Chapter 3

"Look, Chloe, no offense, but if you want Owen back, you should talk to him properly. It's a good thing he gave us a heads-up today. He even spoke to his mom this morning; otherwise, we might have actually fallen for it and sent a unit your way.

"No matter how much you're fighting with him, you shouldn't be tying up emergency services. Don't you know we're short on ambulances?

"You're just being paranoid. Whatever happened between Owen and Aurora was years ago. If they were meant to be, they'd be together already. You can't cling so tightly to a man; you have to give him some space.

"And using his mother as an excuse? We all know how much Nora means to him. How could you curse her like that? Aren't you afraid he'll never forgive you?"

Lincoln prattled on without end. I couldn't take it anymore and finally snapped. "I don't care what Owen is doing out there, but you will send an ambulance!

"His mother is lying here dying! If you delay and she misses the critical treatment window, can you bear that responsibility?"

I'd always been soft-spoken and gentle with them before, never raising my voice. My outburst shocked him into realizing this might be serious.

"Wait... you're not just making this up to get him back?"

I took a deep, steadying breath. "I'm not joking. If you don't get here soon, it'll be too late for Owen's mother."

Finally convinced, Lincoln sprang into action, mobilizing a medical team for the ambulance.

Only after hanging up did I dare to relax slightly, noticing my hands were trembling uncontrollably.

I never thought Owen would go this far—actually warning his colleagues to block an emergency ambulance for his own mother.

Did it never occur to him that she might have another attack?

Wasn't he afraid that his interference would make her miss her best chance for survival?

Owen's father died of illness when he was very young. Nora raised him all by herself, put him through school, helped him buy a home, and saw him get married.

So many people had advised her to remarry and leave Owen with his grandmother, but she refused every single matchmaker, insisting on keeping him with her no matter how hard life got.

Owen once told me he felt he had ruined his mother's life, and that he would spend the rest of his days making it up to her.

Out of love for him, I learned to treat Nora well. But as I got to know her, I realized she was a truly wonderful person.

Not only was she reasonable and kind, she treated me like her own daughter and always mediated when Owen and I argued.

After we married, our new home was far from my workplace. She offered to cook and take care of me, just so I could focus on my career without worries.

She never even pressured us about having children, saying it would happen when it was meant to happen.

I could feel her genuine affection for me.

In the early days of our marriage, seeing how well Nora and I got along, Owen made us a promise. "I'll take good care of both of you. I'll make sure you have a good life."

I truly couldn't understand what place Aurora held in his heart. What could make him abandon his wife and cast aside his mother's safety?

Before I could process it further, I heard Zoey cry out in alarm.

"Chloe, quick! Nora... she's stopped breathing!"

I spun around.

The next second, my pupils constricted in shock, and a cold sweat broke out all over my body.

Nora's face was turning blueish-purple. Her mouth gaped open like a fish stranded on shore, gasping for air she couldn't seem to draw in.

I was so terrified I nearly dropped my phone. Then I remembered the oxygen cylinder I'd bought previously. I rushed to get it and fixed the mask over her face.

But even with the oxygen, the color only barely returned to Nora's face.

Just as I was about to start CPR, her hand slowly rose and grasped mine.

"Chloe... I am not worth all this trouble," she whispered, her voice frail. "I know my condition better than anyone. Even ten more surgeries would just be treating the symptoms, not the root. Let's not waste any more money. I think... I think my time is near. I finally understand why Owen's father begged me to let him go all those years ago... the pain is just too much. If you care for me, let me go peacefully.

"You and Owen... have been having troubles lately, haven't you? I know him better than anyone. This is his fault. I apologize on his behalf. He's a disappointment. You've been married to him all these years, and you've had no happiness, only grievances.

"Chloe, I've truly always seen you as my own daughter. You're a good girl. I wanted you to be happy. I never wanted to see you so sad because of Owen."