I arrived at outside the ER treatment area.
Mom immediately latched onto my arm, pounding me,
"Have you lost your mind? Blocking me!"

"If that nurse hadn't kept my number from last time, I'd have no way to reach you!"
"Liam’s parents are flying back from Switzerland! This is a disaster! If Liam doesn't pull through, how will you live with yourself?"
My arm stung. I stared at the ER doors, feeling only exhaustion,
"Mom, are you wishing I was the one in there?"
She gasped, hand flying up again.
Liam's assistant, Sarah, walked over. Her face was grim,

"Ms. Mitchell, Liam is still in surgery."
"He originally had a critical meeting at six. About half an hour before it, he left abruptly and told me not to follow."
"I called repeatedly. No answer. Around seven, I went to his place with documents."
"His housekeeper said he came home soaked from the rain and went straight to his room. I had a bad feeling, called a locksmith... found him..."

Sarah detailed everything.
I listened silently, not knowing how to react.
Why would he do this? Because I ended our things?
If that was it, it was his own damn fault.
The thought almost made me laugh.
Seeing my nearly amused expression, Sarah looked uneasy.
Mom always took Liam’s side. She couldn't stand it,
"Sophie! Liam's fighting for his life! How can you laugh?!"
"Doesn't your relationship mean anything to you? How can you be so heartless?!"
I sank to the floor with my face in hands and my shoulders shaking.
When Mom paused, I smiled at him coldly,
"Mom, do you want to marry him yourself? Or just adopt him?"
"It feels like you love him more than I ever did."
"If he dies today, will you demand I pay with my life?"
My words made Mom tremble with rage.
But seeing my tear-streaked face, she lowered her hand which she was about to slap me with.