

I couldn't bring myself to finish the sentence.

"Might what? Might what?!"

A sneer came through the phone.