Chapter 1

My wife was the city's top orthopedic trauma surgeon.

When my mom was hit by a truck and shattered her leg, the emergency attending told me only Chief Surgeon Serena could save it.

Desperate, I dialed my wife's phone, but the man who answered was Sean—her childhood sweetheart, the one she never got over:

"Is this Serena's husband? She's busy. If you need something, just tell me."

I didn't have time to wonder why they were together or what they were doing. Panicked, I blurted:

"Tell her to get back to the hospital right now! My mom was hit by a car, her leg is mangled, and she needs Serena to operate!"

After a long silence, my wife's impatient voice finally came through the line:

"Brandon, Sean cut his hand. I just came over to bandage it up for him. Do you really have to sink so low as to use your own mother to lie to me?!"

With that, she slammed the phone down. When I called back, it went straight to voicemail.

That day, by some miracle, my mom kept her leg. But my heart died completely.

When the police called and I rushed to the scene, my mom was already lying in a pool of blood, her right leg twisted into an unnatural shape.

My eyes burned instantly.

My parents had divorced when I was young. Mom had worked day and night, juggling multiple jobs to raise me on her own. She had endured so much hardship for my sake.

Once I finally built a good life, I brought her to the city so she could relax and enjoy her golden years. Instead, she ended up taking care of both me and my wife.

If she hadn't ridden her e-bike all the way across town just to buy the fresh tiger prawns Serena loved, she never would have been hit.

A knife twisted in my gut. I wished with all my soul that I had been the one crushed on the asphalt.

At the hospital, the doctors shook their heads. The deformity was severe, the nerves and blood vessels mangled. They warned that amputation was likely.

It hit me like a thunderbolt. I couldn't accept this nightmare.

I dropped to my knees, begging the doctor through choked sobs, "Please, I'm begging you. Save my mom's leg. I’ll pay whatever it takes!"

The doctor quickly helped me up, hesitating before saying:

"If Dr. Serena Vance handles this reconstruction, there's a strong chance we can save the limb. But she's off duty today."

A spark of hope flared in my chest. "I’ll find her! She’s my wife!"

The doctor looked startled, then quickly urged me to bring her back as fast as possible before hurrying away.

With trembling hands, I pulled out my phone and dialed Serena.

She had mentioned going out to run errands earlier, but she should have been home by now.

The phone rang and rang, but no one picked up.

My heart leaped into my throat. Just as I was on the verge of losing my mind, the call finally connected.

Yet the voice on the other end didn't belong to my wife. It was Sean, her first love.

"Is this Serena's husband? She's busy right now. If you need something, just tell me."

My heart thudded violently, but I didn't have the luxury to wonder why they were together or what they were doing.

All I could say was a frantic plea: "Put her on the phone! My mom was hit by a car, and she needs Serena to operate right now!"

I thought Serena would agree immediately and race back.

Instead, after a cold pause, her annoyed voice came through:

"Brandon, Sean injured his hand. I only came over to bandage it up. Do you really have to sink so low as to use your mom to lie to me?!"

"No! I'm not—"

A chill seized my chest. Before I could explain, she slammed the phone down.

When I dialed again, it went straight to voicemail.

My eyes widened in disbelief, and my entire body shook as I collapsed onto the cold hospital floor.

Serena knew better than anyone how much my mother meant to me. How could she possibly think I’d curse my own mother to play some petty game?!

How could she just hang up on me? Did she really want my mom to lose her leg?

No. Absolutely not!

Right then, the attending doctor ran back over anxiously. "How did it go? Did you reach Chief Vance?"

Numbness washed over me. "No... I couldn't..."

The doctor frowned. "You're her husband. Go to her place and bring her here right now. We're running out of time."

"I’ll do my best to debride the external wounds first, but when it comes to reconstructing the nerves and vessels, Dr. Vance is the only expert. You must get her back here!"

Those words snapped me out of my daze. I thanked her repeatedly, begged her to stabilize my mom, and stumbled out into the street.

In that moment, only one thought possessed my mind: no matter how low I had to beg, I had to bring Serena back.

As long as it saved my mom's leg, I'd do anything.