Dr. Robert Henderson, Susan's attending physician, turned to me with a stern expression, his gaze sharp and accusatory.

"Dr. Eddie, you're the only doctor in this hospital with experience treating amniotic fluid embolism."

He took a step closer, his voice rising with each word.

"For the sake of your wife and child, is keeping your job really worth more than their lives?!"

"It's a doctor's duty to treat patients and save lives—and that's your wife in there!"

"The mortality rate for amniotic fluid embolism is 90%. Are you truly willing to sacrifice your wife and child for the sake of your career?!"

The stark statistic hung heavily in the air.

Margareth and Anthony went pale, their faces ashen with fear. Without hesitation, they dropped to their knees again, trembling as they knelt before me, begging desperately.

I didn’t so much as glance at them. My eyes remained glued to my phone screen, where the game continued to play out.

“DEFEAT!”

The game's failure tone blared from the speakers.

I stared at the shattering crystals on the screen, my face darkening. With a swift motion, I smashed my phone onto the floor in frustration.

"This is all your fault!" I snapped, my voice cutting through the corridor like a blade.

"I was in the middle of a promotion match and you wouldn’t stop yelling in my ear like a swarm of flies! So damn annoying."

Anthony knelt closer, trembling as he looked up at me, his eyes filled with pleading desperation.

"Eddie, we’ll give you anything you want. Just save Susan, please…"

The gathered crowd, silent until now, began murmuring amongst themselves. Their eyes bore into me, their expressions shifting from confusion to disdain.

A few older women in the crowd frowned deeply, their faces showing nothing but disappointment.

Before anyone could say more, a piercing scream tore through the hallway, coming from the delivery room.

A nurse bolted out moments later, her face drained of all color. She was visibly shaken, her voice trembling as she cried out.

"Robert! The mother's blood pressure has plummeted! She’s fading fast—we might lose her!"

Robert’s eyes flickered with anxiety, but his tone was icy as he turned back to me.

" Eddie Murph," he said, his voice low but heavy with tension.

"This is my last time asking you: are you really not going in to help her?"

The corridor fell silent.

I didn’t respond immediately. Instead, I raised my injured right hand, blood seeping through the bandages, bright and vivid against the sterile hospital light.

With Robert’s gaze practically drilling into me, I slowly nodded, firm and resolute.

"How can you be so heartless?!"

Margareth’s anguished cry broke the silence. She stumbled toward me, her face contorted with raw pain, her voice trembling as she spoke.

"Our Susan has been with you for seven years! Seven years, Eddie! Not once did she complain about your family’s poverty!"

"She’s beautiful and well-educated. Do you know how many young men chased after her? Yet she chose you. She believed in you!"

"When you two got married, you had no house, no car—you couldn’t even afford a wedding ring! But she still said she was happy!"

"Even your graduate and doctoral tuition fees—do you think you paid those yourself? They came from Susan! And now, when her life hangs in the balance, you—"

Her voice cracked and she broke down completely, sobbing uncontrollably.

The hallway filled with whispers of judgment. The onlookers who had been silently observing finally stepped forward, their voices rising with indignation.

"Young man, is your job really worth more than your wife and child?!"

"Jobs can be replaced, but losing your family is forever! How can you live with yourself if something happens to them?"

"That poor woman has stood by you through everything! Don’t you have any sense of gratitude?"

"She’s your wife! Saving her shouldn’t even be a question—what’s wrong with you?"

The accusations came from all sides, sharp and relentless.

But I stood there, unmoved, the faintest hint of a sneer curling my lips.

“This man is also too desperate, no matter what, his wife is inside to give birth to his child, He doesn’t give a damn...”

The chatter around me grew louder and louder.

I pursed my lips and sat on the bench without saying a word.

The whole person was like a stubborn stone.

Seeing that I didn't react, Anthony somewhat broke down and tugged at my pants leg, begging bitterly.

“Eddie, look at it this way.”

“You go in and save Susan, as a thank you, we pass the house and car to your name ......”

Hearing these words, I finally raised my eyes.

Seeing my somewhat moderated expression, Anthony was ecstatic and hurriedly patted his chest and assured.

“Eddie, don't worry, I'll do what I say!”

“As long as you can promise to save Susan, I'll give you the house and car deposit!”

The scene was in an uproar.

Everyone was touched by this piece of love for their son.

I looked at Anthony condescendingly, silently calculating in my heart.

His house, car and savings together were worth a few million dollars.

Buy me this job, but it was not a loss.

Just…

Raising my eyes again, I eased my tone.

“Okay, I can go in and save people, but...”

Seeing that I finally agreed, Anthony's face was a happy color, looking at me with hopeful eyes.

I lengthened my tone and said slowly, “But you have to sign a good contract with me, or what if you don't recognize it?”

Hearing my words, the smile on Anthony's face froze, as if he was somewhat incredulous.

Margareth couldn't hold back any longer and shouted in a very agitated manner.

“Susan's situation is urgent, how can there be so much time waiting to sign the contract? My bitter daughter, how did she marry such a negative man like you!”

I spread my hands helplessly, my tone firm. “I won't go into the operating room without signing the contract.”

The crowd of onlookers alsoyelled, their words full of accusations against me.

There were even a few hot-tempered ones who were already itching to beat me up to take out their anger.

At this time, another nurse hurriedly ran out, covered in blood.

She spoke in a stunned tone, obviously already stunned.

“The woman in labor just passed out and before she lost consciousness, she asked me to bring out a sentence.”

“She said for you guys not to make things difficult for Eddie, because she knows how hard it was for him to get this job.”

Upon hearing the news of Susan's coma, Margareth instantly sat down on the floor. Her face was pale and she couldn't even speak as she shivered.

Anthony Johanssen was in tears as he heavily kneeling to me a few more times, almost vomiting a large mouthful of blood. He squeezed out a few words through his teeth.

“Human life is a matter of course, these things I said I will do it, surely all give you, can… you do it?”

Looking at the old two old haggard appearance, I hesitated for a moment.

My mom and dad died early and I haven't felt any affection since I was a kid.

After being with Susan, she took me to meet her parents early.

The Johanssen Family parents were kind, simple and thoughtful and considerate.

Never because of my family condition was not good and belittle me, but really took me as their own children like love.

The year I went to graduate school, Susan took a good care of me. She always brought her parents handmade food to see me.

Four dishes and one soup—every meal was a thoughtful blend of meat and vegetables.

Margareth had even gone out of her way to learn how to prepare my favorite dishes.

The Johanssen Family had treated me with kindness and warmth, embracing me with a sincerity that came from the bottom of their hearts.

When Susan and I got married, I had nothing. No job, no car, no house—I couldn’t even afford my own tuition. The Johanssen family paid for everything.

During our wedding banquet, some of Susan’s relatives openly mocked me, sneering at my lack of accomplishments.

The Johanssen Family’s parents, however, had stood by me unwaveringly. Anthony had spoken up in front of everyone, his voice firm and resolute.

"Eddie is a good boy and the son-in-law our Johanssen Family has proudly accepted. Anyone who dares to speak ill of him in the future is not welcome in our home."

At the time, I was young and sensitive. Those words touched me deeply.

That day, I swore to myself that I would spend my life repaying Susan and her parents, vowing to give them all the happiness I could.

They had given me something I’d never had before—a complete family, filled with affection and warmth.

But now...

Anthony and Margareth knelt before me, their faces pale and haggard, their eyes brimming with desperate pleas.

I couldn’t meet their gaze. I lowered my head, staring at the ground as if it could shield me from the weight of their sorrow.

Pain throbbed from the wound on my right wrist, sharp and suffocating, but it wasn’t enough to distract me from the scene unfolding before me.

Their voices trembled with emotion, their bodies quivering from the effort of pleading.

Robert, who had been watching in silence, stepped forward to help them. His tone was sharp, filled with disdain as he addressed me.

"Eddie Murph, what are you doing? Not only are you letting your wife and child face death, but are you also planning to take advantage of the Johanssen Family’s property while you’re at it?"

"For money and your job, you’ve abandoned all sense of decency. You’re utterly despicable!"

His voice grew louder, his words brimming with righteousness as he turned to address the onlookers.

"You don’t need to beg him anymore. I, Robert, will put my reputation and career on the line to save the patient."

"I’m not doing this just because it’s my responsibility as a doctor—I’m doing it because I have a conscience!"

The crowd erupted in applause, their voices filled with admiration for Robert. They praised him as a model doctor, a stark contrast to their growing contempt for me.

I smiled faintly, ignoring the sharp pain in my wrist. I clapped my hands slowly, the sound hollow and unfeeling.

"Well, good luck to you all, then."

Robert shot me a look filled with hatred before turning and walking toward the operating room. The door swung shut behind him and the nurse quickly secured it.

Only then did I allow myself to clutch my trembling wrist. Cold sweat dripped down my forehead, the pain unbearable yet strangely grounding.

Anthony and Margareth, too consumed by their grief and desperation, didn’t spare me another glance.

They helped each other up and left, no doubt scrambling to gather money to save Susan’s life.

The crowd slowly dispersed, their murmurs fading into silence.

And then, darkness crept over me. My vision blurred and I felt my consciousness slip away.

***

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed.

Bertha Hoover, one of the nurses I was friendly with, sat by my side, her face etched with concern.

"Dr. Eddie, you’re finally awake!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly. "You’ve been out for an entire day and night. You really scared us."

I sat up slowly, my mind clouded with confusion. Had I really been unconscious for so long?

Shaking off my disorientation, I cleared my throat, though my voice came out hoarse.

"Susan," I asked, "how is she?"

Bertha hesitated, glancing at me carefully. Finally, she said, "Robert worked tirelessly for ten hours... In the end, both the mother and child are safe."

Her words hit me like a tidal wave. My heart sank, heavy with a mix of emotions I couldn’t untangle.

Relief? Disappointment? I didn’t know anymore.

Throwing off the covers, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and got up.

Without another word, I walked out of the hospital room.