Chapter 5

Amelia POV

When I woke up, only my father was in the room.

He sat by the bed, his eyes bloodshot from exhaustion. When he saw me open my eyes, he seemed stunned for a moment before frantically pressing the call button.

My throat was painfully dry, but my first words weren't to ask about Ethan.

"Did you finish the paperwork?"

My father's hand paused on the call button, his voice hoarse. "Just needs your personal confirmation."

I nodded. "Bring it here."

My father seemed like he wanted to tell me to rest first, but after looking at my expression, he swallowed his words.

I didn't ask where Ethan had gone.

That operating room light that had turned on yesterday had already answered for him.

When the nurse brought in the form, I forced myself to sit up. My hands were still shaking, but I signed my name clearly.

Ethan pushed the door open just in time to see this.

His expression seemed to darken instantly as he strode quickly to the bedside. "Do you have to make a scene at a time like this?"

I didn't look up, only said to the nurse, "Please continue."

Ethan suppressed his anger. "You just came out of the emergency room. Your body can't take this kind of stress. You're canceling the authorization now because you want to gamble with your own life?"

Only then did I look at him.

"I'm not gambling."

I put down the pen, my voice not loud, but clear enough for everyone in the room to hear.

"I just don't want you deciding for me anymore whose life should be saved first."

Ethan seemed publicly humiliated, frozen in place.

The nurse collected the form and quickly confirmed. "From now on, Amelia's authorized family member is Mr. Cross. Ethan, you will no longer participate in decisions regarding her condition."

Ethan stood in the hospital room, officially removed from my family authorization position for the first time.

News that Sienna's surgery had gone smoothly quickly spread through the original hospital.

After waking up, she didn't criticize me. She only told visitors with red eyes that she'd almost couldn't hold on before surgery, and it was only because Ethan rushed over at the last moment that she dared enter the operating room.

Once that story got out, it changed flavor.

Some said I refused to give up my spot and scared Sienna to the point of nearly collapsing before surgery. Others said if Ethan had arrived one step later, Sienna might not have even made it onto the operating table.

I lay in the hospital bed hearing these words and didn't explain.

My father was furious and wanted to go out, but I grabbed his sleeve.

"Dad, let's just leave this place first."

My father went to handle the transfer paperwork.

Ethan chased him to the service desk and coldly demanded they suspend the process.

The staff checked the system and replied politely, "Mr. Blackwell, Amelia's current authorized family member is not you. We cannot stop the process based on your request."

Ethan's expression turned cold. "I'm her husband."

My father returned with the paperwork and blocked his path.

"You've already harmed her once. Don't use your husband status to claim you won't harm her again."

The staff handed the confirmation form to my father.

I watched as Ethan stared at my father signing it. The veins on the back of his hand were taut, but he had no authority to stop it.

When the transfer bed was pushed to my room door, Maya and several others blocked the corridor.

She seemed to first glance at my complexion, then said in a soft voice, "You're already transferring hospitals. Can't you just let Sienna go? She just woke up. She can't handle any stimulation."

My father was about to speak, but I looked at the nurse first.

"Can you call the police if someone blocks a patient transfer?"

Maya's expression changed.

When people around heard the words "call the police," they immediately stepped back.

When Ethan arrived, he only saw nurses pushing me through the crowd.

I didn't shout, and I didn't cry, but with one sentence I made everyone move aside.

At the hospital entrance, I was pushed into the transfer vehicle.

Before getting in, my father glanced back at Ethan. His eyes held no plea for help, only wariness.

Ethan chased after us. "Amelia, at least hear me out."

Before the door closed, I looked at him through the window.

I didn't curse him. I only said to the nurse, "Please close the door."

Ethan raised his hand to stop it.

The nurse stood in front of the vehicle door, her tone apologetic but firm. "Mr. Blackwell, the patient has already transferred. Non-family members cannot obstruct the transfer."

The door closed.

The transfer vehicle drove away.

Through the window, I saw Ethan standing in place, seemingly pinned there by those words, unable to move for a long moment.