Chapter 3

3.

"What's going on here?" Caleb Sterling's voice boomed down the hallway.

He looked at the scattered gauze and Mia's tear-stained face, his expression darkening instantly.

Melanie immediately lowered her head, looking like a kicked puppy.

"Caleb, don't be mad at Mia. She's just worried about her mom... she shoved me a few times, but it's really okay."

Caleb's face twisted with rage.

"She shoved you?"

He marched over to Mia and looked down at her, his voice dripping with anger.

"What is wrong with you, Mia? You're five years old and you have no manners! How dare you put your hands on her?"

Mia looked up, her vision blurred, the red mark from the slap still burning on her cheek.

"I didn't... Daddy, I didn't shove her. She..."

Caleb's eyes flickered to the bruise on her face for a split second.

My heart skipped a beat. I held onto a sliver of hope.

Maybe he would finally see the swelling. Maybe he would defend his own flesh and blood.

After all, we had fought so hard to have this child. She was his daughter.

But in that exact moment, Melanie leaned against the wall, clutching her side as if she were about to faint.

"Caleb... I think she might have hit my lower back where my kidney hurts..."

The moment Caleb heard that, his concern for his daughter vanished.

He rushed to Melanie's side, supporting her.

"Melanie, are you okay? I'll get a doctor to check you right now."

"I'm fine," Melanie whispered, shaking her head.

"Caleb, she's just a child. Don't be too hard on her."

Hearing her "kindness," Caleb's gaze toward Mia became even more disgusted.

"A child? She needs to be taught a lesson! Being violent and lying at this age?"

"I'm not lying! she stole Mommy's bandages and she hit me!"

Mia was shaking, her voice cracking.

"Shut up!" Caleb roared, his eyes full of loathing.

"All you do is cry! You're exactly like your mother―always faking it for sympathy. You're both selfish to the core!"

Mia snapped her head up, her voice trembling.

"I'm not! And Mommy isn't either! Daddy, why don't you believe us?"

"Believe you?" Caleb laughed mockingly.

"Years ago, when I was in that car crash and almost died, Melanie was the one who stayed by my side. She ruined her own health taking care of me until her kidneys failed. I'd be dead without her! And where was Elena? She didn't care about me! She didn't even show up to see me once!"

He had no idea.

When he was in that crash, I wasn't ignoring him. I was in the OR right next to him!

He was dying, and it was my kidney that saved his life.

But now, he gave all the credit to Melanie.

That woman didn't ruin her health for him; she ruined it with her own reckless, wild lifestyle!

And yet, he believed every word she said.

Mia knelt on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Daddy, save Mommy... she's really going to die..."

"Enough!" Caleb yelled, pointing a finger at her.

"Die? It was one kidney! Nobody dies from that!"

"Elena is just being dramatic as usual. She's trying to win me back with a show, and now she's taught you to do it too?"

"Fine. I'll show you exactly how much of a liar your mother is."

He pulled out his phone and made a cold, sharp call.

"Get every doctor available to the operating room right now!"

Caleb threw open the doors to the OR, his face flushed with a fury that looked ready to consume everything.

"Elena, look at the daughter you've raised! A little liar! I want to see how long you can keep up this act!"

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