I threw the covers aside and rushed out of the ward, my heart pounding in my chest.
Behind me, Nurse Maevie’s anxious voice echoed down the hallway.
"Hey, Verena, where are you going?"
"So much happened yesterday! The internet is full of people calling you ungrateful and cold-hearted for not saving your husband!"
"Don’t, don’t go looking for Matias, they’re—"
I ignored her words; my focus locked on the path ahead as I made my way to Matias’s hospital room.
When I pushed the door open, the scene that greeted me was unexpected; the room was filled with people.
Matias sat propped up in bed, his face pale, yet his smile was soft and reassuring.
Alastor and Milana stood at his side, their faces alight with pride as they handed a banner of gratitude to Odette.
The hospital director patted Odette’s shoulder with warm approval, a look of pride spreading across his face.
"Dr. Hewitt showed exceptional courage under pressure and saved a patient on the brink of brain death. When your department head retires, you’ll be the perfect fit to take over."
The door creaked open, drawing everyone’s attention toward me, and I froze mid-step as all eyes turned in my direction.
Matias was the first to notice me. His smile faltered, freezing awkwardly on his face.
"You're awake. Look, Mom even brought our daughter over."
The baby, barely a year old, wailed uncontrollably, her cries filling the room.
I ignored his words, striding in with a steady, deliberate pace.
The director’s frown deepened as his impatience seeped into his tone.
"Verena, with all the negative publicity surrounding you lately, maybe you should take some time off. It’s better not to be here for now."
I glanced briefly at the camera in the middle of the room, broadcasting the entire scene to the world. A faint smile tugged at my lips.
"Negative publicity?"
"Are you referring to the accusations that I’m ungrateful and heartless for not saving my husband? Or the claims that I’m in this for fame and fortune?"
The livestream had originally captured the Campbell family presenting their banner of thanks to Odette. But with my arrival, the viewership had spiked.
The screen flooded with furious comments, each one sharper than the last.
"Isn’t this the patient’s wife? I heard she’s a doctor, yet she refused to save her own husband!"
"I saw the video! Her husband was fighting for his life, and she was just sitting outside, playing games!"
"And it’s because of her that he got into that accident in the first place. How could she be so indifferent? It's disgusting!"
"How could scum like this even deserve to live? She should just die already!"
"What kind of family raises such an ungrateful brat? Her parents should die, too!"
At the sound of my question, Matias’s eyes turned red, and his tears flowed freely. His voice was cold but tinged with bitterness.
"Verena, I understand why you didn’t save me at the time," he began, his words heavy with resentment.
"But after all, I got hurt trying to save you. And now, you haven’t shown a hint of concern for me; you’re more worried about your job, aren’t you?"
His voice cracked, and the words came tumbling out in a rushed torrent.
"Have you ever thought about our daughter? She’s still so young... How could you bear to let her grow up without a father?"
I raised an eyebrow, unable to hide the cold amusement that surfaced.
"Our daughter?" I echoed, my voice a sharp question hanging in the air.
His face turned ashen, though he seemed ready for what was coming. With a slow, deliberate motion, he pulled out a paternity test.
The white paper was stamped with a bright red seal, official, unmistakable.
"I know you’ve never been fond of our child," he began, his voice tinged with bitterness.
"But you can't deny her parentage!"
"Look, it’s all right here in black and white. If she’s not your daughter, then who is she?"
"Don’t you even care about me or about our child?"
The comments on the livestream exploded, scrolling so quickly they blurred together.
I glanced at the view count, a small smile curling on my lips as satisfaction washed over me.
"Care? Of course, I care," I replied, my tone cool and detached.
"Not just about the child; I also have something special for you."
