Chapter 4
Charles didn't come home last night.
I packed up my stuff, tossed my suitcase in the trunk, and got ready to head to the hospital to handle Grandma's transfer.
Just as I drove out of the garage, a rock flew straight at my windshield and struck it. Out of nowhere, a group of people suddenly burst into view.
I slammed on the brakes.
"Check it out, guys. That's the shameless mistress right there." someone shouted.
Over a dozen phones were streaming live, all pointed at my face. Someone ripped open the car door and dragged me out.
"Runs in the family. Her mom was a mistress, and now she's trying to steal Chloe's husband." another voice yelled.
My mind went blank, a ringing in my ears as everything seemed to fade out.
My vision went black and my knees nearly buckled.
"Are you guys with Chloe?" I asked.
"No, we're fans of justice." they replied.
A rotten egg splattered across my forehead, the stench and slimy mess covering half my face. I tried to speak up, but Chloe's rabid fans swarmed me, drowning out my voice.
"Isn't she all about seducing men? Strip her." someone shouted.
I was shaking with rage, but all I could do was clutch my clothes and curl up into a ball, trying to protect myself.
Fists rained down on me from every direction.
"What the hell are you doing? I've called the cops." A security guard shouted.
The security guard blew his whistle and rushed over, and the crowd scattered like rats.
"Miss Sinclair, are you alright?" The guard asked.
Tears I'd tried so hard to hold back streamed down my face as I shook my head.
My phone rang, it was the hospital.
By the time I got there, Grandma had already been rushed into surgery.
The doctor handed me an emergency consent form and asked me to sign it.
The doctor asked, "Her heart couldn't handle the emotional shock from the livestream, it's failing. Do you want us to use the custom mechanical heart?
"We only have thirty minutes left in the critical window. If you want to proceed, we need the custom mechanical heart in the OR ASAP."
"Yes." I blurted out, not even hesitating. "If it can save Grandma, I'll have someone bring it over right away."
My hands were shaking uncontrollably, but I managed to sign the consent form. Without wasting a second, I called Charles.
"Where's the custom mechanical heart you ordered for Grandma? Tell them to get it to the hospital right now." I demanded, my voice trembling with urgency.
Charles paused for a couple of seconds, his voice sounding a bit uneasy. "Why do you need it all of a sudden?"
I didn't have time to explain, my voice choked with sobs. "Charles, please, I'm begging you, hurry and get it here. Grandma can't hold on any longer."
"Alright, alright, don't panic. I'll fly the helicopter myself and get it to you ASAP."
After Charles confirmed it would only take ten minutes by helicopter, I stared at the real-time map on my phone, tracking the helicopter's location without blinking.
Every second felt like an eternity.
Watching the helicopter icon inch closer to the hospital, my nerves finally eased up a little.
But all of a sudden, the helicopter swerved and started heading the other way.
My heart was racing, like it was about to burst out of my chest. I grabbed my phone and dialed Charles in a panic.
The phone rang and rang, but no one picked up.
Suddenly, the doctor's voice came from behind me, heavy with sorrow.
"Grace Hawthorne's family member, I'm so sorry to tell you, she passed away." the doctor said.
All the strength drained out of me as I watched Grandma being wheeled out of the operating room, covered by a white sheet.
Just then, my phone buzzed with a message from Charles.
Charles: [Sorry, I got lost again. Hang on for ten more minutes.]
I looked up and saw the main screen in the hospital lobby was streaming a live art exhibition.
On the screen, Chloe was introducing her piece, [The Beauty of the Mechanical Heart.]
And the centerpiece on display was none other than Grandma's custom mechanical heart.
*****
"Charles, are you really not coming to my victory party?" Chloe asked.
Chloe thumped Charles lightly on the chest with her fist. "Come on, that's not cool," she said.
Charles didn't dodge, raised an eyebrow with a grin.
Charles replied, a playful smirk on his face, "I even lent you Sophie's grandma's custom mechanical heart so you could compete. Come on, isn't that being a good friend?
"My fiancée's still mad at me. I need to get home and make it up to her, or she might leave me. Who else am I supposed to cry to then?"
Just then, his phone buzzed with a breaking news alert. [Breaking News: Whitmore-Sinclair Alliance, Miss Sinclair and Mr. Whitmore Tie the Knot.]
Charles's eyes went wide in shock.