Emily's POV
I held back the grief clawing at my chest and, still clinging to hope, redialed Gideon's number, but he hung up without a word.
Watching Rosie's breathing grow increasingly shallow, panic overtook me.
I lost all sense of reason and repeatedly hurled myself against the glass door, once, twice, again, and again.
I didn't know how long I'd been doing it when, finally, with a sharp crack, the glass split open.
Shards exploded across the floor, slicing into my skin. But I didn't care. I scooped Rosie into my arms and bolted outside.
She stirred faintly, as if she sensed my presence.
Blood was trickling from the corner of her lips when she mumbled, "Mommy… it hurts…"
Her tiny fingers shifted, revealing a crumpled piece of paper still clenched in her hand.
“This… this is a gift… for Daddy…”
I glanced down and saw the drawing, distorted from her grip, but clear enough.
She'd drawn a man's face.
My heart cracked. I bit down hard on my lower lip to stay upright.
Holding her fragile body tightly to my chest, I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and whispered gently, "Rosie, don't be afraid. Mommy's taking you to the hospital right now."
Without wasting another second, I sprinted into the street, waving down a car and shouting for the hospital.
Moments later, I burst into the ER, desperate for help.
The doctor took one look at the snakebite on Rosie's arm and shook his head in dismay.
"Venomous snake bite? Then it's too late," he said pitifully. "The only dose of antivenom we had was just taken by some guy who worships his wife. Apparently, she got a little cut on her foot, and he wants to use it for cosmetic purposes. Said he didn't want it to scar..."
Whatever else the doctor said faded into static.
My mind went blank, like someone had detonated something inside my skull.
Right then, only one thought roared through my body:
'Save my daughter. She's only three.'
Gripping the doctor's arm in a frenzy, I screamed, "Where is he? I'll go beg him myself! If he'll give me the serum, I'll do anything—anything!"
Startled by my desperation, the doctor quickly stammered out the answer.
"The VIP wing. Top floor."
I left Rosie in the observation room and ran, two steps at a time, up the stairwell. When I flung open the hospital room door, there he was.
Gideon.
He was down on one knee, kissing Sabrina's pregnant belly.
For a moment, I stood frozen.
So this was the 'wife-worshipping maniac' the doctor had mentioned. But I couldn't afford to crumble. I need to save my daughter.
Swallowing everything, my pride and my dignity, I fell on my knees and bowed deeply.
"Please," I said, voice shaking. "I beg you. Give me the antivenom. Rosie's dying."
Gideon's brows pulled together. He looked like he might say something, but Sabrina's tears came first.
"Emily, you already hurt me once. Now you want to take the antivenom I need for my scar?" she sobbed.
Her voice trembled with mock innocence as Sabrina continued, "Is this your plan? To lie about your daughter dying just to get Gideon's attention?"
Before her words had even settled, Gideon exploded. He stormed toward me, grabbing me by the throat.
"Emily," he growled, "you're still shameless! You'll say anything for attention. Now you even dared to spread such sick lies about Rosie? What kind of mother are you, huh?"
I shook my head furiously, fighting for breath, trying to speak, "N-no… It's not like that, Gideon! Rosie is right—"
But before I could finish, he slammed me to the floor.
"Oh, you want the serum?" Gideon snapped. "Fine. Then, kneel and bow to Sabrina. Do it a hundred times, and I'll give it to you!"
I looked up at him, stunned and unable to believe what I was hearing.
His eyes held nothing. No remorse. No trace of the man I'd once known. But then I thought of Rosie's body, her arms blackening with venom.
I didn't hesitate.
I dropped to my knees and began to bow.
“One… two… three…”
Each time my forehead hit the floor, pain shot through my skull.
Blood streamed down my face, tracing along my chin and staining the tile.
My vision blurred, my limbs trembling.
By the time I reached the hundredth bow, I could barely lift myself upright.
Swaying, I pushed to my feet and looked up, clinging to one last thread of hope.
"Can I have the antivenom now?"
