Chapter 2

Just as I felt the warmth draining from my body, a hand grasped mine.

"Dr. Monroe, what are you doing? The director said to stop treatment!" a panicked voice cried out.

Then, a stern reply: "Stop treatment? The patient still has vital signs! Are you playing games with a person's life?"

"But the director said…"

"If there's a problem, have the director come to me directly. You have a duty to that white coat you're wearing, and to your own conscience!"

"Get him to the OR, now! Prep for surgery!"

Just when I thought I was saved, Julian's chilling voice returned.

"Dr. Monroe, I've already signed the consent form to refuse treatment. Where are you taking my son?"

A short, sharp laugh. "Director Vance, isn't your son resting comfortably in the VIP suite on the top floor?"

Julian's voice grew colder. "Dr. Monroe, you know this man is my adopted son. Are you trying to defy me?"

I thought this Dr. Monroe would back down, just like the others.

But he just snorted. "Get out of the way. Intentionally delaying a patient's treatment… even as the director, you will be held legally responsible."

Julian didn't move. He pointed to the massive bloodstain on my chest. "Dr. Monroe, based on the amount of blood he's lost, there's no point in trying to save him."

"And since he's unconscious, as his legal guardian, I have the right to make this decision for him."

This time, Dr. Monroe was silent.

No one could understand why the kind, respected director was being so cruel to his own adopted son.

But I knew. He was doing it for his real son, Corvan.

A recent string of serial murders had shaken the country.

As a police academy student about to graduate, I had requested to be part of the investigation.

After weeks of tireless work, we had identified Corvan as the prime suspect.

And I had found the key evidence against him in our own home.

The confrontation on the highway today… it happened because he refused to turn himself in. I was trying to arrest him myself.

But in the chase, we crashed.

If I died, no one would know what Corvan had done.

So Julian was willing to throw away fifteen years of our relationship, to let me die.

My will to live was too strong. I forced myself back from the brink of unconsciousness.

"Doctor… I… want to live!"

My voice was weak, but firm. Everyone in the room heard me.

Dr. Monroe let out a breath of relief. He patted my hand and turned to Julian.

"Director Vance, you heard him. The patient has not refused treatment. Even as his guardian, you cannot go against his own wishes."

"And, as far as I know, your adopted son is a police officer. There are reporters outside this hospital right now. Are you sure you want to continue obstructing his treatment?"

Julian's face was a dark storm cloud. But finally, he stepped aside.

I was saved.

The tension in my body finally released.

My consciousness began to fade again.

The next second, the machine beside my head screamed.

"Dr. Monroe, the patient is going into hypovolemic shock!" a nurse shouted.