Chapter 10

<p>Riley got straight to the point. "What's wrong with the report?"</p><p>Hudson glanced at Mason, then at Isabella. "The day after Michael was admitted, the system flagged a high compatibility result. By hospital rules, both parents should've been notified."</p><p>Isabella asked, "Who got the call?"</p><p>The young doctor flipped through the files. "According to the records, Mr. Gonzalez was notified."</p><p>Mason admitted it right away. "Yeah, it was me."</p><p>Isabella's hand rested on the medical records. "That day, you told me you hadn't found a match yet."</p><p>Mason said, "I needed to confirm it."</p><p>Hudson said, "That bone marrow was originally scheduled for Michael."</p><p>Nora looked up immediately. "Dr. Cooper, what are you saying? Anthony's surgery was scheduled by the hospital too."</p><p>Hudson pulled out a copy. "The change request has Mr. Gonzalez's signature, and guardian consent."</p><p>Isabella took the paper and looked at the signature section.</p><p>Mason Gonzalez.</p><p>Nora Parker.</p><p>The last signature was her own. Isabella Roberts.</p><p>She stared at the signature. "That's not my signature."</p><p>Mason looked at her, his voice tense. "You sure about that?"</p><p>Violet rushed forward. "Her kid was fighting for his life in that hospital bed, and you think she'd sign off on giving his bone marrow to someone else? You'd have to be out of your mind to even believe that."</p><p>Nora was crying. "I swear, I didn't know. I had no idea Isabella's name was on that form. Mason told me she agreed, said Michael was too sick and Anthony had a better shot."</p><p>Isabella looked at Mason. "Is that what you told her?"</p><p>Mason didn't answer right away.</p><p>Riley slammed her hand on the armrest. "Mason."</p><p>Mason finally spoke. "The doctors said even if Michael got the transplant, the risks were really high. Anthony had a better chance."</p><p>Hudson's face darkened. "Mr. Gonzalez, the doctors only said both kids were urgent cases. They never said Michael had no hope."</p><p>Isabella asked, "Who signed my name?"</p><p>No one spoke.</p><p>The young doctor suddenly piped up in a low voice, "That day, Miss Parker's hand was injured, so Mr. Gonzalez's assistant filled in her name and had her press her fingerprint."</p><p>Mason's assistant's face went pale.</p><p>Nora shot up, her voice sharp. "You're lying."</p><p>The young doctor shrank back, looking scared. "I was on duty that day. I saw it with my own eyes."</p><p>Mason turned to his assistant. "What's going on?"</p><p>The assistant was sweating. "Mr. Gonzalez, it was chaos that day. I thought Mrs. Gonzalez had already said yes. Miss Parker said you told her to get the paperwork done and save the kid."</p><p>Nora shook her head, crying. "I didn't. Isabella, I swear, I never told him to forge your name."</p><p>Violet snapped, "Now you're scared? But your hand was steady enough when you signed it."</p><p>Mason walked up to Nora. "Nora, tell me the truth."</p>