The son of Frank Garcia's secretary was in a car accident and urgently needed a blood transfusion.

Without hesitation, he ordered someone to draw blood from his daughter who had a heart condition.

Watching my daughter's face grow paler and her breathing weaken, I sobbed and begged him to stop.

"We can't draw any more. She's fading."

"Keep going and she'll die."

He glanced at me, coldly instructing the nurse not to stop.

"It's just blood. She won't die."

"Saving a life comes first."

Even when our daughter fainted, Frank didn't spare her a look.

He turned and walked to the secretary's son's room.

Seeing my daughter's breaths grow fainter, I grabbed Frank's hand pleading desperately.

"She has a heart condition. You can't draw more."

"Frank, stop them. Make them stop."

A flicker of hesitation crossed Frank's eyes, vanishing when he saw the little boy in the ward.

His gaze turned icy as he stared at me, voice devoid of warmth.

"It's just some blood. It will lead to nothing."

Meeting our daughter's eyes, my heart clenched with pain.

She gave me a frail smile when she saw me.

"Mommy, don't worry..."

Even silent, I understood her lips.

I lunged forward only to be yanked back by Frank. "Catherine, what are you doing?"

"The transfusion isn't over yet. Stay put."

The nurse rushed out. "Mr. Garcia, we've drawn 200cc already. More could—"

Frank cut her off impatiently.

"Keep drawing. Take however much is needed."

I stared at him in disbelief, searching for any trace of mercy.

None. Only stone-cold resolve.

The nurse glanced at me uneasily. "But—"

Frank's voice hardened. "Continue!"

I grabbed the nurse's wrist, face pale as I shook my head at her.

Tears flooded my eyes.

"No more! Please, no more blood!"

"Stop..."

Frank hauled me backward, snapping at the nurse:

"Draw!"

As the nurse retreated, I slapped Frank across the face with all my strength.

I screamed at him, my voice shrill with despair:

"That's your daughter there!

She has a heart condition! Where is your conscience?"

"Amy can't stand more! Stop them!"

Frank's head jerked sideways, a red handprint blooming on his cheek.

He glared at me, eyes like daggers piercing my heart.

"Such little blood won't kill Amy."

He spoke in a frigid tone. "Catherine, stop this hysterics. You behave worse than a child."

Tears streamed uncontrollably. I swayed, barely able to stand.

So my pleas were just madness to him.

I stared at him, voice trembling.

"Amy's face is pale. Can't you see?"

"Frank, are you fucking blind?"

"You're risking your daughter's life for someone else's son! How dare you call yourself her father?"

My Amy was only five, so fragile, yet her own father ordered her blood drawn for another.

The image of her ghostly pale face flashed through my mind, fresh tears falling.

Before heading out, she had asked me excitedly whether Daddy was taking her out to play.

Frank looked at me, his expression unyielding.

I clutched his hand, pleading with tear-filled eyes.

"Frank, please tell them to stop taking Amy's blood. They really can't draw any more."

But Frank's voice remained icy.

"Catherine, saving a life comes first."

"Don't be so unreasonable."

Unreasonable?

I released his hand, staring at Frank in despair.

In his mind, his daughter mattered far less than that woman's son.

Amy was born with congenital heart disease. For her, Frank and I had endured countless worries.

And now?

Frank was forcing our daughter to donate blood for a kid who had nothing to do with him.

Amy was his own flesh and blood.

Seeing my silence, Frank softened his tone.

"After the transfusion, we'll nourish Amy properly."

My lips twisted into a bitter smile, the light in my eyes extinguishing again.

The door opened. A nurse emerged with a blood bag. "Mr. Garcia, the blood is ready."

I whipped my head toward the donation room. Amy stood there with ghostly pale, struggling to offer me a weak smile.

I stumbled and crawled inside. Amy lay on the hospital bed, her face so deathly pale it seemed she might close her eyes forever any second.

"Mommy..." Amy whispered weakly, "Did Daddy... say I was brave?"

Even speaking pained her, yet she still hoped for her father's praise.

Tears welling, I stroked her hair. "You're so brave, so amazing."

My daughter tilted her head with difficulty, searching behind me. Finding no one, a flicker of disappointment showed in her eyes.

She murmured softly:

"Then why... hasn't Daddy come to praise Amy?"

"Mommy... I'm sleepy."

With that, Amy closed her eyes.

I stared numbly at my daughter, calling her name:

"Amy? Amy..."

No matter how I called, she didn't respond.

A nurse entered and glanced over. "She’s in transient shock from losing too much blood"

She looked at me with pity. "She needs more rest."

Frank had vanished long ago. The moment he got Amy's blood, he'd rushed into another ward without hesitation.

2、

I sat through the long night in the ward, never daring to look away.

Terrified that Amy might vanish in the next heartbeat.

Until Amy slowly opened her eyes and whispered my name.

"Mommy..."

Seeing my daughter struggle to reach for me, I pressed her tiny hand against my cheek, tears welling up:

"Mommy's here."

Amy blinked, brushing her fingers gently over my damp lashes. "Mommy, don't cry."

I swallowed hard, forcing the tears back. "Not crying."

Just after feeding Amy, Frank came.

Someone trailed behind him.

I recognized her—Frank's secretary, Amanda White.

Her son occupied the bed across from us.

The same boy Frank forced my daughter to donate blood for.

Frank hesitated, words caught in his throat, while Amanda dropped to her knees with a thud, eyes glistening:

"Ms. Catherine, Tommy lost too much blood. The doctors said it wasn't enough. I'm begging you—save my child. Just let Amy donate a little more..."

"He's my only child. I can't lose him..."

A loud buzz filled my head, and my mind went blank.

I looked at Frank instinctively, my voice trembling with disbelief:

"You agreed?"

Guilt flickered across his face before hardening into a cold stare.

"Tommy needs a significant transfusion now. Feed Amy iron-rich foods these two days. When the time comes..."

"We'll just take a little more."

I glanced at Amy. Her head hung low, face still ghostly pale.

Amanda clutched my pants, kowtowing as she pleaded:

"Ms. Catherine, I'll do anything if you agree to save Tommy—anything at all, just say the word."

"You even can take my life . I don't care."

Frank helped her up, tenderness flashing in his eyes.

He wheeled on me. "Enough. Must everyone beg you?"

I stared at him, numb.

Tears fell like heavy drops. I'd thought my heart couldn't ache more.

Yet this pain stole my breath, leaving me wordless.

Frank's icy gaze swept over me as he snapped:

"It's settled."

I lunged at him, fists pounding his chest, screaming:

"Amy is your daughter! How can you be so cruel?"

"You know she's frail! Yet you force her to donate blood for others! Frank—do you even have any empathy?"

Doubt shadowed his features.

But he turned away, repeating coldly:

"Blood won't take her life."

Amy's small voice pierced the air:

"Dad..."

Frank froze, looking toward Amy lying on the bed. A flicker of hesitation crossed his face.

Still, he turned, supporting Amanda as they left.

"Transfusion proceeds the day after tomorrow."

3、

My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the floor.

Amy called out, "Mommy, don't cry."

"I'm not hurting."

Hearing this, I couldn't hold back and hugged my daughter, sobbing.

It was my fault.

I'd actually hoped Frank might show a little mercy.

Never imagined his heart belonged entirely to Amanda.

Since that's how it was, I'd take my daughter away—somewhere no one could find us.

Turns out Frank was prepared.

As I carried my daughter out of the ward, bodyguards at the door stopped me, their voices icy:

"Sorry, Mrs. Garcia, Frank ordered you could't take Amy."

I shot them a cold glare:

"What if I insist?"

The bodyguard's expression didn't shift. "Then we’ll have to be rude."

I clutched Amy desperately; she stayed silent and clung to my neck.

"Mommy, put Amy back!"

"Amy doesn't hurt."

With tears brimming my eyes, I carried Amy back to the ward.

Setting her on the bed, I stroked her head.

"Don't worry, Amy. Mommy will protect you."

Tucking her in, "Mommy needs to step out for a bit."

Amy obediently closed her eyes.

After leaving, I walked to another ward.

The little boy on the bed said something that made Frank and Amanda burst out laughing.

Frank held a spoon, scooping porridge, blowing gently before feeding the boy named Tommy.

"Eat more to heal faster."

Tommy grinned at Frank. "Thanks, Dad."

They looked like a perfect family.

I froze, staring at the three in disbelief.

How pathetic.

His own daughter lay in the next ward, yet he tended to another woman's son.

Calling him... Dad?

I leaned against the wall, gasping like it might ease the stabbing in my chest.

Frank stepped out and saw me, brow furrowed, eyes flashing annoyance as he snapped:

"Catherine, since when did you pick up eavesdropping?"

I stared at Frank.

Then laughed suddenly.

"No wonder you've discarded Amy—you've got a love child out here."

Frank looked irritated. "What nonsense are you spewing?"

Just then, a bright "Daddy!" rang from the ward.

Frank's face tightened.

He turned on me. "The kid's just playing around. Why so petty?"

Amanda opened the door, eyes brimming with fake tears as she explained:

"Tommy never had a dad growing up, so... he calls Janet Green that."

"Miss Scott, if you're upset, I'll stop him. I'll be more careful."

She glanced up, all pitiful on the surface, but mocking me underneath.

Frank ate it right up.

He frowned, wiping Amanda's tears.

Voice gentle: "What are you talking about?

It's just a name. Let him call me if he wants."

Exactly.

Just a name.

So no matter how my Amy called for him, he never answered.

Frank looked at me, his eyes sharp with coldness.

"Catherine, you didn't need to come threaten her."

This is allowed by me, and it has nothing to do with her."

"No matter what happens, it won't threaten your status as Mrs. Garcia."

"What else are you dissatisfied with?"

I closed my eyes and laughed coldly.

I wanted to ask Frank if he remembered having a daughter lying in a hospital bed, wanting to see her dad.

And whether he felt any guilt when thinking of her.

Now there was no need to ask.

Too much crying had left my voice hoarse.

"Frank, if you have any conscience left, let me take Amy away."

"I'll take her far away where we won't appear before you."

Before Frank could speak, Amanda beside him burst into tears. She grabbed my hand and shook her head, "Catherine, if you go… then what will happen to Tommy?"

"He still needs Amy's blood..."

I looked up and saw the malice in Amanda's eyes.

She leaned close and whispered where Frank couldn't hear:

"Catherine, I'll make your daughter be the source of blood for my boy until she dies."

"Anyway, heart disease means she'll die sooner or later - I'm doing her a favor."

"At least she is useful before dying."

Amanda's words provoked me, and I shoved her away.

I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face.

Amanda fell to the floor, covering her cheek as Frank helped her up.

Rage surged in Frank's eyes.

"Catherine, do you want to die?"

"She was just begging you - was hitting her necessary?"

"When did you become so vicious?"

With tears stinging my eyes, I asked Frank hoarsely:

"Remember what you promised Amy before?"

"Even while closing her eyes she asked why you wouldn't praise her bravery?"

Tears plopped down, leaving Frank speechless.

As if stung by my tears, he turned away. "Still no excuse for hitting people."

"Apologize!"

4.

I was forced to apologize to Amanda.

I wiped my tears at the door before entering the ward.

Amy was already asleep.

Soon after, the door swung open.

Frank walked in.

"Catherine." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I came to see Amy."

I neither moved nor responded him.

Didn't even glance his way.

The ward stayed silent until Frank spoke. "Tommy never had his father around. He just wanted to play pretend. You shouldn't take it out on Amanda."

"She's a single mother struggling with work and a kid. It's exhausting."

"We're legally married. Nothing can tear us apart."

"You should be more generous."

I finally cracked a bitter laugh at his words.

Understanding?

When Amanda deliberately left lipstick on Frank's collar? Or posted those suggestive photos on her Facebook? Or "forgot" her lingerie in Frank's car?

Hadn't I always been generous?

A few sweet words from Frank always won me back.

Frank frowned. "What's so funny?"

I wiped the smile off my face, staring coldly at him.

"Frank, is this why you forced our daughter with heart disease to donate blood for her kid?"

"Isn't that hilarious?"

My words struck a nerve. Ice flashed in his eyes.

"Catherine, I told you! It's just a little blood. It won't endanger Amy."

"Why must you always nitpick like this?"

Nitpick?

I'd swallowed every insult. But I'd never compromise on Amy.

Bloodshot eyes locked on Frank, I spat through clenched teeth:

"The blood bank exists. Why must it be Amy's blood?"

"Frank, are you even human?"

He froze, then answered coldly:

"Tommy has the same blood type. Kids fare better with peers."

I snapped, screaming at him:

"Amy has been the apple of your eye since she was born... Have you no conscience?"

Helplessness crushed me, shattering my last resolve.

Frank's tone brooked no argument. "Nurses will draw her blood tomorrow."

"Catherine, you need to behave."

My heart died for Frank that moment.

A nurse approached Amy with a needle. I lunged forward but Frank's men forced me to my knees.

I watched the needle plunge into Amy's vein without hesitation.

I howled frantically: "Stop! Make them stop!"

Frank scowled. "Look at yourself, Catherine."

I tried reaching Amy, but Frank's men blocked me.

All I could do was watch my daughter suffer.

As Amy's breathing grew ragged, I broke free and crawled to Frank, clutching his pants leg.

"Frank, please stop them."

"She's already given once. More could kill her."

Frank stared down impassively, silent.

Beside him, Amanda smirked at me.

Until a nurse rushed out, voice trembling:

"Mr. Garcia, something’s wrong."

"The child... she's in shock."