Chapter 5
But before Julia could say anything, a group of nurses barged in.
"Sorry, Ms. Summers," one of them said, a little flustered. "The VIP upstairs just reserved the entire ward. We've processed your discharge. You can head home to rest, or we can transfer you to another hospital."
Julia frowned and blurted out, "They booked the entire ward?"
"Our apologies," another nurse added, trying to sound apologetic. "It's the family of the child upstairs, someone from the Holden family. They paid in full. There's not much we can do. If you rest at home a few days, you'll be fine."
The Holden family?
Andrew reserved every single hospital room just for Mason?
Her body, still fragile and aching from the abortion, felt like it was made of glass. Yet here she was, being told to leave.
She swallowed the sharp pain, along with all the words she would never say. Then, she dressed quietly and headed out.
But the moment she stepped out of the elevator, she ran into a face she never expected to see.
Emily's eyes lit up instantly. She rushed over.
"Julia! Finally! Mason has severe anemia, and I've been losing my mind! Julia, I know your blood types match. Please, I'm begging you. Give him some blood!
"He calls you auntie. You can't just stand there and watch him die, can you?"
Before Julia could even process what was happening, Emily dropped to her knees in the middle of the hallway.
Julia instinctively stumbled back, her hand slapping against the wall to keep her balance.
The crowd of onlookers that had gathered began to whisper.
"What's wrong with that woman? It's just a little blood. Why is she being so difficult?"
"Agreed. She looks so put-together, but her heart is made of stone!"
"That poor kid, having family like that."
"Emily!"
Andrew rushed over and pulled Emily up from the floor. He looked at Julia with a flicker of hope in his eyes.
"Julia! I knew you wouldn't be so heartless! Mason's waiting upstairs. Let's go. We can't waste any more time!"
With that, he grabbed Julia's arm, pulling her toward the elevator.
Julia instinctively tried to wrench her arm away.
Andrew froze, frowning in surprise. "Julia, what is this? You're not here to give blood?"
"I told you, I'm not well. I can't donate blood. The nurse should have told you."
Julia's voice trembled as she spoke.
"Julia, seriously? You're still being stubborn now?"
Andrew's frown deepened. "Mason can't wait! He's just a kid! And besides, this is your fault! How can you be so cruel?"
Stubborn?
So, even now, Andrew still thought Julia was just putting on an act.
"This is a human life we're talking about! Julia, I can't let you make this mistake!"
Before she could respond, Andrew waved a hand to someone behind him.
Instantly, two built bodyguards stepped forward and seized her arms.
Tears welled in her eyes as she stared at Andrew in disbelief.
The man who had once been so gentle with her now looked at her with a face as cold and hard as stone.
For the sake of his illegitimate child with Emily, he was using force on her.
When love went up against blood, it wasn't worth a damn thing.
Julia was dragged into the room, forced to watch as the nurse inserted the needle into her vein. One by one, four large vials were filled with her blood.
Her head spun, the world blurring as if seen through frosted glass.
She tried to fight it to stay conscious, but her body was limp and useless. The world tilted and swayed, and she sank into a soft darkness.