Chapter 2

"Samantha Granger!”

For the first time, Calvin couldn't contain his temper.

He knew this woman was malicious, but he hadn't expected her to be this cruel.

"That's your own daughter! Why would you curse her like that? Are you out of your mind?”

He didn't bother arguing with Samantha. He also didn't want Celine to see them fighting.

He started walking upstairs while carefully sidestepping past Samantha. Just then, his phone started ringing in his pocket.

The moment he answered, his expression softened. "Yvonne, what's wrong?”

On the other end, a gentle, slightly apologetic voice responded.

"Calvin, are you back at Riverview Manor? I'm so sorry. Rebecca woke up and couldn't find you. She wouldn't stop crying.”

"Daddy, I want the omelet you promised you'd cook for me.”

Rebecca's sweet voice echoed through the living room. Samantha's heart ached when she heard it.

"Rebecca, be good now. Daddy promised to spend time with Celine today. How about Mommy making you some pasta?” Yvonne asked gently.

Rebecca stopped whining and obediently said, "Okay.” Even so, her disappointment was obvious.

Calvin glanced coldly at Samantha's face and saw her solemn expression, but his voice dripped with warmth.

"Rebecca, you can have whatever you want. Daddy's coming right away.”

He hung up and immediately headed downstairs without looking back.

The car honked in the yard soon after. He was in such a rush he hadn't even put on his coat.

It was all just to make an omelet for Rebecca.

Samantha pressed a hand to her chest. It hurt so much it was nearly impossible to breathe.

Her own daughter had never once felt this kind of fatherly love.

Since Yvonne had returned to the country with Rebecca, Calvin hadn't even bothered talking to Celine.

She was clearly also his biological daughter.

Samantha staggered toward the kitchen. There were many things she still had to do. She couldn't collapse now.

After pouring herself a glass of honey water and drinking it, she heard a maid knocking on the door with a test report in hand.

"Madam, these were left in Mr. Hamley's coat. Please take them.”

Samantha hadn't intended to take them, but her eyes caught the specially marked note on the report.

[Unable to proceed with bone marrow transplant.]

She snatched it and spread the papers out.

Moments later, with the maid watching in shock, she bolted out like a madwoman.

-

At the Triton Hospital Transplant Department, Calvin carried Rebecca into the VIP ward. She had just been examined.

"The date has been set. Don't worry. The foreign team of experts will arrive on time. Everything will be fine.”

After everything was arranged for Rebecca, Yvonne, who looked seriously worried, grabbed Calvin's wrist.

"Calvin, the surgery will take a toll on your body too. If there was another option, Rebecca and I wouldn't have–”

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

It made her already delicate figure seem even more fragile.

Calvin handed her a tissue.

"Rebecca is my daughter. Even if it means removing my entire liver, as long as it saves her life, I will do it.”

Rebecca buried herself in his arms.

"Daddy, the doctor said from now on, we are one. We'll never be apart, right?”

"Yes. We'll never be apart.”

Calvin ruffled her hair affectionately. "You rest now. I'll go to the pharmacy and bring the medicine, then come back to take you home.”

Yvonne followed him outside.

After the door closed, she cautiously asked, "Calvin, you took a lot of immunosuppressants for Rebecca's liver transplant. Won't that affect Celine's bone marrow transplant? Samantha will be angry, won't she?”

Calvin's expression darkened when he thought of Samantha's attitude back at Riverview Manor.

Samantha was throwing a tantrum over a piano lesson and clearly exaggerating Celine's condition.

She clearly just wanted his attention.

"She's not in a rush. Rebecca can't wait. After the surgery, I'll make arrangements.”

Shortly after he left, Samantha came running through the stairway and burst into Rebecca's doctor's office.

"Who are you? Who let you in?”

Samantha slammed the test reports on the desk. Her bloodshot eyes were glaring.

"Rebecca's condition really can't wait?”

The attending doctor was momentarily stunned.

He had just examined Rebecca. The liver lesion hadn't spread and was under control.

He immediately picked up the report and studied it. He then looked at Samantha curiously.

"What's your relation to the patient? Why do you have Mr. Hamley's test report?”

Samantha forced down her swirling emotions and tried to stay calm. "Mrs. Hamley sent me to ask.”

The doctor nodded without feeling suspicious.

"Rest assured, Mr. Hamley is only donating a small liver segment. It won't affect him. As for Rebecca, the lesion hasn't spread and is stable. He just couldn't bear to see her on medication, so he was eager for surgery. Top international experts are involved. The success rate is nearly 100%.”

Samantha trembled all over. She was barely able to stand and gripped the table to keep from falling.

"So, even if Rebecca doesn't have surgery right now, she won't die?”

"Of course not.”

Samantha felt completely crushed by the doctor's words.

Calvin had chosen Rebecca over Celine.

Seeing the report, she had thought Rebecca was also in danger.

One was Calvin's beloved first love, while the other was the wife he despised. Samantha had believed it was her fault that Calvin neglected Celine.

The truth was like a knife to her heart. Calvin had never intended to save Celine.

Samantha staggered like a ghost down the corridor and accidentally bumped into someone at a corner.

"Sorry,” she muttered while subconsciously reaching out to help, but her weak legs betrayed her. She stumbled forward and touched the person's neck.

"Samantha, what are you doing?”

A familiar female voice screaming in terror snapped her back to her senses.

Yvonne had pulled Rebecca up from the floor. She shielded Rebecca with a cautious look in her eyes.

Seeing the two alive and well made Samantha think of her own daughter, lying alone in the operating room under a white sheet.

Anger, hatred, and a flood of other emotions surged.

Her nerves were strained to the breaking point.

Rebecca suddenly burst into tears.

"Mommy, Ms. Samantha tried to choke me. She's so scary. I'm scared.”

Yvonne's eyes flickered with something unusual as she dropped to her knees in front of Samantha.

"Samantha, Rebecca and I had no choice but to come back. I didn't want my daughter to die. I wouldn't have bothered you and Calvin otherwise. Please let us go.”

"Samantha!”

A furious roar came from behind. Samantha could feel it ringing in her head.

Her thoughts slowly cleared.

She watched the man rush to Yvonne, help her up gently, and cradle the crying Rebecca while soothing her.

She had witnessed this scene countless times.

In his eyes, she and Celine would always be mistakes.

No matter how scheming Yvonne and Rebecca were, Calvin would always trust them and protect them.

"Daddy, Ms. Samantha tried to choke me. Is it because I stole you from Celine today?”

Rebecca clung to Calvin and complained softly.

Yvonne wiped her tears away furiously.

"Samantha, if you're angry, take it out on me. Please don't hurt my daughter.”

Samantha stared at her coldly.

"Fine. Let it be a life for a life!”