This hospital was all too familiar to me.
Mom was the star doctor here, the best neurosurgeon around.
Family members crowded around the operating room doors. Grandpa and Grandma Cole, Grandpa and Grandma Hayes–everyone was there.
Grandma Hayes was wiping tears, pointing at me, her voice choked with sobs.
“You’ve got some nerve showing up here!”
‘Kai’s in this mess and where the hell were you?!”
Grandpa Hayes didn’t say anything, but his eyes were full of disappointment and blame.
Grandpa Cole was supporting Grandma Cole, his expression just as accusatory.
‘Exactly! Why weren’t you at the library with your brother? It’s dangerous for him to be out there alone!”
Dad stood to the side, his eyes also full of blame.
felt like a target getting shot full of arrows.
This time I’d chosen to stay away and watch from the sidelines, but I still ended up as everyone’s punching bag.
Sure enough, no matter what I did, in their eyes I was always wrong.
kept my head down and said quietly:
‘I didn’t know anything would happen to Kai. I’ll go get Mom–she’s working overtime…”
When he heard me mention getting Mom, Dad’s eyes showed a flicker of panic.
He quickly grabbed my arm. “Your mom’s busy. Don’t bother her.”
Busy pearl diving with Belle Cole at the beach, making necklaces.
It was only then in my previous life that I found out Mom had specifically taken time off to go to the coast with Belle.
The whole family knew she wasn’t in the city, but they kept it from me.
Grandma Cole shot Dad a disapproving look.
‘How can anything be more important than Kai’s surgery? Call Victoria right now! Tell her to get over here
“That’s right, that’s right.”
Grandma Hayes chimed in, “Something this serious–what could be more important? Call her!”
I pretended to panic and pulled out my phone to dial. I called over a dozen times, but no one picked up.
“What’s wrong with Victoria! Kai’s in this condition and she won’t even answer her phone!”
Grandma Cole was getting more anxious, her voice tinged with dissatisfaction toward Mom.
Dad quickly tried to smooth things over: “Mom, she might be in surgery. You know once she’s in the OR, she can’t hink about anything else.”
But just as he finished speaking, the call connected.
‘Didn’t I tell you? Don’t bug me unless it’s important! Nina, are you sick in the head?! Don’t you know I’m busy
here!”
gripped the phone tightly and said weakly:
Mom, Kai’s been shot. He’s at your hospital. You need to come quick…”
Before I could finish, she cut me off with a scoff: “Ha! Shot? Don’t go cursing Kai like that!”
‘Kai’s fine, studying at the library for his SATs. How could he be shot!”
‘If he doesn’t do well on his test, it’ll be because your jinxed mouth cursed him!”
She didn’t believe me at all.
Exactly the same as what I’d heard in my previous life.
‘Mom, it’s real! Kai really got shot! He’s right here at your hospital outside the operating room! There’s so much blood…”
‘It’s true! Victoria, please come!”
Grandma Hayes, who was anxious nearby, also shouted into the phone.
Mom’s voice instantly turned cold, with obvious annoyance:
“Mom, Nina’s being ridiculous and you’re joining in too?”
“Whatever, I don’t have time for this crap. I’m busy working. Gotta go.”
The phone was roughly hung up.
Chapter 2
“What work could be more important than Kai’s life? She’s completely lost it!”
Grandma Cole clutched her chest, her voice trembling.
Dad tried to explain: “Mom, Victoria might really have something super important…”
Just then a nurse rushed out of the operating room, looking frantic:
“You’re Dr. Hayes‘ family, right!”
“Get her back here fast! The patient has massive brain bleeding, the situation’s critical, and only she can operate!”
“But she’s off duty today and not at the hospital.”
Dad immediately panicked, looking helplessly at Grandma Cole and Grandma Hayes.
Grandma Hayes stamped her foot angrily: “What are you standing around for! Call your wife back right now!”
Chapter 3
