Chapter 4

Celine POV

I didn't leave the hospital all night.

Lily and my mom were both still in the hospital's custody.

The death certificates weren't processed, and the bodies hadn't been transferred out.

The lawyer found that the lobby surveillance had been sealed ahead of time, and security orders couldn't be accessed either.

I was about to go to the body storage area when a nurse came to notify me. "Miss Ashford, Lily's original recovery room needs to be cleared out by the family."

That room had been personally arranged by Liam.

When Lily was waiting for the donor liver, she kept asking if she could stay there after surgery. She said she wanted to put her stuffed animals by the bed and sit by the window in the sun.

I went over with a small box. The door plate had already been changed.

Sutton Post-Surgery Recovery Room.

The room was filled with livestream equipment. The Lily Medical Fund logo hung by the bed. The children's bed that had been prepared for Lily was removed. Posters about Sutton's recovery livestream schedule were on the walls.

Sutton sat on the bed, holding Lily's stuffed animal in her arms.

I walked over and grabbed the stuffed animal back.

Sutton's eyes immediately reddened. "Celine, I didn't mean to. The foundation said this way everyone would know Lily left behind kindness..."

"She didn't leave this for you."

I held the stuffed animal tightly, my voice cold and hard. "Remove her name. Remove her foundation logo."

Sutton bit her lip and looked toward the doorway.

Liam had just walked in.

She said quietly. "Liam, it's okay. I don't have to do the livestream. Everyone outside is cursing me for stealing a child's donor liver anyway. I can bear it."

Liam's expression immediately darkened.

"Celine, Sutton just had surgery. She can't take any more stress."

I looked at him. "Lily just died, and you're giving Sutton the hospital room Lily never got to use?"

Liam kept his voice down. "The fund was always meant to save people. The livestream now can reduce some of the criticism and continue to save other children."

"Did Lily agree to this?"

Liam's patience finally ran out.

"Your mother's case is still under investigation at the hospital, and Lily's paperwork hasn't been completed." He stared at me. "Making a scene here now will only make things more complicated later."

My hand tightened around the stuffed animal bit by bit.

Sutton spoke softly at that moment. "Celine, if you really hate me this much, I can apologize to you on camera."

The staff all looked over.

Liam followed her lead. "You owe her an apology too. She's being cursed like this now, and it's not entirely her fault."

I looked at him and almost laughed.

"She took Lily's donor liver. Now she's sitting in Lily's hospital room holding Lily's stuffed animal, and you want me to apologize?"

Liam said coldly. "This stuffed animal will be used tomorrow. It can represent Lily's kindness."

I turned to leave immediately.

But security blocked the doorway.

Liam looked at me. "Livestream props can't be taken away."

Props.

He called the last thing Lily held a prop.

Staff took the stuffed animal from my arms and put it back by Sutton's bed. The Lily Medical Fund logo was hung in the most prominent position behind Sutton.

I was taken to a rest room.

Guards were posted at the door. An assistant brought tomorrow's livestream schedule. The paper stated that I was to appear as Lily's mother and personally hand the stuffed animal to Sutton.

After reading it, I sent a message to the lawyer.

"I need to request body transfer immediately and preserve the surveillance footage."

The lawyer quickly replied. "The hospital just submitted a family authorization involving Lily's subsequent use for medical research. The signatory may be Liam."

I stared at the screen, my fingertips cold.

Outside, staff were shouting in the hallway. "The people for the livestream rehearsal are here. Set the family representative's position first."