Chapter 3
"Your mom's just got low blood sugar, but my mom has a broken bone and is losing a lot of blood!" I snapped.
I continued, "What, your mom's the only one who matters? Mine doesn't count?
"And Camren dragged the whole medical team over just to check out a few scratches on your mom.
"Seriously, what could possibly happen to your mom?
"Listen up, if anything happens to my mom, you're gonna pay for it!"
Seeing Rayne kneeling in the mud, Camren felt a pang of concern and immediately pushed Amari away.
"Amari! You're acting more and more reckless! Now you even dare to hit someone?" Camren snapped.
As he spoke, he bent down and helped Rayne to her feet.
Amari shot Camren a cold, hard look, finally blurting out the question that had been burning inside her for years.
"Camren, just tell me, whose husband are you, really?" she said, her voice like ice.
Rayne realized things were spiraling out of control and shrieked.
"Just because Camren's your husband, you think he should bend the rules and put your mom first?" she screamed.
"I already sent Camren the exact spot where my mom went missing. He knows the place, so obviously he should go save her first!" Rayne snapped.
"Are you seriously asking him to go after someone when we don't even know where they are, or if they're even alive?" she shot back.
Her shrill voice instantly drew everyone's attention.
Oh, so whoever shouted first got to be right now?
Just as I was about to argue back, Camren grabbed my arm and pulled me aside, his voice low and stern as he warned me.
"You've already screwed up once. Own up to it and let it go! Don't make things worse," Camren said sharply.
"Camren?! Are you serious?" I blurted out.
He really thought this was all on me?
It was because Camren sent the rescue team chasing after Rayne's mom that, in my last life, my own mom missed her best shot at survival.
If I hadn't insisted on taking a different route this time, my mom would've ended up bleeding out and dying alone, just like last time.
And now he was turning it all around and blaming me.
"Do you seriously have any conscience at all?" I demanded.
Before Camren could even answer, the ambulance came screeching up, sirens blaring.
The paramedics spotted my adoptive mom, drenched in blood and totally out cold, and didn't hesitate for a second to get her onto the stretcher and into the ambulance.
Camren, looking anxious, hurried over in a few quick strides and blocked their way.
"There are other injured people here!" he shouted.
He held onto the stretcher tightly, not letting the paramedics load my adoptive mom onto the ambulance.
He made it clear he wouldn't let go unless Rayne's mom was put on first.
Camren was way too strong for me to pull away, so in frustration, I lowered my head and bit his hand hard.
With one rough sweep of his arm, he shoved her aside again.
"There's more than one ambulance! Your mom's gonna get help any minute now! Just hang on a little longer..." Camren said, his voice tense.
Before he could finish, a heavy boot sent him crashing to the ground.
Camren was about to snap back, but when he looked up and saw it was the forest ranger captain who'd kicked him, he instantly clammed up.
Rayne freaked out and jumped in, pushing the captain away.
"Who the hell are you? What makes you think you can just go around hitting people?" she shouted.
The captain ignored her, not even bothering to hide his annoyance as he turned to Camren.
"Camren, are you seriously just thinking with your hormones right now? Can't even tell what's important anymore?" the captain snapped.
"Did you forget the golden rule? Save the ones who are actually dying first, remember?" he added.
"We'll settle this after everything's done!" the captain said, his voice cold and unyielding.
Not wasting any time, the captain helped me to my feet and made sure I got into the ambulance.
"Get in there with her, you're family!" he barked.
As the ambulance pulled away toward the hospital, I caught Camren and Rayne's resentful stares through the window. Neither of them was willing to accept how things had turned out.
When my adoptive mom was wheeled into the operating room, I got stopped right outside. I wasn't allowed in.
"Dr. Williams, I know you're worried, but you know the hospital rules," the nurse said softly.
Yeah, no way they'd let a family member do the surgery themselves. If something went wrong, the doctor would totally lose it, and that was game over.
The attending ER doctor rushed in, already suited up for surgery, and I caught him as he hurried past.
"Dr. Mann! You have to save my mom!" I pleaded, my voice trembling with desperation.
Jorden Mann nodded, giving me a reassuring look.
"I'll give it my all," he said, his voice steady and full of determination.
No matter how desperate or anxious I was, I knew I couldn't.
Reluctantly, I loosened my grip and let go, even though it tore me up inside.
It was just some trauma. If she'd gotten oxygen and a transfusion in time, her bones would've eventually healed up.
But Camren grabbed all the oxygen tanks, and then delayed getting her to the hospital.
I was a doctor myself. I knew just how serious this could get.
In that moment, I finally understood the meaning behind the walls outside the operating room, and just how fervently those prayers were being whispered.
The surgery light above the operating room door switched off, and Jorden stepped out.
I rushed over, watching his face anxiously, desperate for any hint of good news.
But when he took off his mask and saw the hope in my eyes, he just shook his head, and my heart dropped.
For a moment, I just stood there, totally numb. Then, shaking all over, I burst through the door and stormed into the room, not caring about anything else.
Nobody tried to stop me. They all knew it was too late.
"Mom!" I yelled.