Chapter 3

I flew into a rage. "So, that VVIP's friend's life matters, but my daughter's life doesn't?"

I charged recklessly toward the bodyguards and immediately spotted familiar figures among them.

Aurora was literally surrounded by an entourage of doctors, just for a shallow cut on her cheek.

Brian was standing next to her instead of sitting in his wheelchair, and he was shouting angrily at the doctors, "If you can't fix the scar on her cheek, then get the hell out of here!"

My daughter was on the verge of death, and yet he was pulling away the very doctors needed to save her life, all to treat a minor scratch on Aurora's face.

I couldn't bear it anymore. Just as I was about to scream in rage, a bodyguard clamped a hand right over my mouth. I could only watch helplessly as Joy's body continued convulsing in her seat, with foam bubbling from her lips while her eyes rolled back in her head.

The nurse grew frantic and made several calls for help, but she was met with repeated reprimands instead.

I didn't know how much time had passed, but the doctor finally ran back to the emergency room. However, after briefly examining Joy with his medical instruments, he sighed and said, "I'm sorry for your loss. It's too late. The child is already dead."

Hearing this, the bodyguard loosened his grip on me in shock.

My mind felt like it was exploding. I had already been drenched in the rain for hours, and now, I was struck by the devastating blow of Joy's death.

I couldn't hold on any longer and went completely limp, blacking out completely.

When I opened my eyes again, I realized that I was already lying in a private ward. The nurse saw me waking up and sighed softly.

She said, "The VVIP said that he's very sorry about your daughter's death, and he's already paid for all of your medical expenses. Here is an open-ended check from him for you to fill in whatever amount you want."

I looked at the check and saw Brian's signature on the signature line. I then grabbed the check from her hands and ripped it into shreds.

Joy was dead, and I didn't have long to live either. What use was any of his money now?

I turned to the nurse and asked with tearful, reddened eyes, "Where is my daughter's body?"

The nurse hesitated and looked at me with pity. My heart sank at once as a horrible feeling came over me.

I yanked out the IV needle from the back of my hand and scrambled out of bed, rushing out just in time to see a group of people wheeling Joy's body into the autopsy room.

I tried to follow them in, but I was held back.

Moments later, Brian walked in with Aurora, who had a bandage on her face, and they stood shoulder to shoulder.

Brian asked her, concerned, "Your facial injury hasn't healed yet. Is it really okay for you to perform an autopsy now?"

Aurora just smiled at him and shook her head. "It's fine, Brian. I know Dorothy's greatest wish while she was alive was to become a forensic pathologist. That's why I studied anatomy in university—just to fulfill her dying wish.

"Dr. Leonard Hopkins is a living legend in the field of forensic pathology, and he's planning to take on an apprentice in a few days. I need to practice now so that I can stand out from the rest and hopefully be accepted as his student."

At the mention of Dorothy's name, Brian's gaze softened considerably. He gently brushed a stray lock of hair from Aurora's face and said, "You've worked really hard. Thank you."

I was overcome with rage and disbelief and screamed, "Brian Harrell! That's our daughter's body lying in there! You can't let her use it for practice!"

Brian was dumbstruck when he finally saw me. When he heard what I said, he shuddered visibly and was just about to speak when Aurora sighed and spoke up first.

"Mrs. Harrell, I promise you that the relationship between Mr. Harrell and me is strictly professional. We're just employer and employee, and nothing improper has been going on between us.

"I've already let it slide many times when you targeted me out of jealousy simply because I'm a woman standing next to your husband—even instigating your daughter to injure my face with a sharp toy and then hiding her away.

"However, this autopsy is crucial to my career advancement. Are you really going to cause trouble for me as well?"

Her assistant then produced a signed document and said, "The deceased inside the room suffered from heart disease since childhood, and she passed away this morning despite the doctors' emergency efforts. We have already obtained the family's consent.

"This autopsy is solely intended for developing better treatments and saving more children who are suffering from this condition. Why must you keep obstructing us just to satisfy your own selfish desires?"

Passersby also began pointing fingers at me and whispering amongst themselves.

At that point, Brian's face turned incredibly dark, and he simply raised his hand, beckoning Aurora and her team into the room.