Chapter 4

The room went dead silent.

All the congratulatory smiles froze on their faces.

Doctors, nurses, and the specialist all gaped at our sudden entrance, then at my dad and Summer, whose faces had gone white as sheets.

My dad jumped up like he'd been burned, knocking over a water glass.

"El-Eleanor? Hazel? What are you doing here...?"

"Wondering why we're not at the art exhibit?" Mom let go of my hand and stepped forward, her eyes sweeping over the girl in the bed who looked just like my dad, finally landing on his face. "If I hadn't come, how else would I get to see my husband being so loving with his 'important client's' daughter?"

"Mrs. Anderson, please let me explain—this..."

Summer tried to step forward but froze under Mom's icy stare.

"Explain what?" My voice shook—not from fear, but from anger so intense it felt cold. "Explain why you're wearing what was supposed to be my mom's anniversary gift? Explain why my dad is listed as your charity's representative and your daughter's legal guardian?"

"Robert Anderson," Mom didn't even glance at Summer and Chloe, fixing her eyes on my dad, each word sharp as ice. "While I was swollen and exhausted during pregnancy, you were cooking for her. When I was fighting for my life during childbirth, you were out walking with her. When Hazel's room caught fire as a kid, you didn't even try to save her – you were rushing to see them, flicking a cigarette butt that nearly killed her! You only stuck around later because you were scared she'd remember, scared of losing my family's money!"

"Twenty years... Robert Anderson, twenty years married to you, just to get your carefully planned betrayal. And today, you tricked my daughter into being a donor for your love child?"

Mom's voice wasn't loud, but every word cut through the silent hospital room, setting off a murmur of shock. The doctors and nurses who'd just been praising my dad now wore stunned expressions, whispering and exchanging looks.

Oh my God, is that his wife?

That sick girl is his mistress's kid? Only six months younger than his real daughter? He cheated while his wife was pregnant!

They were just calling him a great dad and philanthropist, but he's using his wife's family money to support his mistress!

No wonder he was so pushy about the donor – he was plotting against his own daughter...

My dad's face turned red then white, veins bulging in his forehead. He tried to sound calm. "What are you talking about?! Let's discuss this at home! This is a hospital, the child is sick – don't cause a scene here!"

"Making a scene?" Mom scoffed like she'd heard something ridiculous. She held up her phone, showing screenshots of evidence Mr. Davison had sent. "Robert Anderson, should I show these 'angels in white' your property deeds, bank transfers, and vacation photos with them? Let them see how this 'generous' Mr. Robert has been living off my family's money while treating us like garbage!"

"You!" My dad snapped, lunging to grab her phone.

"What, gonna get violent?" Mom stood her ground. "With all these witnesses? Where was your shame when you were doing those disgusting things?!"

Chloe, who'd been quiet, suddenly screamed:

"Who are you people? Why are you yelling at my daddy! Daddy's mine! He's not yours!"

She tried to struggle out of bed.

Summer quickly hugged her, tears streaming, begging Mom:

"Mrs. Anderson, it was all my fault. Please don't involve the child—she's so sick, she can't handle this... Robert was just confused, trying to save his daughter. Hazel is Chloe's biological sister after all. If they match, saving her sister's life is the right thing to do..."

I finally let out a bitter laugh.

"Sister? My mom only had me. Saving her would be a choice, not an obligation. You tricked me into blood tests without consent—that's illegal! And Dad, you said 'anything to save Chloe.' So if it means taking my bone marrow and hurting me, that's still 'worth it'?"

My dad looked away, his lips trembling. He couldn't speak.

"Good. Real good." Mom nodded, the last warmth leaving her eyes.

She ignored my dad's pathetic excuses, pulling out her phone and dialing a number on speaker.

"Dad, you heard all that, right?"

The door opened again. My grandfather, Mr. Harrison, walked in with his cane, accompanied by Mr. Davison.

He wore a sharp tailored suit, his face grim, eyes like steel. They swept over my dad's crumpled figure, then fixed on Summer and Chloe with cold scrutiny.

"Robert Anderson," Mr. Harrison's voice carried the quiet authority of a lifetime in charge, silencing the room. "Effective immediately, you're terminated from all company positions. Any assets funded or guaranteed by the Harrison family will be frozen and liquidated."

"Dad! Mr. Harrison!" My dad panicked, trying to rush forward but blocked by Mr. Davison. "You can't do this! I built this company..."

"Built it with what?" Mr. Harrison cut him off sharply. "Without Harrison capital, connections, and my daughter managing your life all these years, your little shop would've failed. Lawyers are already investigating your embezzlement to fund your mistress. For Hazel's sake, I'll offer this: walk away with nothing, or face criminal charges."

Summer shrieked:

"How dare you! Those are Robert's earnings!"

Mr. Harrison didn't spare her a glance, addressing my dad directly:

"Your choice: sign the divorce papers, surrender what's not yours, or we'll see you in court. And we can add child endangerment charges for trying to coerce Hazel into medical procedures without consent."

My dad went pale as a ghost, staggering back into the hospital bed.

Mr. Harrison turned, his expression softening as he looked at Mom and me.

"Eleanor, Hazel, let's go home."

As we headed for the door, Chloe suddenly grabbed a water cup from her nightstand and threw it at me.

"You're the bad guys! You ruined my daddy! You ruined everything!"

Mom pulled me behind her just as the cup shattered against the wall.

Mom paused, turning back to Summer and Chloe.

"Remember this: We didn't ruin anything. Your mother and my husband built their life on lies and betrayal—it was always going to fall apart."

Stepping into the hallway, the sunlight was almost blinding.

Hysterical crying and shouting echoed behind us.

Mom squeezed my hand tightly—her palm was cold but trembling.

I squeezed back, trying to share some warmth.