Just as I was about to protest, Josh grabbed my arm and hissed a threat in a voice only I could hear, "I'll deal with you for filing a false police report and framing Selena once we get home. If you keep spouting nonsense, don't expect your parents to receive treatment in my hospital!"

I ignored his threats, knowing that once he saw who was actually in the car, he would certainly save them.

Just then, another car pulled into the hospital.

Josh answered a phone call before his expression immediately shifted. He rushed toward the car and lifted Selena out of it himself.

His expression was full of panic as he barked at the medical staff, "Get Selena to the ER right now! She has a cut on her neck. What if she contracts tetanus?"

Cradled against his chest, Selena shot me a smug glance before chirping in a sweet, syrupy voice, "I know you're worried, Mr. Peterson, but I can't break hospital rules. I should just wait in line like everyone else."

Josh was briefly stunned before a thought seemed to cross his mind. Then, he glanced at me and snapped, "How could Madelyn possibly compare to you?

"She's my family, so I can't play favorites, but she hurt you, and as her husband, it's only right that I make amends on her behalf. This isn't cutting the line; it's perfectly justified."

Everything happened so fast that before I could react, Selena was already on the stretcher heading into the ER.

The police had quietly left during the chaos.

I furiously grabbed Josh and yelled, "Josh! Have you no conscience? Those are your parents in the car, and instead of saving them, you're rushing to save the woman who hurt them. Are you even human?"

To my shock, he shoved me to the ground and coldly said, "They're your parents, not mine, Madelyn. Besides, they're just suffering from indigestion, so they don't need saving at all.

"When we got married, I warned you about abusing the Peterson family's resources to do whatever you want.

"Thankfully, Selena has been helping me keep an eye on you all these years, or you'd even use the Peterson family's connections to jump the queue for a simple hospital line. That just shows how uneducated you are as a country bumpkin."

Ignoring the fact that he had just shoved me onto the floor, he turned and followed Selena into the ER.

I felt a bone-deep chill.

With no other choice, I tried to call the police again, but after rummaging around, I could not find my phone anywhere. That was when it hit me—Josh must have taken it while speaking to me earlier.

I looked around in hopes of borrowing a phone from patients nearby, only to find myself surrounded by a ring of tall, burly bodyguards.

The lead bodyguard explained, "Dr. Peterson gave us strict orders that you're not allowed to cut the line, leave, or make false police reports. You'll quietly wait in line for your turn."

As my last spark of hope died, I slumped against the hospital wall and was forced to accept reality. Lora's breathing had almost stopped, and Fred's condition was not any better.

Hours felt like days before my number was finally called. I anxiously begged the medical staff to get them onto the stretchers, but the doctor stopped me and said, "Our hospital policy requires payment before treatment.

"Ms. Cook, please proceed to the payment counter and pay 2,000 dollars first."

I froze briefly, then urgently said, "Lives are at stake! Start the treatment first, and I'll have the money ready right away!"

But the doctor refused. "Dr. Peterson specifically instructed me earlier that although you're his wife, he disapproves of you trying to take shortcuts with the Peterson family name.

"As the hospital director's family member, you must avoid favoritism. Please follow the procedure and make the payment first."

My vision blurred with rage, and I had no choice but to sprint toward Selena's ward.

I burst through the door and caught Selena with her top off, wearing nothing but a black bra. Josh was leaning over her back, and I could not tell what he was doing.

Startled by my sudden entrance, he immediately straightened up. A flicker of awkward embarrassment crossed his face, but he immediately lashed out at me. "Why don't you knock before coming in? Don't people from the countryside understand basic manners?"

Selena feigned to flinch at my sudden barging in. "Oh my, please don't get the wrong idea, Mrs. Peterson. He was just examining my wound."

Despite her words, the provocation in her eyes was crystal clear.

I ignored her games and turned to Josh. "I need 2,000 dollars for the payment, or your hospital won't start treatment."

My indifference seemed to irritate him, and his expression hardened. "I told you, all household expenses must go through Selena for approval."

With that, he turned and left the ward.

I shifted my gaze to Selena and coldly demanded, "I want money."

Her weak, fragile act immediately vanished as she smirked at me with open mockery. "That's not how you ask for help, Mrs. Peterson. Where's the courage you had when you held a knife to my throat earlier?

"Say… Get to your knees and apologize; I'll approve the funds."

I clenched my fists tightly. For the sake of Fred and Lora's lives, I gritted my teeth and dropped to my knees. "I'm sorry."

Selena burst into laughter and seemed thoroughly pleased. "Alright. Hurry along and check on your dying parents. The money will hit your account shortly."

I immediately shot to my feet and bolted back to the lobby on the first floor. Just as I tried to pay, I checked my balance and noticed that only 20 dollars had been transferred.

That was when Selena's message popped up. "The old folks are just suffering from indigestion from overeating, so 20 dollars is enough to buy some stomach medicine.

"2,000 dollars? Seriously? I'm not that stupid, Mrs. Peterson. You were just trying to pocket the Peterson family's cash for yourself, weren't you?"

I was about to storm back and confront Selena in rage when the doctor responsible for Fred and Lora's emergency treatment approached.

"Ms. Collins, your mother has passed away due to delayed treatment. Please settle the emergency fees as soon as possible, or your father's life may also be in danger."

My legs nearly gave out, and I nearly collapsed.

That was when Josh rushed over with panic written all over his face. "What's going on? Wasn't it just indigestion? Why would she die?"

I grabbed him by the collar, and my eyes were bloodshot. "Indigestion? You believe every lie that comes out of Selena's mouth!

"Look who's lying dead in the ER! Is it my mother, or yours?"