Chapter 3

The pain still throbbing through my body remained a constant reminder that none of this was a nightmare.

When the doctors and nurses wheeled me to the operating room, they suddenly stopped. Someone was blocking the entrance.

"Mr. Putnam's daughter twisted her ankle on the stairs just now. They're using this operating room. You'll have to wait."

At that, the nurse beside me panicked. "How can we wait? If this patient doesn't get treated now, she won't just be paralyzed. She could die! It's just a twisted ankle. Does she even need an entire operating room?"

But no matter what the nurse said, the person standing in front of us didn't care. They stepped back into the operating room and restricted access.

I lay helplessly on the gurney, my heart completely shattered.

After everything I had learned today, I no longer wanted to be saved. With Mom and Dad's betrayal and what they had done to my body, maybe it would be better if I simply never woke up again.

Just as I was thinking that, Mom suddenly stormed out of the operating room, hurried over to me, and stared at me for a long moment.

My heart clenched. A tiny spark of hope flickered inside me. Did she recognize me at last?

Ignoring the pain coursing through my body, I desperately twisted myself around and reached out my right hand, trying to make Mom see me.

Yet, all I met was the coldness in her eyes. She covered her nose and wrinkled her brow, as if my smell of blood disgusted her.

"I don't think there's much point in saving her in this condition," she said. "The rest of you, come with me. My daughter's injured foot is more important!"

With that, she grabbed the medical staff and pulled them away without a second thought.

"Ma'am, this patient's injuries are clearly much more serious!"

"Shut up!" Mom shouted, slapping the nurse across the face. "My daughter is the Putnam heiress! How can her life be compared to some nobody's? Her 18th birthday is in a few days. I won't have her showing up with an injured foot."

My hand, still reaching out toward her, froze in midair.

The nurse dared not say another word. She lowered her head and obediently followed Mom into the operating room. Just like that, I was left alone in the hospital hallway.

At that moment, the crushing feeling of being abandoned completely swallowed me.

After what felt like an eternity, the operating room doors finally slid open again. Mom and Dad wheeled Sylvie out, fussing over her the entire time.

"Sylvie, seeing you hurt your ankle breaks our hearts…"

"Make sure you get plenty of rest when you get home, okay? I'll call the school and get you excused right away."

Sylvie nodded, and a nurse wheeled her away.

Mom remained standing there, as if something suddenly occurred to her. "Honey, did we just forget Rosie is still at home? Quick, call her!"

They frantically dialed my number over and over, but no one answered. They had smashed my phone earlier at school. Of course, they couldn't reach me.

I wanted to scream and tell them that I was right here in front of them, but my throat was dry and burning. All that came out was a broken, strangled whimper from deep in my chest.

I truly had no strength left.

"Why isn't she answering our calls? Could something have happened?"

"Come on. We need to get home and check on her right now!"

Panicked, Mom and Dad turned to leave and rushed home to find me. I could only watch them walk away before helplessly closing my eyes.

It was then that the police arrived and stopped them. They were here to investigate what happened.

"This case hasn't been resolved yet, and neither have her parents arrived. No matter how much power you think you have, you can't just walk away like this."

Dad was already growing impatient. "Fine. Then call her parents and ask how much they want. We'll pay whatever it is."

"We're in a hurry to be somewhere now. Can't we just pay them?" Mom suggested, practically stomping her feet due to the anxiety.

The officer hesitated. "But…"

A police assistant stepped forward. "We just found her father's phone number—"

Dad cut him off, snatched the phone from his hand, and dialed the number without even looking at it. "Fine! Call him already and stop wasting our time!"

The next second, Dad's phone started ringing in his pocket.