Chapter 5

I had never believed in miracles, but in that moment, I wept with gratitude.

I grabbed my mom's hand. "Mom, we got a cornea! You're going to see again!"

Scout wagged his tail furiously, as if he understood every word.

But I had underestimated the chaos of the fire. Half the city's traffic was paralyzed.

No cars could get in or out of our block.

After begging a firefighter, I finally secured two seats in an emergency vehicle.

Before we could get in, Christian blocked us. "Georgina, let Violet and Scarlett take those seats. They're hurt."

I looked at the mother-daughter duo. Their cheeks were flushed and healthy. The only "injury" they had was a tiny blister on Violet's pinky.

I refused flatly.

"Absolutely not. My mom needs to get to the hospital right now for a cornea transplant!"

He threw a dismissive, cynical glance at my mom.

"Are you still this naive? Last time you rushed to the hospital, the donor's family backed out at the last second."

"People aren't that selfless. Stop dreaming."

I stood firmly in front of my mom. "This time is different."

"It's no different! The smoke is bad here. Let Scarlett and Violet go first!"

The paramedic intervened. "There are only two seats left. Whoever needs emergency surgery goes first."

"Wait!"

Christian pulled out his phone and showed the paramedic a digital copy of my therapy records.

A while ago, I had struggled with insomnia because I was so stressed about my mom's blindness.

Christian had set up an appointment with a therapist, telling me I just needed to vent to a professional.

"This is my daughter. She's a pathological liar. There is no surgery. Her therapist says she has severe delusion issues!"

The paramedic looked at the psychiatric record, frowned, and ushered Scarlett and Violet into the vehicle.

My phone rang again. It was the hospital. "You must arrive within the hour."

"Otherwise, the cornea will go to the next patient on the waiting list."

"We'll make it! We will be there!" I cried.

Hanging up, I fell to my knees in front of Christian.

"Dad, I beg you. Just let us go first. I'll do anything."

"I'll sign over the patent rights your company has been begging for."

Violet scoffed. "Aren't you just a broke lab assistant? Since when do you own patents?"

"Uncle Christian hates liars, you know."

Scarlett clutched her forehead, whimpering, "Christian, my head hurts so bad... Am I going to die..."

Scout seemed to realize what was happening.

He dragged his battered body forward and used his remaining teeth to gently tug on Christian’s trousers, pleading.

"Get lost!"

Christian kicked Scout away with brutal force.

The dog’s head slammed directly into a wooden plank with a rusty, exposed nail.

With a soft, pained whimper, Scout took his last breath.

Christian guided Scarlett and Violet into the emergency vehicle and drove off.

My mom cradled Scout’s lifeless body, weeping uncontrollably.

She grabbed my hand, her voice filled with absolute despair. "Georgina, don't beg him... I don't want the surgery anymore."

"Mom, don't say that!"

A cornea donor is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

The emergency vehicle drove right past us. No matter how much I screamed, it didn't stop.

The crowd around us stared at me as if I were a lunatic.

Just as I was about to spiral into total despair, the deafening roar of a helicopter filled the air. A private chopper landed right in the middle of the grass.

An elegant, middle-aged man who bore a striking resemblance to my mom stepped out.

He rushed over and grabbed our hands. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry I'm late..."

Behind him, several police officers jumped out, immediately intercepting the ambulance and handcuffing Scarlett.

"Scarlett Vance, you are under arrest for the murder of your husband, Wyatt Vance. Please come with us."