2

The commotion attracted the security guard from inside.

"Miss, please calm down. There's a surgery going on inside."

Ignoring him, I repeatedly called Rick's phone.

But each time, all I heard was the busy tone till a sense of coldness washed over me, and I slumped to the ground.

"How dare he? That's Alex's life-saving spot," I murmured through tears, feeling helpless and defeated.

Since Alex fell ill, I had never let my guard down and was always on edge.

I even pleaded with Rick, with a hint of desperation, to give me another child. I wanted umbilical cord blood. I was willing to try any method to get it.

All my efforts seemed to crumble at that moment.

The operating room door slowly creaked open, and Rick, in surgical attire, emerged.

"The surgery was successful," Rick announced.

As he saw me in disarray on the ground, Rick's face clouded with displeasure.

"Why are you here instead of looking after Alex?"

"Lisa might have known about Mia's surgery and felt uneasy, so she came. It's fine. I understand her distress," Jenny interjected, covering her face with a sympathetic look.

At the sight of Jenny's face, Rick's expression turned stony, his brows furrowed.

"Did she hit you?" Rick asked, removing Jenny's hand covering her face.

Jenny quickly held onto his hand, looking pitiful.

"Rick, I'm fine. As long as it calms Lisa down, I don't mind," Jenny assured, wearing a facade of understanding.

Faced with Jenny's hypocritical display, I erupted in a loud yell.

"Then why don't you just die? Why don't you just die?"

Rick shielded Jenny behind him immediately.

"Lisa, what's gotten into you? This is a hospital. Why are you behaving so maliciously and irrationally?"

Pointing towards the operating room, I questioned loudly, "Irrational? Why did you give the life-saving spot to her when it's meant for my son?

"If you want to be with Jenny, just say it. I'll give her Mrs. Jones' position. Why use my son's life-saving spot to win her over?"

Frowning, Rick stared at me and said impatiently, "You should know Mia needs this spot more urgently than Alex. Mia can't wait any longer.

"Lisa, you're already pregnant. Alex can wait a bit longer for the cord blood that can save him. Why are you losing your mind here?"

Rick's words pierced through me like an invisible knife, causing my heart to bleed as I touched my slightly bulging belly.

"Rick, do you only consider Jenny's child to be worth saving? Does my child not matter to you?" I asked with a cold stare at the man I had loved throughout my youth.

Rick's eyes still showed disdain and impatience.

"Lisa, are you the doctor or am I? I've already told you, Mia's condition has worsened and can't wait any longer. Alex's overall health is stronger than Mia's, he can wait a bit longer."

Before I could retort, a nurse rushed towards us from a distance, shouting at Rick.

"Dr. Jones, it's not good. Alex suddenly developed a high fever, his heart rate is dropping rapidly, he's showing signs of shock."

Hearing that, I felt the world spinning around me, and I collapsed against the wall.

3

Rick's face turned pale, and he dashed off with the nurse.

I forced myself up and hurried after them.

Before reaching Alex's room, I saw a group of medical staff stuffing his ward.

Rick stood there by the bed, frowning, holding a defibrillator.

Alex lay motionless, his clothes lifted and various monitors attached to his body.

Feeling a rush of fear, I fought to contain my trembling, too scared to make a sound.

It felt as though my heart was tied to the fluctuating heart rate on Alex's monitor, every movement tugging at my own heart.

Finally, Alex's heart rate began to stabilize. Rick seemed to let out a sigh of relief.

For the first time, Rick, almost resembling a father, tenderly caressed Alex's freshly shaved head.

As Rick emerged, his expression somewhat guilty, I rushed up and slammed my fist into him.

"Rick, if anything happens to Alex, I'll hold you responsible!"

Rick pushed me angrily.

"Are you out of your mind, Lisa? Can't you see Alex is fine?"

"You should know, I secured that spot for Alex through my connections. Now you've gave it to Jenny. You should know the consequences." I pointed at Rick, speaking in a low voice.

Rick snorted coldly and walked away.

After that, I didn't dare leave Alex's side for even a moment.

Late at night, Alex finally woke up, grabbing my hand and looking at me with joy.

"Mom, is my surgery done? Can I go to the amusement park soon?"

Looking at his hopeful face, I didn't know how to respond.

I turned away, afraid for him to see the tears welling in my eyes.

Weakly, Alex lifted his hand and tugged at my sleeve.

"Mom, stop crying, it makes me feel bad."

Outside, a heavy rain started, the droplets drumming against the windows, unsettling me.

I looked at Alex's pallid face and started feeling afraid.

I embraced Alex, feeling the heat radiating from his feverish body.

Alex murmured weakly, "Mom, I know Dad operated on Jenny's daughter today. I know, but I envy her.

"Mom, I want to be healthy too, want to grow up by your side, but I hurt so much."

Tears streaming down my face, I held him tightly.

"Alex, don't speak. You will get better, I will save you as soon as the baby is born. Just wait a little longer," I reassured him.

Alex rested his head on my belly, finding solace in my embrace.

"Great, I'll have a little sister in the future. But I may not be able to see her. Mom, you have to remember to apologize to her on behalf of me."

I couldn't tell if it was because of tears in his eyes or mine, Alex's gaze gradually becoming vacant.

"Mom, I want to see Dad again."

I cried out desperately, watching the heart rate on the monitor gradually decline, frantically pressing the nurse call button.

"Help, someone, please, save my child, please, please save my child!

"Alex, please, hold on a little longer, okay? I'm begging you."

Alex raised his small hand and touched my face, smiling.

"Mom, don't cry. I'm happy to be your child. In the next life, I want to be your child again, okay?"

I nodded through tears.

"You'll always be my child. Alex, don't sleep, look at me, okay?"

But Alex's hand slowly drooped, and his eyes closed gently.

A group of people in white rushed into the ward. I could no longer distinguish whether they were doctors or angels.