My Mother Died for Their Fame

Synopsis

To build his first crush, Ivy Foster's reputation as a miracle doctor, Julian Lockwood stopped the targeted medication my mom had been taking for three years and forced her to swallow that syringe of Ivy's experimental drug, which hadn't passed clinical trials. I sank to the floor beside the hospital bed, head bowed, pleading desperately for them to save my mom. Julian had his arm around Ivy's waist, leaning down to kiss her forehead, not sparing me a glance. He waved at the nurse. "Inject it." The moment the needle pierced my mom's hand, she arched her back, letting out a strangled, animalistic cry. Ivy leaned in, jotting down data in her notebook, a hint of satisfaction curling her lips. "The physical reaction is a bit more intense than expected, but it won't affect the results. Keep monitoring." I lunged forward, desperate to yank the syringe out, but Julian seized my wrist with a grip so strong that it felt like he could crush my bones, then tossed me aside. He snapped, "Your mom being used as live data for Ivy's new drug is the most worthwhile thing she's ever done." He took a call, released his grip on me, and strode out of the room. He didn't spare my mom a single glance, nor did he bother telling anyone to stop the treatment. I scrambled to my feet and rushed to the bed. My mom's hand was trembling, her lips already turning blue. She looked at me, her mouth opening and closing, but no words came out. "Chloe, k-keep my dentures safe for me," she whispered. That was all she said. For the next four hours, her body kept convulsing. When blood started seeping from every opening in her face, Ivy frowned, scribbled something in her notebook, then left with the nurse Julian had sent to keep watch. As she walked out, she turned back and said, "That's it for the records. Any further data is meaningless." My mom died in my arms. Her body was still warm, her eyes wide open.