Chapter 2

I scooped Lily into my arms.

This was an emergency; I couldn't afford to waste a single thought.

I rushed her downstairs.

Lily's reaction came on fast. Rashes spread across her body, and she went into shock within minutes.

It was the same in my last life.

I was completely out of my mind with panic. I immediately called Serena.

Serena initially refused to come. She insisted Lily couldn't possibly have an allergy; it was just a common cold.

I begged and pleaded, and she finally, reluctantly, came back.

But it was that very decision that led both Lily and me to our demise.

This time, I wasn't going to beg Serena for help.

Instead, I flagged down a car on the street.

Halfway there, we saw an Audi parked in the emergency lane.

Other drivers, hearing there was a patient in our car, gave way, but the Audi remained stubbornly in place.

Our driver honked furiously, but the Audi didn't budge.

The driver cursed, "Damn it! This jerk is doing it on purpose!"

Sweat poured down my face. Looking at Lily, her face ghostly pale, my heart ached beyond words.

All I could do was try some basic first aid on Lily.

Just then, my phone rang.

It was Serena.

"Oh, so you like playing games, huh? Not going to call me this time? Fine, then you can just rot in that car!"

I froze.

The Audi blocking the emergency lane... it was Serena's doing.

I roared into the phone, "Serena, are you insane?! This is your own daughter! She's dying! What kind of monster are you?"

A cold laugh echoed from the other end. "Hmph, don't play the victim. You think I don't know your little schemes? You just want to ruin Jax's graduation, don't you? I'm sick of you, Leo!"

Jax's voice then chimed in.

"Leo, can't you just let me have my graduation? I promise, after this, I'll give Serena back to you."

"You monster!" My whole body trembled with rage. "We're stuck in the emergency lane because of the car you called! If you have even an ounce of humanity left, move that car, now!"

"Don't give me that crap. You won't get your way today. I just want you to taste what it's like to be messed with." With that, Serena hung up.

I stared at the unconscious Lily, my anxiety mounting with every second.

The driver anxiously said, "Was that your wife? You need to make her move that car!"

I wiped away my tears and called Serena again.

But this time, Jax answered.

"Leo, Serena's busy. Just tell me what you need."

"Let her answer the phone."

"Can't do that. Serena's very busy."

I screamed, "Tell her to get that Audi moved!"

Jax chuckled softly on the other end.

"Even more impossible. Serena said if you got out, you'd just come ruin my graduation. You can just stay in the car for a while."

With that, Jax hung up.

The driver was already frantic. He was trying to ram the Audi to clear a path.

But the Audi was fighting back, reversing hard against us.

The driver cursed, "That son of a bitch!"

Left with no choice, the driver called the police again, but they were taking forever.

My panic reached a fever pitch. "No, this can't wait! Lily's condition is critical. If we don't get her help now, it'll be too late!"

Last time, Lily had made it to the hospital.

Was this second chance going to be even worse?

I had no other option. I got out of the car, trying to communicate with the Audi driver.

I rushed over and knocked on the Audi's window.

The window slowly rolled down, revealing a familiar face.

It was Brianna, Serena's best friend.