Chapter 2

It wasn't until late that night that I finally got an Uber.

At Urgent Care, the on-duty doctor's face turned grim the moment he finished examining Leo's mouth.

"Your handling of this was terrible. What were you thinking?"

When he saw the ChatGPT reply on my phone screen, "local ice application and observation should suffice," he snapped.

"AI can't replace a doctor. I honestly don't know what you self-righteous mothers are thinking."

I could only hold Leo tighter.

The doctor went on.

"A six-month-old with severe oral burns and infection. This is serious neglect of infant safety. He needs to be transferred to the ER immediately for anti-inflammatory and anti-shock treatment."

The tears I'd been holding back finally broke loose. I clutched Leo and said, my voice raw, "We'll transfer to the ER now."

While I sat with Leo in the ER waiting hall, hooked up to an IV, my phone buzzed.

Vivian posted on Instagram.

"You should pick someone who'll go crazy with you anytime."

I remembered the day Leo turned six months old. I'd begged Sebastian to take us to Disney World in Orlando. He'd agreed right away.

"Sure, I'd love to go."

And then nothing. Ever.

At three in the morning, the infection spiked Leo's fever. His whole body burned. I kept begging the nurses for help, my eyes red and swollen with panic.

Just then, a commotion broke out at the ER entrance.

"Doctor, get me a private observation room, now. She fainted from low blood sugar. She needs to be admitted for tests immediately!"

Sebastian came charging in, carrying Vivian in his arms.

The nurse checked the system, her face falling with difficulty.

"Mr. Shaw, as a donor to our medical group, you and your family are entitled to priority use of a private observation room. But tonight there's only one left."

The nurse pointed at me, holding my feverish, convulsing baby.

"This woman's child has a high fever and severe burns. We were just about to assign that room to them—"

Sebastian's gaze followed the nurse's hand and landed on me and Leo. He froze.

But the next second, his eyes flickered, and almost without hesitation, the words came out.

"Vivian's situation is more urgent right now. Give her the room."

The nurse, who knew Leo's condition, looked at me with utter disbelief and pity.

Vivian was wheeled into the warm, comfortable private room at once.

Sebastian hurried after her. The whole time, he didn't look back at me or Leo. Not once.

My burning child twitched faintly in my arms. My heart went completely cold.

Half an hour later, Sebastian came out of the room, frowning awkwardly.

"I just asked the doctor for Vivian. The kid's fever is just a normal inflammation. He can get a fever shot in a chair in the waiting hall. No need to take up a private room."

"Vivian nearly went into shock from low blood sugar. If she doesn't get proper observation, she could have lasting complications."

He reached out to feel Leo's forehead. I pulled back coldly.

"No need. We don't need anything from you."

I held Leo close and turned toward the noisy, crowded waiting hall.

The next morning, Leo's fever finally broke.

I dragged my exhausted body to the immigration office. Not for the family visa I'd filed for over and over, the one that was supposed to take me and Leo overseas with him. That paperwork was dead. I was there for exit permits for me and my son. Our own way out.

The moment I stepped into the lobby, I ran into Sebastian's subordinate, Kim.

Kim greeted me warmly.

"We were just talking about you this morning. You're really Mr. Shaw's perfect wife. Your baby's still so small, and you're willing to endure a long-distance separation for your husband's career."

I didn't understand. I thought he'd gotten the wrong information, and managed a faint smile.

"What?"

Kim looked confused, then lowered his voice.

"Mr. Shaw already gave the company's only executive family green card sponsorship quota to Vivian last week. I'm here to pick up her approval letter right now."