Chapter 3

In the end, I still couldn't bring myself to be cruel. I wanted to tell Serena the truth. I wanted to know whether she would change her mind once she knew everything.

I pulled out my phone and called her.

When she saw my name on the screen, her brow furrowed, and without hesitation, she rejected the call.

Then she lowered her voice and comforted Michael. "It's okay. Just keep practicing."

I called again. This time, she turned off her phone.

Michael looked up, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes. "Dr. Green, it might be urgent."

"No," Serena shook her head. "If it were someone important, I would've answered."

So I was no longer important to her.

I leaned against the wall, feeling as though the entire world were spinning.

Serena had not only abandoned her work principles but even me, all for Michael's sake.

Yet I was still foolishly holding on to hope. As I turned and walked away, Michael's grateful voice rang out behind me.

"You take such good care of me, Dr. Green."

"It's only right that I do," Serena replied affectionately.

I walked out of the hospital into the glaring sunlight. My phone buzzed with a message from Serena. "I was in a meeting just now, so my phone was on silent. Did you need something?"

After reading the flimsy lie she spun for me, I finally gave up for good.

…

Out of nowhere, Mom had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital where Serena worked.

I stormed into the emergency department like a madman. "Serena! Where's Serena?"

A nurse pointed toward the operating rooms. I staggered over and saw Serena washing and disinfecting her hands.

"Serena!" I grabbed her hand. "My mom needs surgery. You have to perform the surgery yourself. Please!"

She squeezed my hand, her expression more resolute than I'd ever seen it. "Will, don't worry. I'll take care of it."

For that moment, she was still the woman who would risk everything for me.

The surgery lasted two hours. I paced back and forth in the hallway, my palms drenched in sweat.

Suddenly, a panicked nurse came running out of another operating room.

"I need assistance! Michael, the surgical nurse, was injured by a surgical instrument because of a procedural error. He's bleeding heavily!"

My heart sank.

"The hospital's blood bank is running critically low. He's Rh-negative, and he urgently needs a transfusion!"

The nurse looked at me, her eyes pleading. "Mr. Langley! You're Rh-negative too. Could you…"

My entire body went cold.

Serena emerged from the operating room covered in blood. She looked at me, her gaze conflicted.

"Will…"

Michael was wheeled out, his face pale. He weakly tugged on Serena's coat. "Dr. Green, I'm so scared… Am I going to die?"

Serena immediately crouched beside him and gently took his hand. "No. I won't let anything happen to you."

The two of them clung to each other, completely ignoring me.

"Serena," I said slowly. "My mom is still in the operating room."

She closed her eyes, her voice hoarse and barely audible. "Will, I'm begging you. He saved my life. I can't just watch him die. Your mom isn't going to die anyway, and Mike is bleeding heavily right now. You can't be so heartless, Will!"

The surrounding medical staff eyed me with condemnation.

"Michael is always good to everyone, Mr. Langley. You can't just let him die when you know you can help him!"

"That's right. It's only a bit of blood. It's not like it'll kill you!"

"How can you be so cold-hearted? How can you stand by and let a young man die?"

Serena suddenly straightened up and shouted at me, "Are you going to save him or not? If he dies, I'll never forgive myself for the rest of my life! I've never asked you for anything, Will. Please, just save him. I'm begging you!"

The red light above the operating room was still on. My mom was in there, her life hanging by a thread.

And my wife was out here begging me to save another man.

I took in Serena's reddened eyes, Michael's pale face, and the reproachful looks directed at me.

So she was willing to sacrifice my mom's life for him, too.

"Fine. I'll give him my blood."

Relief immediately washed over Serena's face, and gratitude flashed in her eyes.

But I wasn't done talking yet.

"But once I've saved him, Serena, we're getting a divorce."