Chapter 3

3

He looked miserable as he pushed me away, his face ashen as he fell to his knees.

His hand trembled as he slowly reached out to hold Harvey's thin hand.

His voice was raspy and soft, as if he were afraid of scaring the boy.

"Harvey, wake up. Don't scare Daddy like this. Didn't you say you wanted to spend my birthday with me?"

"Please wake up. I'll take you to get the biggest cake you've ever seen…"

His voice broke into a sob, and tears began to stream down his face.

"How did this happen? You were jumping around just two days ago. Why?"

Suddenly, a thought seemed to strike him. He looked up at me with sudden resentment.

"It was you. You must have done something to him!"

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms.

I stared at him with bloodshot eyes, my blood boiling in my chest.

I thought I had already seen the worst of him, but I didn't know he could be this disgusting.

I raised my hand and slapped him hard, my nails leaving a bloody scratch on his cheek.

Then, I pulled out the security footage and held it in front of his face.

As he watched with bloodshot eyes, I spoke words that cut like knives.

"Because you were in such a hurry to see Brianna, you didn't close the door properly."

"The criminal walked right in because of your negligence."

"Do you know what your son said while he was lying in his own blood? He told me not to let you be mad at him."

"He promised he would study harder and be smarter than all the other kids!"

"Heath Jenkins, the boy you called a moron was almost killed by you! You should be happy now!"

My face was flushed with rage as I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Heath's lips trembled. He clutched his chest, his breathing becoming shallow and fast.

He collapsed onto the floor, sobbing hysterically and hitting himself with his fists.

"I'm sorry, Harvey. I'm so sorry. Daddy didn't mean it… I didn't mean it…"

He pressed his forehead against Harvey's small hand, repeating the apology over and over.

I closed my eyes, my face covered in tears.

"I don't need you to be smart anymore. I don't want anything else. Just wake up, Harvey…"

Finally, the doctor couldn't stand it anymore and helped Heath up.

"There is still a chance for your son, but we need to bank his blood type immediately."

"We need to be prepared in case his condition takes a turn for the worse."

"I'll do it. I'll give him whatever he needs!"

Heath's firm words made me feel slightly better for a brief moment.

Just as we were following the doctor to the donation room, Brianna Sterling ran in, looking panicked.

She went straight to Heath and grabbed his arm, her eyes filled with tears.

"Heath, you're Type A, right? Please, you have to save my brother! He was in a car crash!"

"The hospital is out of his blood type. Please! He's the only family I have left!"

Heath bit his lip and looked at me with hesitation.

Seeing that look on his face, I felt like I was falling into a bottomless pit.

I grabbed his other arm, my voice low and pleading.

"Heath Jenkins! Wake up! Your son is in the ICU! She can find someone else!"

I didn't want to believe he would actually choose her over his own flesh and blood.

But Heath only hesitated for a second before pulling his hand out of my grip.

"The doctor said the chance of Harvey getting worse is small. Brianna's brother is in immediate danger."

"I'll come back tomorrow to give blood to Harvey."

After saying that, he took Brianna's hand and rushed out of the hospital.

My face went pale as fire consumed my logic. I screamed with everything I had left.

"Heath Jenkins! Are you really abandoning your son for that woman?"

Heath paused for a moment, a flash of annoyance on his face.

"Stop acting like a crazy person, Brooke! I told you, I'll be back tomorrow morning."

"Learn how to prioritize for once!"

Then he left without a single backward glance.

Brianna looked back at me, and I didn't miss the look of triumph in her eyes.

I leaned against the wall, my body swaying. The doctor just looked at me with pity.