Chapter 2

Mia noticed me staring at the medication in her hand. She smiled and handed me a pill.

"This is a premium painkiller for heart patients. You’re the patient in Bed 3, right? I heard you’ve been applying for this drug for three months. Here, I can spare you a box."

Her smile was sweet and innocent, as if this incredibly rare and expensive medicine was nothing to her.

She smiled. "I grew up poor too. I know these medical bills must be a huge burden for your family."

My chest throbbed with a sharp pain. I tried to suppress my emotions, but I couldn't stop the tears from welling up in my eyes.

When the pain used to keep me awake all night, I had begged my mom to save just one box of this exact medicine for me.

But my mom had simply slapped my hand away, her voice freezing cold. "Chloe, are you trying to steal someone else's life? You think your pain is the only pain that matters? Aren't other patients hurting too?"

I had felt so ashamed back then. But now, I heard the head nurse sigh in admiration.

"The hospital only gets five boxes of this painkiller a month. Normally, one patient is capped at three boxes. But Dr. Miller pulled some strings to give all five boxes to Mia... Dr. Miller really loves her."

The corners of Mia’s mouth curved up slightly. She smiled and said, "Dr. Miller is my savior."

"She always puts me first. Take this heart transplant, for example. I didn't even want to do it yet. The recovery period is so long, and my condition isn't that urgent."

"But Dr. Miller insisted. She told me we only live once, and I must live for myself. She said I should grab every resource and connection I can to secure the best future for myself."

"I couldn't argue with her, so I agreed to the transplant."

Mia stuck her tongue out playfully, looking cute and helpless.

Just then, the head nurse came to call Mia for her checkup. Mia stuffed the medicine into my hand. "Just keep it. I have plenty anyway."

Then, she turned and walked away.

My tears finally broke free, splashing onto the cold floor. A dull, lingering pain crept through my chest. I couldn't believe those words had come from my own mother's mouth.

Mom, if you believe people should live for themselves, why did you force me to step aside again and again?

Mom, if you believe people should grab every resource they can, why did you force me to give up everything?

I walked over and knocked on my mom's office door. Inside, two reporters were interviewing her.

"Dr. Miller, what has kept you so dedicated and selfless all these years?"

I stood at the door, my voice raspy. "Can you two leave for a moment?"

The reporters exchanged confused looks. My mom quickly smoothed things over. "This is one of my patients. It must be an emergency. Please excuse us for a minute."

The moment the reporters stepped out, my mom’s face turned icy. "Didn't I tell you never to come to my office? What if people find out you’re my daughter?"

"I’ve already contacted St. Jude's Hospital. You are transferring there tomorrow."

I raised my head, looking at her with red, swollen eyes. "Transferring there to die?"

My mom froze mid-sip. She slammed her mug onto the desk. "Stop talking about dying! Did you forget everything I taught you?"

"Do you have any idea what people are saying because you’re here? There are rumors that I used my position to get my daughter a VIP spot! Nurses are already snooping around, trying to figure out who you are!"

"Don't you understand? If I give you even one extra pill, it means another patient gets one less. Someone could die because of your selfishness! If everyone acted like you, how could we ever maintain medical fairness?"

I wiped my tears and whispered, "Medical fairness? Where is the fairness? Didn't you just give my matching heart away to someone else?"

My mom looked at me, seemingly confused. "Heart? What heart?"

Seeing her look of innocence, my heart shattered.

She didn't know that whenever she lied, she clenched her fists out of habit.

No matter how well she acted, she couldn't fool her own blood. And no matter what I said, I would never get the truth out of her.

Suppressing the stabbing pain in my chest, I forced a weak smile. "Mom, I'm sorry. I misunderstood you."

My mom relaxed and waved her hand dismissively. "Fine. Get out now. And remember, keep your mouth shut."

The moment I stepped out of her office, I booked an Uber straight to the Florida Organ Transplant Bureau.