Chapter 8%
“What divorce?” lan scoffed on the other end of the line. “As long as I don’t agree, the court won’t grant it that easily. Do you really think you can just leave me because you feel like it? The law doesn’t work that way.“%
His arrogance made me laugh coldly. “Are you sure you can handle the consequences?“% lan’s tone turned wary. “What do you mean?”
I glanced out the window at the glaring afternoon sun and let out a soft chuckle. “I heard that once a doctor is sued by a hospital, they end up blacklisted everywhere. You’re only twenty–eight, right? What will you do if you can never work as a doctor again? Your mother fought so hard to put you through medical school and your entire family is counting on you to bring them prestige and honor. If you ruin that, what will they say?”
“You’re threatening me?” lan ground out, his voice thick with rage, every word forced through gritted teeth.
“Think it through,” I said indifferently. “If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”
Just as I moved to end the call, a deafening bang echoed through the room.
The door flew open, crashing against the wall and Jaime stormed in, his eyes blazing with fury. Before I could react, he grabbed me by the collar, his nails digging into my skin.
“Zara! What the hell did you do to the cord blood?!” he shrieked, his voice shaking with rage. “Why isn’t she getting better? Why is she getting worse?!”
I met his glare with a cold, detached stare. “You were the ones who forced lan to cut me open, forced him to take the baby, abused me–and now you’re questioning me? Don’t you think you’re out of line?“>
Before Jaime could respond, lan’s panicked voice came through my phone, which was still connected.
“Wait, what’s happening to Trish? She already got the umbilical cord, so why is she getting worse?”
Jaime shot a furious glance at the phone, his jaw clenched.”
“This is all because of you! If you hadn’t insisted that the baby died after being removed and not in the womb, the umbilical cord would have been viable. But now, because of you, she’s suffering from rejection and her condition has deteriorated even further!“}
A heavy silence stretched on lan’s end of the call. Then, Jaime turned his enraged eyes back to me, his face twisted with fury. “You and lan planned this, didn’t you? He never wanted to save Trish and you’ve been holding a grudge ever since she humiliated you at the wedding. This is your revenge, isn’t it?!“}
His face was twisted with rage, his breath hot against my skin. For the first time in a long time, I felt a flicker of fear. Just as her grip tightened, security guards rushed in from outside. They pried him off me, restraining him before he could lunge again.”
Watching him spiral into hysteria, I let out a mocking laugh. “This was her fate. I told you before–nothing you did would save her. She was destined to die. This is her fate. Bad fate to all you three.“}
“You bitch! I’ll kill you!” Jaime shrieked, struggling against the guards. “It’s all because of you! Trish is suffering because of you!“>
Just then, his phone rang, slicing through the chaos.
It was the hospital.
Jaime’s frantic fingers fumbled to answer. “Mr. Ashton,” a solemn voice came through the speaker, “Miss Barton’s rejection reaction became severe. We did everything we could, but she didn’t make it. She passed a few minutes ago. I’m sorry for your loss.”{
The hospital door burst open again. lan stumbled in, his face pale as a ghost. His eyes darted between Jaime and me before settling on his trembling hands gripping the phone.
“What happened?” His voice cracked. “Who… who died?“”
Jaime turned to him, his face drained of color. “Trish is dead. They said… Trish is dead.”}
For a moment, silence hung thick in the air. Then, grief twisted into something darker. Jaime’s bloodshot eyes snapped back to me, filled with pure hatred.
“Why wasn’t it you?” he whispered, his voice shaking with rage. “Why did it have to be Trish, my Trish? You should have died instead! You should have died in her place!”
I met his gaze with cold detachment. “You were the ones who insisted on cutting me open. You were the ones who took the baby. And now Trish is dead and you still want to blame me?” I scoffed. “You should listen to how crazy you are.“}
3:15 PM
