Chapter 3

Dad instantly became flustered, looking helplessly between Grandma and Granny.

Granny stomped her foot and snapped, "What are you standing around for? Call your wife right now! How dare she lie to us about being busy with work!"

This time, the call connected almost immediately. Over the noisy background, Trevor's excited voice rang out, "Mom, I want that bracelet! Hurry up and buy it for me!"

Mom replied affectionately, "Okay, I'll go pay for it."

Dad spoke frantically into the phone. "Mary, you need to come back right now! Holly's been shot. She has a brain hemorrhage and needs you in the operating room!"

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. Then Mom's annoyed voice came through. "You're joining in on this nonsense, too? Did that useless brat put you up to this? He can't go a single day without causing trouble!

"How many times do I have to say it? You can't believe a single word that comes out of his mouth!"

I felt a cold chill wash all over me as I listened to their conversation beside Dad.

Trevor was a pathological liar. He was always the one framing me for things, leaving me with no way to defend myself.

Dad pleaded, "Mary, I'm begging you to believe me. This is real! Holly is really dying. Please, just come back and see for yourself!"

Mom sounded somewhat hesitant. "Marvin, I…"

Just then, Trevor's voice came through the speaker again. He whined, "Jeez, all I wanted was a platinum bracelet. I can't believe Norman got the whole family involved just to ruin our outing.

"Forget it, Mom. I don't want it anymore. After all, I'm just a child you adopted. I'm not as important as Norman."

Mom's attitude changed in an instant. She was suddenly resolute as she snapped, "That's enough. I'll be back tonight. Stop bringing Holly into this just to deceive me! She's as tough as nails. What could happen to her?"

Unable to take it any longer, Granny shouted into the phone, "Mary, have you no conscience? Holly's life is hanging by a thread, and all you can think about is that adopted son of yours?

"Do you really think all of us would lie to you? Is a stupid bracelet really more important than Holly's life?"

Mom's voice was thick with annoyance at this point. "Mom, enough already. Trevor is my precious child and is just as important to me as Holly. I'll be back soon, so stop pressuring me! Norman is just a selfish pathological liar. Don't believe him!"

She hung up again, leaving everyone anxiously waiting outside the operating room.

Both Granny and Grandma were fuming. They never expected Mom to be so unreasonable that she would even disregard her own daughter's life for the sake of an adopted son.

As I watched their panic and fury unfold, I felt surprisingly calm inside.

In my past life, I had done everything I could to save Holly's life, but all I got in return was my family's accusations and Mom's heartlessness.

That was why I decided to simply watch from the sidelines in this life. I wondered how everyone would react to Mom putting Trevor first.

The nurse burst out of the operating room again, her voice edged with urgency. "Have you gotten hold of Dr. Holden yet? The patient's vitals are dropping! If we don't start surgery soon, it'll be too late!"

Dad frantically tried to call Mom again, only to realize that she'd blocked him.

Grandma and Granny fumbled with their phones, their hands trembling as they tried to call Mom.

A moment later, both of their faces turned deathly pale.

Grandma was beside herself with shock and anguish. "I can't get through! She blocked me too!"

Granny clutched her phone tightly, her face a mess of tears and snot. "She blocked me as well… That heartless woman! How could she do this?"

Despair spread through the corridor in an instant. Everyone knew then that Holly wasn't going to make it.

But all we could do was stand helplessly outside the operating room, listening to the frantic sounds of resuscitation from inside and watching Holly's life slowly slip away.