"Mia arranged a thank-you reception for me at the hospital. Clean yourself up. You're coming with me."
"Charles, it's been seven days. Don't you miss Lily at all?"
"Stop wasting my time!"
"Mia said she already sent Lily to her family's village to relax!"
He shot me a look of pure disgust and stepped outside the room.
"Hurry up and change! I don't have time to wait around for you!"
On the drive to the hospital, my phone buzzed.
A message from that number:
Althea, everything is ready.
Charles glanced at me through the rearview mirror. "Who's that?"
I looked up and met his impatient eyes.
"No one. Isn't today your reception? I've prepared a little surprise for you too."
He seemed pleased that I'd finally become docile. His gaze swept over me, and a satisfied smile curved his lips.
"Althea, now this is what the wife of Director Abbott should look like. You've kept your figure well, and you're gracious and presentable. I'm very pleased with you today."
I swallowed the nausea rising in my stomach and stared at Charles's back, repeating silently to myself over and over:
Lily, Mommy will avenge you today.
The moment we stepped through the hospital doors, a swarm of reporters surged toward us.
Charles ascended the stage amid a chorus of cheers.
Mia held up an enormous silk banner and placed it in Charles's hands.
"I want to thank my mentor, Director Abbott, for giving my son a second chance at life. My mentor has always been so boundlessly compassionate..."
Before Mia could finish, waves of praise erupted from the crowd.
"That's right! Director Abbott is a renowned master of transplant surgery. Our city is proud to have such a virtuous man! He makes us all feel safe!"
"Thank you, Director Abbott! Director Abbott is a saint of medicine!"
Amid the thunderous applause, a young male reporter slowly made his way forward. He raised his microphone and spoke in a measured tone.
"Director Abbott, I've heard that your daughter unfortunately suffers from congenital heart disease. With your exceptional medical skills, has your daughter's condition been properly treated?"
A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Do you even need to ask? Director Abbott is famous for doting on his wife and daughter!"
"Why would a greenhorn like you worry about his daughter's health? Of course she's being well taken care of!"
"Exactly! For all we know, she might already be fully recovered!"
Charles waved his hand at the audience and fixed the reporter with a polished, diplomatic smile.
"How kind of you to ask. As everyone has said, I've taken excellent care of my daughter. She's currently in the countryside for a retreat—arranged by my student Mia here. Everyone loves her dearly..."
"A retreat?! Lily is dead!"
I clutched Lily's portrait and urn as I pushed through the crowd.
Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, I pressed play on the large screen.
In an instant, footage of Charles performing an unauthorized procedure in the operating room—illegally transplanting a heart to Bryce—appeared before the entire audience.
