Chapter 6
The bad feeling in his gut was getting stronger.]]
That surgeon’s face–he’d never seen him before. Definitely wasn’t on his list of approved doctors![]
Just as he was about to reach the elevator, some worker covered in blood got rushed in on a stretcher and almost crashed right into him.[]
ER doctors and nurses swarmed everywhere, the chaos completely blocking the hallway and trapping Gabriel behind a wall of people.[]
Gabriel was stuck in the crowd, panicking.
“Move! GET OUT OF MY WAY!“]]
But saving lives comes first–nobody was listening to him.]
He bolted for the emergency stairs, taking them three at a time.[]
When he burst through the stairwell door onto the surgery floor-
Mom and Grandma were standing in the hallway, white as sheets and looking scared out of their minds.
“Gabriel? Why are you back?“]
Mom’s voice was shaking like crazy.[]
She was terrified he’d figured something out. If he knew Aria was his real daughter, would he still let them go through with the surgery?||
Gabriel didn’t waste time explaining–he headed straight for the operating room:[]
“Stop the surgery! Stop it RIGHT NOW!“]
Grandma looked like she was gonna collapse.
Mom started crying hysterically, thinking they’d been caught. She grabbed his arm, babbling:
“Gabriel, I’m sorry! We didn’t have a choice…“]
Gabriel stopped dead, confused by the random apology:
му
“What are you talking about? What choice?”
“What’s wrong with the kids?“]
That’s when the operating room doors opened.[]
The surgeon came out, pulling down his mask with this tired but
happy
Mile://
“Surgery was a complete success! The little girl’s vitals are stable. As long as the
covery goes well…”
“Success?”
Mom just stared at him, repeating the word.
Grandma’s head snapped up top.[]
Gabriel saw who the real surgeon was and let out this huge sigh of relief.
His face relaxed and he looked grateful but also kind of scared
Thank God! What about my other daughter?”
“How’s the donor? I need to see her.”
Mom quickly blocked his way, forcing a smile:[]
“No need, Gabriel! This is what Aria was supposed to do. You’ve had such a long day–go get some rest.“[]
Grandma jumped in too:]]
A
13.8%
“Exactly! The child needs to recover quietly. Don’t disturb her.“]
Gabriel looked toward the operating room with this weird expression–like he cared but couldn’t explain why:]
“I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always felt connected to that kid. Maybe because she looks a little like you.“]
He paused and gave this sad laugh:
“Sometimes I almost feel like… like she really is my daughter.“[]
Mom and Grandma went dead white.[]
They looked at each other for a split second, both seeing pure terror in the other’s eyes. They could barely keep it together.
Mom pulled the surgeon aside and whispered questions about the donor.
The doctor adjusted his glasses, looking serious:]
“It’s not good. The donation process was brutal on her system. She seemed malnourished to begin with, developed serious complications, and she’s in a deep coma.”
“Ma’am, if you want to see her, you should probably go now, because…”
“Absolutely not!”
Grandma’s cold voice cut him off. She grabbed Mom’s arm tight.]
“Why would we visit her? What matters is that the baby is safe, and that YOU stay healthy!“]]
She lowered her voice:
“Remember–this ends here. Not one word gets out. Especially not to Gabriel!“]
Meanwhile, in the ambulance.]
A monitor at the head of my bed was silently streaming live video of Mom and Grandma talking to the doctor next door.
Watching them act like they couldn’t care less whether I lived or died.]]
I slowly closed my eyes. The last tiny bit of hope I had finally died.[]
That’s when the ambulance door opened quietly.[]–
Tyler slipped in wearing a doctor’s coat, his eyes calm and determined.[]
“Everything’s set up. Let’s go.”
Tyler handed me a water bottle from the front seat. He looked exhausted but fierce:[]
“Don’t worry. The real donor was some homeless woman who volunteered–she was gonna die anyway even without the surgery. They’ll never–figure it out.“]
“Aria, you’re free now.”
