“Whether your dad lives or dies depends on how you behave.”
With that, he turned away, holding Kendra close as he whispered comfort into her ear. Together, they walked out of the room.
Watching their silhouettes disappear down the hallway, Daisie felt her body trembling and the air around her freeze.
Before she knew it, the day of the surgery came.
They wheeled her into the operating room. As the anesthesia coursed through her veins, her consciousness began to fade.
The last thing she thought of was the tiny life she carried inside her—the one no one else knew about.
‘I’m sorry, baby… Mommy can’t protect you…’ she secretly cried.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before she woke again—only that the pain was unbearable.
The anesthesia had worn off, and a searing ache tore through her right side.
She lay weak and pale on the bed, too drained even to lift a hand.
Everything was silent except for the steady, mechanical ticking of the monitors.
Her heart felt as empty as the room around her.
Instinctively, she touched her lower abdomen, and to her astonishment, the baby was still there. For a moment, that made her heart swell with relief.
Her lips parted weakly as she turned to the nurse beside her.
“Excuse me… my dad… How’s my dad?”
The nurse didn’t look up from her clipboard. Her tone was flat and indifferent.
“Your dad? His surgery failed yesterday. He didn’t make it. He’s dead.”
Just then, the door to the hospital room swung open, and Kendra stepped inside.
“Well, look who’s awake.” Her red lips curved into a taunting smile. “How do you feel? Missing a piece of yourself—doesn’t it feel lighter?”
Daisie didn’t argue. She just glared at her, her eyes cold and sharp.
Kendra hummed lightly, setting a basket of fruit on the bedside table as if she were paying a friendly visit.
Then she leaned down, so close that her perfume stung Daisie’s nose, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear.
“I’ve got some good news for you—that useless father of yours is dead. Dr. Wilson—that doctor I hired… Wasn’t his technique impressive? I did spend quite a bit of money to make sure he got the job done.”
Her smile deepened. “Oh, and one more thing.”
She straightened slowly, taking a moment to admire the flicker of pain twisting Daisie’s face. Then she leaned back in again, her tone turning almost gleeful.
“Truth is… my kidney was perfectly fine. Never had a problem.”