Chapter 4

Lily's POV

From the day the compass shattered, my heart died with it.

I locked myself in the guest room, making no noise or fuss.

But from the master bedroom one wall away, I could often hear Ethan's gentle voice coaxing Melody to sleep.

Until three days later, an emergency call from the hospital shattered the silence.

"Miss Hayes, your mother's heart condition has suddenly deteriorated, triggering serious complications! The county hospital doesn't have the equipment to sustain her. She must be transferred to a Manhattan hospital within three hours, or her life will be in danger at any moment!"

My hand holding the phone trembled violently. All the blood in my body turned to ice.

From here to Manhattan was at least a five-hour drive. The only chance was to use a medical rescue helicopter.

And Ethan had access to a private medical flight route.

I rushed out of the room but found the villa empty.

I tremblingly dialed Ethan's number.

Once, hung up.

Twice, hung up.

By the fifth call, it finally connected, but it was Melody's delicate voice that answered.

"Miss Hayes? Ethan's in the shower. Is there something you need?"

"Let Ethan answer! Quick, let him answer! My mom's dying!"

I shouted, my voice hoarse.

The other end fell silent for two seconds, then Ethan's displeased voice came through.

"Lily, what game are you playing now? Melody has a slight fever today. I don't have time for your drama."

"I'm not playing games! Ethan, please, my mom has heart failure. I need your medical helicopter to transfer her right away! The doctor said she only has three hours. Please save her!"

I was nearly going insane.

Ethan laughed coldly on the other end.

"Lily, if you're going to lie, find a better excuse. I visited your mother at the hospital last week. The doctor said her condition was stable. You'd even curse your own mother just to get attention?"

"I'm not lying! Call the hospital to confirm! Ethan, this is a human life! My mother's life!"

"Enough!"

Ethan cut me off harshly.

"I've already diverted the helicopter. Melody's fever triggered a panic attack. I'm taking her to a private island retreat to recover. The flight plan is already approved. We're taking off soon. Behave yourself and stop calling."

The phone was mercilessly disconnected.

I felt like I'd fallen into an ice pit, my mind buzzing.

The helicopter was diverted? For Melody's slight fever, for an island getaway, he cut off my mother's only lifeline?!

I scrambled out of the villa and flagged down a taxi straight to Clarke Group's helipad.

All along the way, I frantically sent Ethan messages, sent the critical condition notice from the hospital, sent videos of my mother being resuscitated on a ventilator.

But it was like throwing stones into the sea. No response at all.

When I reached the helipad, I only saw the helicopter's massive rotors whipping up a gale as it slowly lifted off.

"Ethan! Come down! Give me back the helicopter! Ethan!"

I broke through the security guards' blockade and screamed desperately at the helicopter in midair.

But the helicopter didn't pause at all. Carrying that woman with just a "slight fever," it flew mercilessly toward the azure sky.

Ten minutes later, my phone rang.

It was the hospital.

"Miss Hayes... I'm sorry. We did everything we could. Your mother... didn't make it."

The wind stopped.

I collapsed to the ground. My phone slipped from my hand.

I didn't cry. I just stared blankly at the direction where the helicopter had disappeared, feeling like some part inside me had been completely hollowed out along with my mother's passing.