Chapter 2

Thinking about it, I wanted nothing more than to slap Liam’s fake innocent face.

"I’m transferring Mia to another hospital right now for a new diagnosis! I will never sign that form!"

Seeing the anger in my eyes, Liam frowned.

"Layla, stop being unreasonable. You went home last night, but I stayed here all night without sleep. I watched the entire resuscitation process.

"I know you’re in pain, but this is reality. Can you please control your emotions?"

I let out a bitter laugh.

"You’re asking a mother to control her emotions when her child’s life is hanging by a thread?

"Why did I even go home last night? Wasn’t it because your mom claimed her heart was acting up and demanded I go take care of her?"

A flicker of annoyance crossed Liam’s face.

"Stop blaming my mom, stop blaming me. It’s Mia’s fate that’s unlucky.

"You agreed to sign the form earlier. Now you’re backing out. Don’t you think you’re being overly emotional?"

I could not even bother responding to his detached attitude. Right now, the only thing that mattered was transferring Mia to another hospital for a new diagnosis and treatment.

The Liam standing before me was no longer the man who used to play barefoot in our tiny rental apartment, splashing water on the floor with Mia.

I pushed the office door open and headed toward the ICU, dialing a familiar number on my phone.

I had not spoken to my family in seven years, ever since I married Liam. They had strongly opposed our marriage, and I walked away from my family’s fortune to start fresh with him in a new city.

But now, the only people who could help me were the family that had always stood by me.

When the call connected, I did not have time to explain. Choking up, I could barely get the words out before I broke down in tears.

"Mom, Dad, please save my daughter. She needs to be transferred to the best hospital in the entire state."

Without any hesitation, my parents immediately got in touch with the top medical team in the state.

After hanging up, I glanced at the clock on the wall.

There were still two hours left until the transfer team would arrive.

Just then, Liam rushed over in a panic.

"Layla, what are you doing here? Stop making a scene and come sign the form. We already agreed to this. The entire medical team is waiting."

I ignored him and kept my eyes fixed on the ICU doors.

Seeing I was not responding, Liam grew agitated.

"Stop standing there in a daze! Come on, let’s go. Don’t make the doctors wait."

I turned and looked at him.

"Mia is still lying in the ICU, and all you can think about is harvesting her organs?"

Liam’s expression faltered, and he seemed flustered.

"What are you saying? She’s our daughter. How could I be so heartless?

"But she’s brain-dead now. There’s no chance of recovery. She’s just a shell of a person!

"And organ donation is such a meaningful thing. Mia always said she wanted her life to have value when we watched those documentaries on TV together. Isn’t this fulfilling her wish?"

Hearing this, my blood boiled.

A few months ago, Liam had suggested we watch some nonprofit documentaries about organ donation together. Mia had watched them with tears in her eyes. She was so kind-hearted, even at such a young age.

But now I realized it was all part of his plan. Mia’s kindness, my trust, all of it had been manipulated by Liam.

I summoned all my strength and slapped him hard across his right cheek.

"Get out! I’m not going anywhere! No one is touching Mia. I’m transferring her!"

Liam staggered back, holding his face in shock, and shouted at me.

"You’re forcing her to stay in this world just because you can’t let go. You’re making her suffer a fate worse than death. What’s the point?

"Her muscles will waste away, she’ll develop bedsores, her whole body will start to decay while she’s still alive! Why put her through that pain instead of letting her go peacefully?"

I glared at Liam, who now felt like a stranger, knowing that beneath his self-righteous words was a carefully planned, cold-hearted scheme.