Olivia Brooks turned, hand on the door handle.
Richard Carter spoke in a flustered tone. “Olivia, don’t listen to her nonsense. She doesn’t understand what’s going on!”
Olivia pushed the door open, then turned back toward me with a mocking glint in her eyes.
“Well, since Richard says so, what else can I say? But within one month, you’d better deliver results—otherwise, how am I supposed to answer to the board?”
She tilted her head slightly. “Richard, aren’t you going to drive me back to the company?”
Richard hurried out the door, glancing back at me with displeasure.
“Sophia, you only have one week. Hurry up—the project must show progress.”
The two of them walked away side by side, chatting and laughing as if I didn’t exist.
I stood frozen, my thoughts blank. The project. To him, there was nothing but the project!
Half a month later, Emily had improved somewhat. Except for her legs, most of her injuries had healed. She looked like a fragile flower, clinging to life on that hospital bed.
My legs felt as heavy as lead as I slowly entered the room.
“Mom… where am I? I’m scared.” Emily’s eyes scanned the room before they settled on me.
I rushed forward, pulling her into a tight embrace.
“Emily, it’s okay. Mommy’s here. You’re just sick for now. Once you’re better, you can leave.”
Emily’s expression lit up with sudden realization.
“I’m better now. It doesn’t hurt anymore. I can get up now, Mom, let’s go!”
She tried to rise, struggling for several moments before her face twisted with fear.
“Mom… I can’t feel my legs! I can’t stand up! I’m so scared!”
Her sobs tore into me like claws crushing my heart, the suffocating pain nearly unbearable.
“Emily, don’t be afraid. Remember? Mommy’s a doctor. This is only temporary. Soon, I’ll make sure you can stand again.”
I forced a smile, but tears betrayed me, slipping down my cheeks.
Seeing my face, Emily gently cupped my cheeks with her tiny hands, brushing away my tears.
“Mommy, don’t cry. I trust you the most. Don’t be sad for me.”
I buried my face in her small body, my shoulders shaking uncontrollably. Emily’s little hands patted my back, silently comforting me.
“Where’s Dad? Why haven’t I seen him?”
I lifted my head quickly, but the emptiness in my heart wouldn’t fade.
In the past two weeks, Richard had visited the hospital only a handful of times—and each time, it was only to check on the experiment’s progress. His visits to Emily were perfunctory, as though she were a side note. Since the accident, he’d become a different man.
“Daddy’s been busy, but he’ll come see you soon. Don’t worry, Emily. Mommy will always be here with you.”
Emily nodded gently, forcing a smile, but her eyes betrayed her disappointment.
“It’s okay. He can come when he’s finished with work.”
“Good girl. You’re tired, aren’t you? Go back to sleep for a while.”
I held her close, rocking her gently until she drifted off.
Quietly, I slipped out of the room and pulled out my phone, dialing Richard.
“Hello? How’s the experiment going? Did you make progress?”
His first words were about the project.
“You only care about the experiment? Emily just woke up!”
My voice was sharp with anger.
Richard, of course, could hear it. He rushed to explain:
“I know Emily is important, but so is the project. Without my lobbying at the board, the lab’s funding would’ve been cut off long ago. The project would have been terminated immediately.”
“Funding? And what if there is no funding?”
