Chapter 2

I forcibly snatched the letter back.

Tara hid behind Ethan.

Ethan's face darkened.

"Sophia, you're emotionally unstable right now. Don't go to the hospital tomorrow."

I looked at him.

"I'm the head of the lab department. I don't answer to emergency room doctors."

Tara's tears fell instantly.

"Sophia, I really didn't mean to take what's yours. I just love Ethan too much."

I laughed out loud.

"Well, you sure know how to love—you loved your way right into someone else's home."

Ethan lowered his voice.

"Don't be so harsh."

My phone rang.

It was the dialysis center.

"Ms. Walker, your mother is experiencing sudden chest tightness and unstable blood pressure. Please come immediately."

I grabbed my bag and left.

Ethan instinctively followed.

My heart actually relaxed for a moment.

The next second, Tara clutched her stomach and crouched down.

"Ethan, I'm dizzy..."

"I didn't eat last night. It might be low blood sugar."

Ethan stopped in his tracks.

He glanced at me.

"You take a cab first."

"I'll take her to the ER. I'll be right there."

I said nothing.

As the elevator doors closed, I saw him pick Tara up in his arms.

In the taxi, I called him three times.

No one answered.

At the hospital, my mom's face was ashen.

A nurse pushed a risk disclosure form in front of me.

"Sign this. She might need emergency dialysis or even resuscitation."

My hand shook so much I couldn't write my name.

For eight years, Ethan always said, "Your mom is my mom from now on."

He said I didn't need to be afraid.

He said he'd handle everything at the hospital.

But when the day finally came, I was the one signing.

Outside the emergency room, I opened my phone.

The first post on my feed was from Ethan.

In the photo, he and Tara were holding up their marriage certificate.

Caption: For the rest of our lives, please take care of me.

Posted at the exact time I made my third call.

A bunch of ER colleagues had liked it.

Tara replied: "Thank you everyone! Ethan says he's treating everyone to a big dinner tonight."

I stared at those words as my palms slowly went cold.

When my mom woke up, her first words were, "Where's Ethan?"

I pressed my phone against my palm.

"He's treating a critical patient."

"Doctors are busy. I understand."

The family member from the next bed suddenly leaned over.

"Isn't your son-in-law Dr. Hayes? He got married, but the bride isn't your daughter?"

She shoved her phone in front of my mom's face.

I couldn't stop her in time.

My mom saw the photo and her breathing suddenly became rapid.

The monitor immediately started beeping.

I rushed out to call a doctor.

Running to the nurses' station, I saw Ethan.

He was holding Tara's hand, handing out wedding invitations to the ER staff.

Someone teased, "Dr. Hayes, you kept this well hidden."

Tara blushed and leaned against him.

Ethan saw me and frowned.

His first words were:

"How did you upset your mom like this?"

I stood there, still clutching my mom's critical condition notice in my hand.

I threw the report in his face.

"Ethan Hayes, where do you get the nerve?"

The ER fell silent.

Tara's tears fell again.

She said softly, "Sophia, don't blame Ethan. It's my fault."

Ethan pulled her behind him.

"This is a hospital. Don't make a scene."

I looked at the invitation in his hand and suddenly found it hilarious.