Chapter 4

I looked inside the operating room. Victor's chest cavity had already been cut open. There were only faint fluctuations left on the heart monitor.

The doctor hurriedly broke free from my grip. "Ms. Crowell's daughter suddenly had an allergic reaction. The entire hospital has been reassigned to rescue her, so the surgery has to be put on hold."

"You're not allowed to leave!" My voice was raw as I tremblingly pulled out my debit card. "How much is she paying you? I'll double it. So, please, finish my son's surgery!"

Afraid they would think it was too little, I took out my phone, ready to transfer the money first. It was only then that I clearly saw the note attached to the wire transfer; it was the fee Vivian paid to rent out the doctors.

"Sir, this isn't about money. We're afraid of losing our jobs!" No matter how hard I begged, the doctors still pried my fingers away one by one and left.

Victor lay all alone on the operating table. In another half hour, he would have been able to welcome a new life. Yet, now, because of his own biological mother, he was left here with his chest cavity wide open, waiting to die.

Just then, a message from Elliot popped up. In the photo, Eleanor merely had a mild rash. Yet, her ward was packed inside and out with rows of doctors. Vivian sat on the edge of the bed, feeding Eleanor the blueberry cake that was Victor's absolute favorite.

Elliot's tone was brimming with smugness. "Vincent, weren't you pretending to be oh so magnanimous? Don't you only want money, not love? How does it feel to watch Victor die right before your eyes?

"If you hadn't remarried Vivian, I might have given you some money just to put some good in the world for my daughter's sake. But you just didn't know your place, did you? For the sake of that marriage certificate and a pathetic title, you cost your son his life!"

I nearly crushed my phone in my grip. Time ticked by, second by second. If this dragged on any longer, Victor's anesthesia would wear off, and the pain would kill him.

I dialed Vivian's number over and over again. Not once did the call go through.

As the lines on Victor's heart monitor grew dangerously flat, I turned on my phone camera and begged on my knees. "I'll give Vivian up to you, Elliot. I beg you, just order the doctors to come back! I'll give you every single cent she transferred to me.

"Once Victor's surgery is over, I promise I'll disappear for good. I will never bother your little family of three ever again!"

Vivian immediately called after I sent that video. As soon as it connected, she lashed out at me. "Cut the act, Vincent! I only called away two surgical assistants. I can't believe you'd actually gamble with Victor's life just to sabotage Elliot!"

Elliot sniffled beside her. "Vivian, it's all my fault that Ellie had an allergic reaction during Vic's surgery. Due to that, you couldn't stay by his side."

Realization dawned on Vivian. "Vincent, are you putting on this whole show just to remind me that I haven't paid you my rent? Honestly, you shouldn't go by Carrington anymore; you should just change your last name to Cash!"

The phone call was abruptly cut off. Popping up right alongside the text notification of the incoming transfer was a tidal wave of news headlines.

"Vincent Carrington is Obsessed with Money. His Wife, Mother's Grave, and Even His Son's Life Can All Be Rented Out for Cash!"

"Pure Evil. Did Vincent Carrington Halt an Open-Heart Surgery Just to Film a Video and Frame Someone for Cash?"

With trembling hands, I dialed emergency services, desperately hoping to call in doctors from another hospital. However, the ambulances were completely blocked by a massive crowd of media personnel who had rushed over to film the scene.

I grabbed the scalpel beside me and waved it like a madman, solely to carve out a path of survival for Victor.

…

Meanwhile, Vivian began to grow restless. She repeatedly clicked into the news articles, feeling a bit hesitant. "Vic is still in surgery, after all. Did I go too far?"

When she saw Eleanor looking perfectly lively on the hospital bed, she still got up and rushed toward the operating room. When she arrived at the scene, the sight before her eyes nearly made her knees buckle...