But that was fine—this was exactly what I wanted.
The only way to save my daughter was to make this as big and loud as possible.
At that moment, a woman’s heart-wrenching screams pierced the door.
"You demon! Let my daughter go! She’s only twenty-six, still so young—why should she be your outlet for revenge?"
"Officer, shoot her now!"
"This lunatic belongs in hell! Maybe she’s the one who cursed her own daughter to death!"
Hearing the venom in those curses, I closed my eyes, feeling no ripple of emotion.
Because I knew—my daughter wasn’t dead.
I grabbed the spare microphone by the door, and my voice blasted through the operating room’s PA system, echoing across the entire floor.
"I told you—my daughter isn’t dead, and I won’t be going to hell!"
"Tell Richard Walker to figure out how to bring her back, or we all die together!"
I stared at the clock on the wall, the corners of my lips curling into a bitter smile.
If it meant getting Lily back, I didn’t care if I went to hell.
All I wanted was for my daughter to live.
David Miller’s voice came again from outside, hoarse as though cornered.
"Ms. Parker, have you considered that maybe you’re looking in the wrong direction? What if your daughter’s accident wasn’t really an accident?"
"Think carefully—has there been any serious conflict in your family lately?"
I froze. In my mind suddenly appeared the sharp, critical face of my mother-in-law.
When she learned I only wanted one child so I could give my daughter all my love, she’d told me again and again:
"No matter how precious you raise a girl, she’s still a loss to the family! Have another while you’re still young—a son! The Parker family cannot end with you!"
Even my husband, who adored our daughter, never spoke up to defend me.
And then there was the driver. At the scene of the crash, I’d only caught a glimpse of his side profile—
But something about the shape of his face stirred a strange sense of familiarity, as if I’d seen him somewhere before.
A chill shot up my spine.
Could all of this have been a setup from the very beginning?
But why?
One question after another swirled, threatening to drown me.
The shock made my vision blur, and I had to clutch the operating table to stay upright.
No. I couldn’t lose focus now.
The most important thing was Lily. Whoever was behind this, I had to save her first—time was running out.
I pressed the microphone button again, my voice trembling slightly but firm as steel.
"Officer Miller, thank you for the reminder, but right now, I only care about my daughter living."
"You can take all the time you want to investigate the truth, but one thing is non-negotiable—you must save her. And I know they can!"
"Otherwise, there’s nothing more to discuss. And just so you know—your time is up."
Outside fell into dead silence. Inside, the five medical workers were gasping and sobbing, on the verge of collapse.
The young nurse at gunpoint trembled so violently she couldn’t even beg anymore.
I looked at her with no expression, as if she were an object that had nothing to do with me.
My right hand rose steadily, aiming straight for her heart. Without a flicker of hesitation, I pulled the trigger.
The gunshot exploded in the operating room, deafening.
The nurse’s body jerked back, slamming into the wall, a red bloom spreading across her chest. Seconds later, she was still.
The remaining four hostages let out shrill, desperate screams, curling in on themselves in terror.
Outside, after a brief, stunned silence, came roars of fury and grief.
"My daughter! You monster! I’ll kill you!"
"She killed her—she really killed her! Officers, what are you waiting for? Fire! Blow the door! Kill this murderer!"
