Chapter 3
“She actually dared to lie to us about working!”
This time the call connected quickly. Background noise came through, and Belle’s excited voice yelled
“Mom, I need 10 more pearls to make a whole necklace! Keep diving!”
Mom said indulgently: “Okay, Mommy will keep helping you find them.”
Dad spoke urgently into the phone: “Victoria, you need to come back! Kai’s been shot, he has brain bleeding and needs your surgery”
The other end went quiet for a few seconds, then Mom’s displeased voice came through
“You’re being ridiculous too? Did that little brat Nina tell you that? She can’t go one day without stirring up trouble
“I’ve told you a million times–don’t believe a single word she says!”
I stood to the side, listening to their conversation, feeling cold all over.
Belle was the one who constantly lied, always framing me for things while I couldn’t defend myself.
Dad’s voice was pleading: “Victoria, I’m begging you, this time it’s real! Kai’s really dying. Please come back and see!”
Mom’s tone showed hesitation: “Ryan, maybe I should…”
Just then, Belle’s voice came through the phone again, with a hint of whining:
“Ugh, I just wanted a pearl necklace, and now sis is getting the whole family to ruin it.”
“Forget it, Mom. I don’t want it anymore. After all, I’m just the foster daughter–not as important
Mom’s attitude immediately became firm.
“Alright, stop it. I’ll be back tonight. Don’t try to trick me with Kai again!”
“He’s tough as nails–what could happen to him!”
as sis.”
Grandma Hayes couldn’t take it anymore and yelled into the phone: “Victoria, do you have any conscience left?!”
“Kai’s life is hanging by a thread and you’re still thinking about that foster daughter!”
“Would all of us lie to you? Is Kai’s life really less important than some pearl necklace?!”
Mom’s voice was now full of impatience:
“Enough, Mom. Belle is my precious baby, just as important as Kai. I’ll be back soon, stop pressuring me!”
“Nina’s just a selfish liar–don’t believe her!”
She hung up again, leaving a group of family members anxiously waiting outside the operating room.
This time Grandma Hayes and Grandma Cole were obviously furious. They hadn’t expected Mom to be so unreasonable.
For the sake of a foster daughter, she wouldn’t even care about her biological son’s life.
And I stood to the side, watching their anxious, angry expressions, feeling unexpectedly calm inside.
In my previous life, I’d tried desperately to save my brother’s life, only to get blamed by my family and treated coldly by Mom.
This time, I’d chosen to watch from the sidelines. I wondered what everyone would think of Mom choosing Belle.
The nurse rushed out of the operating room again, urgently pressing:
1.89%
Ma SoT Burned It All Down!
* Did you find Dr. Hayes?! The patient’s vital signs are dropping!
If we don’t operate soon, it’ll be too late!”
Dad frantically tried to call Mom again, only to discover he’d been blocked.
Grandma Cole and Grandina Hayes also fumbled for their phones, trembling as they dialed.
Soon, both their faces turned deathly pale.
“Can’t get through! She blocked me too!”
Grandma Cole’s voice was filled with painful disbelief.
“Me too… that heartless thing! How could she do this!”
Grandma Hayes gripped her phone tightly, tears and snot streaming down her face.
Despair instantly spread through everyone. We all knew that this time, my brother was really going to die.
We could only stand helplessly outside the operating room, listening to the urgent sounds of resuscitation inside, watching as my brother’s life slipped away bit by bit.
The operating room doors opened again. The doctor walked out wearily and gently shook his head.
“I’m sorry… we did everything we could.”
Grandma Cole let out a piercing wail, throwing herself on my brother’s body, crying heartbrokenly.
“My Kai! My grandson!”
Grandma Hayes also stumbled in, holding my brother’s cold body and sobbing:
“Kai! My grandson! How could this happen?!!”
Dad stood frozen in place, his body swaying, his face showing extreme pain and regret.
He looked at his lifeless son on the operating table and let out an uncontrollable roar of anguish.
