Chapter 2

She pounded on the doors for a full five minutes.

Finally, the sealed emergency room doors slid open.

My mother walked out, her face livid.

"Lucy, what's all this about?"

Lucy pointed at me, stumbling over her words. "Dr. Hart, I think one of Evelyn's organs has ruptured!"

My mother frowned, came over, and lifted the back of my shirt without much care.

She had barely raised one corner when her fingers stopped.

Blood had soaked through the fabric and stuck it to my skin.

But she only glanced at it and let go.

"It's a cut, but it's only a flesh wound!"

She stood and dusted off her hands, her eyes full of impatience.

"Lucy, is this what they taught you in nursing school? A wound like this looks frightening, but she probably just nicked a vein and bled a little more than usual!

"The roughnecks in the waiting area don't know any better. What's your excuse?"

Lucy was so desperate that she started to cry.

"Doctor, there really is something hard in there..."

"Shut your mouth!" My mother cut her off sharply.

"The bones in the back can be hard to identify. A junior nurse might mistake a bone for a foreign object. I'll even give you credit for being cautious!

"But if you keep disrupting emergency care, you'll fail your internship evaluation!"

With that, she grabbed my arm.

"Why are you still lying on the floor playing dead?"

The glass shifted inside me and pierced another blood vessel. I gritted my teeth and clutched the hem of her white coat.

"Mom... save me... it hurts so much I think I'm dying..."

She ripped her coat from my grasp. Her cold voice hit me like a blow. "Derek said you were in the safest seat in the back!

"Chloe was in the passenger seat taking the hit for you. Are you really fighting her over who gets treated first?"

Lucy pointed at the red band on my wrist and cried, "Chief, she has a red emergency wristband! The ambulance medic must have put it on her!"

My mother paused.

But a second later, understanding flashed in her eyes, followed by disgust.

"You paid off the ambulance medic, didn't you? You got them to put a red band on you because you're my daughter, so you could cut the line?

"Evelyn, is this how I raised you?"

Her voice rose loud enough for everyone in the hallway to hear. "How many wounded men from the family are waiting for me to save them? And you're demanding special treatment because you're the chief surgeon's daughter.

"Even if I agreed, would the other men who barely made it out alive accept it?"

The waiting area erupted.

"Why should she get to go first? How long have we been waiting?"

"So what if she's the chief's daughter? Does that mean she can break the family rules?"

"Shameless little bitch. So young, and already so brazen."

My mother raised a hand to quiet them and looked down at me.

"Hear that? Aren't you ashamed? Evelyn, to show the Don how impartial I am, you'll be the last patient I see today!

"And I'll deal with the ambulance medic who put that red band on you without authorization!"

Applause broke out in the hallway. A few gang enforcers gave her a thumbs-up.

"That's the chief for you. She won't even cover for her own daughter!"

My mother smiled, satisfied.

Just then, the emergency room door opened again, and Derek rushed out.

When he saw me lying on the floor, he stopped short.

"Evelyn? Why are you still here..."

"She's throwing a tantrum!" My mother cut him off. "How's Chloe?"

Derek's eyes swept over me, then turned to my mother.

"The cut's a little deep. If we don't stitch it carefully, it might scar..."

"That won't do!"

My mother's face fell. "Chloe's representing the family at the dinner soon. If she has a scar, the Don will blame us!"

She grabbed Derek and pulled him back in.

"I'll stitch her up myself, and you'll assist me! Tell everyone else to prepare the best-equipped sterile suite for cosmetic surgery!"

Derek stumbled, then glanced back at me, hesitating.

Chloe's tearful voice came from inside the emergency room. "Derek, I'm scared it'll hurt... Can you stay with me the whole time?"

The last trace of hesitation on his face vanished. He ran into the emergency room without looking back.

As the door closed, I heard my mother murmur gently, "Don't be scared, Chloe. Mommy's here!"

On the icy floor, I tried to remember the last time my mother had spoken to me so gently.