Chapter 4

The moment Ollie was rushed into the ER, Dr. Hollis warned me that his life was in immediate danger.

"He's developed a severe arrhythmia. We need to operate now."

My hand shook so badly I could barely sign my name.

"Where's his mother?" the nurse asked.

I stared at the crooked M on the form.

"Dead," I said coldly.

Ten minutes later, Dr. Hollis returned with worse news.

Ollie's assigned surgeon had been called away. The hospital had also received a request from a parent to postpone his operation and transfer him to a private facility.

"I never filed that," I said.

He opened the record. There was Vivian's electronic signature.

I called her nine times before she picked up. Applause filled the background.

"Why did you stop Ollie's surgery?"

"Blake contacted an overseas medical team. Their success rate is higher."

"Ollie isn't stable enough to be transferred!"

"We can't believe everything local doctors tell us. Blake wouldn't do anything to hurt him."

Blake spoke from beside her.

"Miles, I already sent the records to the specialists. They said he's too young for surgery. We should wait at least three months."

The doctor took the phone from me.

"Who told you to wait three months? Your son could go into heart failure at any time. If we don't operate tonight, he may not survive!"

Vivian paused. "Then find another surgeon."

"This is a highly specialized procedure. We can't simply replace the surgeon. The one assigned to your son has already left. The earliest we can get him back is six hours from now."

The call ended.

I waited outside the ER until five that afternoon, when Vivian finally appeared.

Blake trailed behind her with a bouquet of flowers.

"Miles, I'm sorry," he said, looking suitably miserable. "I was only trying to help Ollie. I didn't realize the doctors here were so conservative."

I shoved him away. The flowers hit the floor.

Vivian stepped between us.

"Are you going to hit him again?"

"Withdraw the transfer request."

"I already did."

She bent to retrieve the bouquet and handed it back to Blake.

"The hospital's sorting things out. Stop blaming him for everything."

I stared at her. "He told you to cancel the operation?"

"I'm the one who signed the request. If you need someone to blame, blame me."

As if that made anything better.

The ER door opened. Dr. Hollis removed his mask.

"We've stabilized your son's heartbeat for now, but he's still in extreme danger. Prepare yourselves."

They let me go in to see Ollie.

He lay among tubes and monitors, struggling to open his eyes.

"Daddy, I dreamed Mommy came to get me."

Fighting back tears, I said, "She came, sweetheart. She's right outside."

A little hope lit his face.

I looked back. Vivian stood in the doorway without coming in.

Then Blake clutched his chest and crouched against the wall.

"Vivian, I can't breathe."

She rushed to support him. After a brief hesitation, she turned to me.

"I'll take Blake to the emergency department. I'll be right back."

I blocked the door.

"Ollie nearly died. Just now."

"Blake's not feeling well either."

I grabbed her collar. Whatever control I had left broke.

"He's your son!"

She pried my hands loose and pushed me back toward the bed.

"That's exactly why I know you'll look after him. Blake only has me."

The door closed between us.

Ollie's small hand sank onto the mattress.

"Mommy left?"

I turned away to wipe my eyes.

"She went to get you a present."

"Then I'll wait."

He closed his eyes with the faintest hopeful smile.

At eight that evening, the operating room was finally ready.

As the nurses wheeled him away, Ollie kept watching the far end of the corridor. Nobody was there.

Just before the doors closed, he whispered, "Daddy, did Blake buy Mommy again?"

I bent to kiss his forehead.

"No. This time, we're the ones who don't want her."

The doors swung shut.

At that exact moment, a notification lit up my screen.

"Administrator Vivian Sterling has changed family-member permissions."

"Blake Ellison has been designated permanent priority companion."

I took a screenshot and called Vivian's father, Raymond Sterling, chairman of Sterling Group.

"Raymond, you once said that if I returned the shares that came from Eleanor, I could name my terms."

A pause. "What do you want, Miles?"

I looked at the locked operating-room doors.

"I want Vivian out of our marriage with nothing."