Chapter 3

Just before we left for the train, Little Zoe suddenly came down with a high fever.

My mother forgot about the train and ran with me in her arms to the hospital.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but we’re completely understaffed right now.”

As soon as the doctor said that, my mother fell to her knees.

“Please, doctor! I’m begging you. My daughter is only five years old. She’s in critical condition!”

The doctor said helplessly, “Ma’am, it’s not that I don’t want to help. It’s just that Mr. Xanders’ older daughter has a cold, and all our pediatric doctors have been sent to treat her.”

My mother rushed out of the hospital like a madwoman.

She took a cab and went from one hospital to another. At every single one, she was turned away.

“Please, somebody help me. Save my daughter!”

But the answer was always the same. All of the pediatrics had been transferred to the private hospital under Xanders Group.

My mother’s mind went blank. She called my father with trembling hands.

“Rowan, Zoe is dying. Please save her. I’m begging you, please.”

My father said that he would only agree to have someone treat me if my mother did a live broadcast apologizing to Layla and admitting that she was the other woman.

I knew what would happen if my mother gave in. I shook my head and told her to refuse.

However, my mother agreed without hesitation.

She turned to me and said, “I don’t care if they insult me online. As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters.”

My father was terrified that Layla might suffer even the slightest grievance. He even drove traffic to her livestream.

Countless vicious comments flooded the comment section. My mother was soon overwhelmed by the barrage of insults.

The hashtag “#AileenJenkinsHomewrecker” quickly shot to the top of the trending charts.

My father was finally satisfied.

Just as he was about to call a doctor over to examine me, Layla clutched her stomach and cried out in pain.

No one paid any more attention to my mother or me. They all crowded around Layla.

My mother desperately grabbed a passing doctor and pleaded, “Please, take a look at my daughter first. She really doesn’t have much time.”

The doctor shoved my mother’s hand away. “Mrs. Xanders is having complications. Get out of the way, all of you!”

My mother was pushed so hard that she slammed into the wall. I rushed over to steady her.

“Mom, are you okay?”

My mother ignored me. She stumbled after them, unsteady on her feet.

“I’m begging you! Please, just take one look at my daughter.”

Just then, the doctor rushed out in a panic.

“Mr. Xanders, we’ve got an emergency. Mrs. Xanders is hemorrhaging badly. She needs a blood transfusion right now!”

My father shouted at him, “Call the blood bank now, then!”

The doctor wiped his sweat and said, “The problem is, she has that rare Rh-negative blood type. The hospital doesn’t have any matching blood right now.”

My mother shuddered violently as she tried to pull me away.

At that moment, my father’s gaze fell on Little Zoe.

He asked elatedly, “Z-Zoe is Rh-negative too, isn’t she?”