“Alice, calm down. Adeline will still get a kidney. Harith’s case is more urgent now. Beatrix only has this one son and we owe her our lives. Think of it as repayment.”
I fought against him, desperate to reach my daughter, but his grip tightened. “You heartless bastard! Adeline is your own daughter!” My voice broke, as helpless as I felt.
Paul only held me tighter until the light turned off in the operating room and a doctor emerged, mask in hand. “The operation was a success, the patient is stable.”
Stunned, I realized what this meant. The kidney was gone. My daughter, my Adeline, could not wait.
“Is Daddy still busy?” Adeline’s eyes flickered to the door before she looked away, defeated.
I spooned some chicken soup into her mouth, forcing a smile. “Daddy will come when he’s finished.”
At that moment, the door swung open. Adeline’s face lit up. “Daddy!”
Paul took her in his arms, his face the picture of a devoted father. I resisted the urge to tear down his facade and left the room in silence. He didn’t stay longer than five minutes.
“Feeling weak? Can’t keep pretending anymore?” I sneered.
“I’ll find a way to get Adeline a kidney. It was an emergency and Harith is just a child—I couldn’t just stand by and watch him die,” Paul replied, furrowing his brow at me. His expression suggested I was the cold-blooded one. Then, he noticed the lunchbox in my hand.
“By the way, Beatrix’s been sick the past few days. Harith doesn’t have anyone else to take care of him, and I don’t trust Auntie alone. Why don’t you go check on him? When you make soup, prepare some extra portions for Harith and Beatrix. They both need to build up their strength.”
I clenched the lunchbox tightly.
“No. Adeline’s condition is worsening. She needs someone with her all the time.”
“You’re not a doctor. What good does it do for you to be here constantly?” He frowned, dismissive. “Besides, it’s not like you can find her a kidney by staying here. If you push me, I may be too distracted to arrange it myself.”
A chill swept over me. I could barely believe that Paul, her own father, would threaten me with Adeline’s life.
He softened his tone slightly. “I’m only saying this to avoid wasting time on unnecessary arguments. I’ll get Adeline a kidney as soon as possible; she’s my daughter too.” The apology held no sincerity.
I laughed bitterly, trying to stay composed. “Fine. I’ll go make the soup.”