Chapter 2

"My daughter—asthma attack—at Bluestone Rest Area—she's three—her face is purple—she's not breathing!"

The dispatcher spoke quickly. "Stay on the line. Ambulance is twenty minutes out. Listen to me. Lay the child flat. Check her mouth for obstructions!"

I laid Emma flat on the ground.

"Now, two rescue breaths. Pinch her nose. Cover her mouth completely!"

"Mommy." Emma's voice was barely audible. "Mommy, it hurts!"

"Emma! Mommy's here! Mommy's here! Don't sleep! Look at Mommy!"

Her eyes were half-open, pupils unfocused.

"Emma! Look at me! Please!"

Finally, sirens wailed in the distance. The ambulance flashed its lights as it rushed into the rest area. The doors opened. Doctors and nurses ran over.

I was helped into the ambulance with Emma. A nurse fitted an oxygen mask over her face and pushed medication.

"Mommy... don't leave..."

"Mommy's not leaving! Mommy's not going anywhere!"

The medication entered her bloodstream. Emma suddenly coughed, her body arching.

"Emma! Emma!"

She went quiet again, eyes closed, the mask fogged with condensation.

The doctor stared at the monitor, frowning deeper and deeper.

I collapsed next to the stretcher in the ambulance, gripping Emma's ice-cold little foot.

"Emma, hang on. Please, I'm begging you, hang on."

The emergency room light came on.

A nurse pushed through the door.

"Who's the family for Emma?"

"Me! I'm her mother!"

"The child's condition is critical. Severe oxygen deprivation has caused multi-organ damage. We've put her on a ventilator. She needs to be admitted immediately. You need to pay a fifty-thousand-dollar deposit first."

I dug through my purse. Two bank cards, one credit card, and Ethan's insurance card.

I ran to the payment window on the first floor.

"Hello, admission for Emma, three years old."

The clerk tapped at the keyboard. "Fifty thousand deposit. Card or cash?"

I pushed the two cards through.

"This one has twelve hundred, and this one has..." The clerk paused. "Three hundred forty."

"What about this one?" I pulled out the credit card.

"Can't process it. It shows as frozen."

When had Ethan frozen the card? I had no idea.

"Then use the insurance card! My daughter's insurance card!"

The clerk swiped it and frowned.

"This insurance card hasn't been activated. Can't use it."

Not activated. Every time Emma went to the doctor, Ethan had his company people handle it. I thought everything had been taken care of. Turns out nothing had been done.

"Then use this." I pushed Ethan's insurance card across. "Family insurance card. My daughter's medical expenses should be covered under her father's insurance account."

The clerk swiped it, stared at the screen for a few seconds, then looked up at me.

"The spouse linked to this family card account isn't you."

I froze.

"What?"

"This family card shows Ethan's wife is Rachel."

4

I stood at the window. The entire lobby seemed to spin.

"Can you please save my child first? I'm begging you. My daughter's in emergency care. I'll make up the money later!"

The clerk looked conflicted. "I can't authorize that. You'll need to get the director's signature."

I turned and ran toward the emergency room, quickly calling my mother-in-law.

"Emma's in emergency care. We need fifty thousand in deposits urgently. I don't have enough. Please transfer me some. I'll—"

"Wait," she interrupted. "What did you say?"

"Please!"

"Begging me won't help. I don't recognize you as my daughter-in-law. We're strangers."

Her voice was shrill.

"Sophia, Ethan only married you for your family's money!"

"And what happened? Your father went bankrupt and dragged down my son! What use are you now?"

"Mrs. Carter, Emma's in emergency care. She's your granddaughter!"

Her voice turned ice cold. "That daughter of yours—better off dead. Rachel told me she's pregnant again. With a boy. Our family won't lack children. Just take your daughter and get lost."

The call ended.

I stood in the hallway holding my phone. Emma was still in the emergency room.

I walked to the elevator and pressed the button for up.

The elevator doors opened. I stepped in and pressed the top floor.

Fourteen.

The rooftop door was unlocked. It swung open with a push.

The wind was strong, rushing into my collar, cold enough to make me shiver.

I walked to the edge of the roof. Wind whipped my hair across my face.

My phone rang again. Ethan this time.

I answered.

"When are you coming back? The sink's full of dishes." He sounded disgusted.

My voice was calm.

"Ethan, Emma's in emergency care."

He was silent for two seconds. "Playing the victim? Want money? Let me tell you, Sophia, Rachel's pregnant. My money is for my son, not for your money-wasting burden!"

"I understand."

I hung up. I walked to the edge of the roof.

I thought, if my daughter dies, I won't live either.

I raised my phone, about to smash it.

Just then, it rang again.

I answered without thinking.

"Hello?"

On the other end was a voice I hadn't heard in three years.

"Is this Emma?"

I froze.

This voice—I thought I'd never hear it again in this lifetime.

"Mom?" My voice was hoarse.

"Emma, listen carefully. Within three minutes, someone will meet you at the emergency room entrance. Black suit. His name is Harris. Go with him. He'll take you and your child somewhere safe."