4: 4
The doctor explained.
"Mr. James just called. He says the outside specialist's plan carries too much risk. He won't authorize the surgery."
"He's already signed the discharge agreement and the surgical refusal form. He's asking us to stop the current course of treatment immediately."
"He says he'll arrange for the child to be moved to another hospital."
I staggered back a step.
"I'm his mother, and I don't consent to discharge! He can't be moved right now. You can't send him away!"
I gripped the bed rail with both hands.
"He can't be transferred."
"Please, don't touch him. The specialist is almost here. Just a few more hours, and he has a chance."
The doctor looked at Herman's fading vitals, and his own face was grave.
"Ms. Fox, we understand how you feel."
"But we can't do what you're asking."
The doctor lowered his voice.
"Mr. James has just submitted proof of paternity and a written surgical refusal, and he signed as the child's primary guardian."
"The outside specialist's operation doesn't qualify as emergency lifesaving care. When two guardians disagree, we have no authority to force it through. We can only maintain basic resuscitation, or process the transfer according to the documents he signed."
Something roared in my head.
"He isn't Herman's father! His signature doesn't count!"
The doctor froze.
"What?"
"He isn't! I can prove to you that he isn't!"
I clung to the bed, fumbling for my phone, dialing Mike James again and again.
After more than a dozen tries, he finally picked up, applause pouring through the background.
"Shelagh, I'm at Celia's swearing-in ceremony right now. Whatever it is, it'll have to wait."
I forced down the hatred.
"I agree to give the position and the project to Celia."
The line went quiet at once.
"Really?"
"But first you sign the divorce agreement I sent you, withdraw the treatment refusal, and hand me the decision-making authority over Herman's care."
Mike went wary instantly.
"I won't sign a divorce agreement. I'm not going to gamble with our marriage just because you're upset."
I softened my voice.
"I'm only sore about it. I want you to prove you still care about me."
"You sign, we start over, you win me back properly, and you show me you actually value me and our son."
He was still hesitating.
I added coldly,
"If you don't sign, I hand the contract to the competition right now."
"The project's gone, and Celia's swearing-in turns into a joke. Mike James, it's your choice."
At last he sighed.
"Fine, I understand. But throwing the divorce in my face this time is really going too far."
"Okay. I'll sign."
A few minutes later, the signed divorce agreement and treatment authorization came through.
He added a line.
[Happy now? I'll go take care of the kid at the hospital in a bit. Find time to hand the project over to Celia.]
Mike hadn't read it carefully again, of course.
The agreement stated it plainly: after the divorce, the child, the house, and my project all belonged to me.
I called my lawyer and the building management at once.
"Change the door lock code, and cancel Mike James's entry access."
"My mother and Neal aren't on the property title. Have security ask them to leave immediately. Pack up everything and send it to the Swanson house."
"They liked treating that place as Celia's home, didn't they?"
"A shame. From now on, no one gets in."
Then I called an agent and listed the house at a low price.
The doctor finished his call and came over, his face grim.
"The specialist got the cancellation notice and already turned back. There isn't time for him to come again."
"The only option now is to move the child immediately to the hospital in his province."
I nodded without hesitation.
"Transfer. We leave now."
When the transport plane took off, Mike was still pressing me to hand over the project.
I sent the contract and all the files straight to the competing company.
They replied quickly.
[Willing to take over immediately. Terms of cooperation unchanged.]
I pressed confirm.
Mike wanted to take everything I'd built, to pave the way for Celia.
Then I would rather hand it to his rival.
The plane climbed into the clouds.
I held Herman's cold little hand tight and switched off my phone.
