Chapter 4


    That basin of water didn’t snap Kristin out of it. Instead, it made here down with a raging. fever.


    “What’s going on here? We need to take action, stat!” While making rounds, the doctor noticed


    something was off about Kristin’splexion and lip color and did a quick check–up. “Rush her to the


    ER, now!“–


    Vincent stood frozen, his fingers tingling numbly, momentarily losing hisposure and grabbing


    rence by the cor. “Didn’t you say she was faking it?”


    rence was also panicking, swatting away Vincent’s hand. “How would I know? She’s not exactly a


    stranger to drama… Ever heard of crying wolf?”


    “Don’t worry. Kristin won’t kick the bucket,” Mamie dered, strutting in her high heels with all the airs


    of a wealthydy. “Dr. Lawrence, she agreed to donate a kidney to our Ruby, so check hers out while


    you’re at it. See if it’s good to go.”


    The doctor frowned slightly. “Let’s focus on saving her first.”


    “Dr. Lawrence, your father and Johnnie are good buddies. I won’t beat around the bush,” Mamie


    implied, hinting at the doctor to prioritize the transnt since the patient had agreed, and all paperwork


    would be signed, absolving the doctor and hospital of much responsibility should anything go south.


    As the emergency room staff whisked Kristin away. Connor Lawrence rose, straightening his white


    coat, and nced at Vincent and rence. “Lady, I’m just a doctor. Healing the sick and saving lives is


    my calling. As for the rest, it’s not part of what this coat stands for.”


    “You!” rence, a bit angry, was about to retort but got cut off by Mamie.


    “What’s the rush? In a bit, have your dad ring up his father. Doctors need to save face. Some things are


    better left unsaid,” Mamie advised, giving Vincent a look. “Vincent, Ruby is your fiancée. You must take


    care of her.”


    Vincent nodded. “Mrs. Turner, I will.”


    In the ER.


    “Kris, hang in there. You’ve got to pull through. I’m waiting for you outside. Don’t be scared. I’m right


    here. Kris, I won’t leave you hanging.”


    ???


    Under the harsh lights, Kristin’s consciousness was fuzzy.


    Five years ago, she had a premature baby and barely survived a massive hemorrhage.


    No one cared whether she lived or died. Ironically, the brother who had been her source offort


    outside the hospital room wasn’t rence but Garner Collins, her real brother she


    14:44


    Chapter 4


    hadn’t met in over twenty years.


    “Dr. Lawrence, take a look at the patient’s condition. She’s got chronic malnutrition, a lot of old injuries,


    and some new ones. Should we call the cops?” the nurse asked nervously in the examination room.


    It looked like the patient had been abused for a long time.


    “No need,” Connor Lawrence frowned.


    He knew about Kristin, the Turner family’s fake heiress who made headlines in Silvergrove City five


    years ago. It was not surprising that she’d be malnourished after just getting out of prison.


    “Where’s the patient’s family?” Connor looked up, spotting Vincent leaning against the smoking area


    door, lighting up.


    “She doesn’t have any family here.” Vincent replied gravely.


    “The patient is weak, with a dangerously slow sinus rhythm, likely due to chronic malnutrition. and not a


    suitable candidate for kidney donation,” Connor stated, ignoring Vincent and giving his professional


    opinion.


    “Connor Lawrence, right?” Vincent flicked away his cigarette butt, his cold eyes locking with Connor’s.


    “She’s agreed to donate. As a doctor, don’t overstep your bounds.”


    Connor closed the patient file, his presence no lessmanding than Vincent’s, perhaps even more


    so. “You’ve got two options. Take her home, nurse her back to health, get her nutrition and weight up,


    then return for the tests. Or, pick a suitable match from my list of volunteers and get the transnt done


    ASAP.”


    Vincent’s brow furrowed. “I’ll go with the first.”


    With that, Vincent walked away.


    “Dr. Lawrence, does this woman have beef with them? Why are they so hell–bent on her kidney?” the


    nurse muttered in confusion.


    Connor said nothing, shaking his head.


    The FitzGerald family and the Turner family’s feud was thest thing he wanted to get mixed up


    1. in.


    Out of the ER, Kristin was lying in bed with an IV drip in the ward.


    Once the doctor had left and the room was empty, she seized the moment, pulled out the IV, and


    climbed through the restroom window.


    She knew Vincent and the Turner family wouldn’t let her off the hook. She had to find a way to save


    herself. Even for her son’s sake, she had to survive.


    She had nearly died when giving birth to that child five years ago.


    Chapter 4


    Even though she wasn’t clear on who the father was, the child was innocent.


    Kristin never med the kid and never harbored any resentment.


    She only knew that he was a continuation of her life, the reason she clung to life during those five


    grueling years in prison.


    After escaping the hospital, Kristin dialed a number from a phone booth.


    “Finally, you’ve decided to call me, huh?” The man’s voice on the other end was deep. “I’ve told you. If


    you want to survive, working with me is the only way. If it weren’t for my protection, you’d have died in


    prison by now.”


    “I agree to your terms. I’ll try to get close to Rhett.” Kristin’s voice trembled. “But I’m not confident that


    Rhett will be interested in me.”


    Who was Rhett? The golden boy of the FitzGerald family, a business prodigy, standing at the pinnacle


    of the corporate food chain. He was not someone the Kristin of today could reach.


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    “Don’t worry. Vincent won’t let you go that easily. You’ll get plenty of chances to meet Rhett. All you


    need to do is seize them.”