Chapter 2

Gabriel looked completely calm as he said those words. It was as though Aria's death was no different than the passing of a household pet.

'They're arranging to make her an organ donor? Ha! Who gave them the right to do that?' I scoffed internally.

"Aria was just down with a bit of cold and fever this morning. There's no way she would die because of that. I want to see Aria! Give her back to me now!"

Elias slapped me across my face so forcefully that it made me spit out a bloodied tooth. The taste of blood filled my mouth almost instantly.

However, he was completely unbothered by how miserable I looked. He looked at me with disgust and said, "Dad examined Aria and made the diagnosis himself! Are you doubting his medical skills now?

"Hurry up and go home now! Stop making a fool of yourself in front of everyone."

After seeing the condition I was in, Gabriel took his phone out and made a call. Then, he instructed Elias, "Hurry and get her out of here. Then, come back here as soon as possible to sign the papers."

"What papers are you signing? Aria is perfectly well and alive! What are you trying to do…" I screamed frantically.

Elias placed his hands on my shoulders and pressed me onto an empty chair. Then, the unexpected happened—his tone had softened.

"Aria is gone now. I'm going to sign the papers so that we can donate her organs. In a way, she'll continue to live on in this world. I know it's hard for you to accept it right away…"

Elias was blabbering on as he tried to console me, but I wasn't listening to what he was saying at all.

"I am her mother. Without my permission, you have no right to donate Aria's organs… Aria is well and alive. What you're doing to her is murder!"

Gabriel couldn't stand it anymore. He pointed at me and yelled furiously, "I'm Aria's biological grandfather! Why would I do anything to harm her?

"I was the one who declared Aria's death after we had failed to revive her earlier. Why are you doing this here now?

"We already have her father's permission to donate her organs! I know you're thinking of making money by selling the child's organs, but our family doesn't need that kind of money!"

After hearing Gabriel's words, the nurses, doctors, and patient's family members who were either passing through or watching the commotion started giving me scornful looks.

"I thought she was sincerely worried about her kid when I saw how anxious she was just now. It turns out she's trying to make money by selling her kid's organs!"

"I pity the kid. Her mom is planning to do something like that to her when she just died not too long ago."

A nurse standing at the side felt like she should say something. "Dr. Levy is widely acknowledged as an experienced practitioner who has the best medical skills in our hospital.

"Sometimes, people have to wait a really long time just to get an appointment with him. How can you slander him like that?"

Following that, the other doctors and nurses voiced out and defended Gabriel. I had no idea whether they were sincere or if they were just trying to use the opportunity to gain Gabriel's favor since he was the deputy director there.

For a moment, the doctors, nurses, and patients' family members directed various harsh criticisms at me. I was suddenly depicted as the evil stepmother who didn't care whether her child was dead or alive and only thought of how to profit from the situation.

Another nurse added, "Madam, please let go of your husband so that he can go and sign the papers. That way, you'll also be helping a patient, giving them a chance to end their suffering. Plus, it'll be the last good deed your daughter could do."

The others agreed with what she said. "Hurry up and let your husband sign the organ donation papers. This isn't the time to be selfish."

Rhonda reached the hospital just then after receiving the call from Gabriel.

She had put on the entire set of gold jewelry that I had given her earlier. She was wearing a pair of gold earrings, a gold necklace, a pair of shiny gold bracelets, and also a gold ring.

As if to flaunt those pieces of jewelry, Rhonda kept her arms raised and her chin high as she walked past the crowd and stopped before me.

"You insolent wench, you caused such a huge commotion the minute you got here! Hurry and follow me home!"

Rhonda didn't treat me any kinder even though she received the gold jewelry set from me. Instead, she screamed frantically when she saw how I was grabbing Elias' arm tightly.

"Oh my, you vile wench! Look at the red marks you've left on my son's arm! How could you be so violent? Let go of him right now… My poor Elias, it must hurt a lot…"

Rhonda used all her might to pry my fingers loose while yelling at me nonstop.

It felt like my fingers would snap at any moment. Still, I endured the pain and refused to let go.

This time, she gave me a hard slap across my red and swollen cheek. "You vile wench, are you still not going to let go? Are you trying to pull off my son's hand?"

Eventually, I was forced to let go of Elias' arm as he and Rhonda worked together to push me away.

After he broke free from my grip, he straightened himself and tried to walk away. I hurriedly went after him.

Unfortunately, I was held back as Rhonda seized hold of my arm. Simultaneously, the onlookers moved to stand in front of me and blocked my way.

I cried furiously, "He's trying to kill my child! All of you are becoming that murderer's accomplices…"

Those people ignored what I said and continued to help Rhonda block my path. I stood no chance of pushing my way through such a big crowd.

A minute went by, then ten… My heart was bleeding…

After half an hour had passed, I slowly sank into the depths of despair.

Yet, I couldn't do anything other than scream hysterically for help.