Chapter 2

Leave my child there to die?

I let out a bitter laugh. When I found out that Grace had redirected the entire rescue team to save her first love's daughter, I shouted those very same words at her.

I demanded to know how another person's daughter could matter more to her than her own flesh and blood, but she remained terrifyingly calm, her voice not wavering in the slightest. "I'd already analyzed Hannah's and Kiara's physical conditions.

"Hannah was in better shape than Kiara, so we should rescue Kiara first. None of us wanted Hannah to die, but it already happened. I feel terrible about it, too."

Grace claimed that she was heartbroken, yet after I insisted on divorcing her, she went on to marry her first love.

I asked, "Ms. Ellwood, the person trapped inside isn't your biological daughter, right? If it were your own daughter, would you save her?"

Grace answered without hesitation, "Whether she's biologically mine or not, I'd still do everything I could to save her. I already treat her like one of my own.

"If the person trapped inside were my biological daughter, I'd give everything I had to save her. Even if it cost me my entire fortune and my life, I'd still save her."

Before I could say anything, she suddenly sneered. "Since you've already looked into me and know I'm the chairwoman of Ellwood Group, you should understand that saving my daughter would only benefit you.

"I can raise the offer to 50 million dollars. Someone like you probably couldn't earn 50 million dollars in your entire lifetime, right?

"If you're smart, you should grab this chance to turn your life around instead of being stubborn and making your wife and child suffer with you!"

I laughed. "You really are a wonderful mom."

I had dreamed about Hannah more than once. She always asked me why her mom had chosen to save her friend's daughter instead of her. I could never answer her because deep down I knew Grace had never loved me, so Hannah was never going to be her first choice.

I said, "50 million dollars really is a huge sum. Unfortunately, I don't need it. Find someone else."

With that, I hung up and turned off my phone.

The moment I stepped out of the garage, the other team members rushed after me. The team leader, Ethan Avery, stopped in front of me.

He said, "Nathaniel, you really can't leave. Do you know whose child is trapped up there? It's the daughter of the Ellwoods and the Quinns. Poor people like us can't afford to offend either family."

Of course I knew. Grace's marriage to Elias Quinn had become a touching love story across the internet. Nobody remembered Hannah and me anymore.

Ethan continued, "Grace may be Kiara's stepmom, but she treats her like her own daughter. She runs Ellwood Group and is the richest woman in Ashville! Elias is a renowned doctor, too. People like them could crush us easily."

Julian's eyes reddened as he said in a low voice, "Besides, they found out about Ollie's son's kidney failure. Grace said that as long as you agree to save Kiara, she'll secure a new kidney for him within a week."

Oliver Carter dropped to his knees in front of me with his son, Noah Carter, and desperately begged. "Nate, I'm begging you. Noah is my only son. Please save him."

Noah, whose illness had already left him painfully thin and weak, wrapped his arms around my leg. "Mr. Reed, I want to live…"

Grace was the same as she had always been. She knew exactly how to manipulate people, and she was just as cold as ever.

I quietly lit a cigarette and exhaled a smoke ring before speaking, my voice rough. "Today is my daughter's death anniversary."

Ethan hurriedly replied, "We remember. When you get back from the rescue, we'll visit Hannah together."

Oliver cried so hard that tears and snot covered his face. "That's right. You've saved so many people and children before, so please save Noah, too. This is his only chance to survive."

Before I could say a single word, the roar of a car engine came from nearby. Moments later, a car pulled up in front of us. Grace pushed open the door, and her sharp gaze landed on my face.